The lowdown on paternity leave and how much fathers are entitled to in Australia

Paternity leave is an important time for fathers to bond with their children and support their partners during this magical, yet challenging, period. Australia is recognised as being a country that offers reasonable paternity leave compared to many places, such as the US. However, we still sit behind many more progressive countries such as Finland, Denmark, Italy and the UK.  According to a report in the Australian Financial Review, “Australia ranked 29th out of 38...

Why is it so hard to go back to work after having a baby?

Why is it so hard to go back to work after having a baby? Yes! WHY? WHY is it so hard to go back to work after having a baby? This is a question on every mum’s mind as she decides to go back to work at the end of her maternity leave. And it is not just about the work; it is about the mental and emotional challenges that come with it. Of course,...

Parents really do it all – so why don’t more employers recognise that when hiring?

It was the year 2008, when Goldman Sachs launched a programme that offered structured, paid support for employees who had left their careers to raise families or other personal reasons. These employees, mostly women now wanted to return to the workforce but had found doors tightly shut.  And here was Goldman Sachs – a Fortune 500 company offering an opportunity that allowed potential workers to renter the workforce without compromising on the pay or job...

The intriguing ways parental pressure can influence a child’s future career

Stanley Ann Soetoro was a dedicated and determined mother who woke her son up at four in the morning every day for private lessons. These weren’t meant to be substitutes for school; they were English lessons that he was required to complete before he left for school. This white woman from Oklahoma was living in Jakarta at the time with her son and Indonesian husband. And she was pushing her only son towards better career...

Reasons why being a stay-at-home mum is not as easy as it looks

“Oh, you’re so lucky to be able to stay home all day!”“I wish I could stay at home like you so I can sleep in.”“I’m so jealous that you can just play all day with the kids!” Do these sound familiar? As a stay-at-home mom of three kids (an 8 year old tween, and 2 under 2) , or a ‘homemaker’ (as some like to call it), I’ve definitely heard my fair share of these...

Celebration

The pregnant woman’s work Christmas party survival guide

Navigating the work Christmas party is always a challenge and can leave even the most confident woman spinning with questions: “How many tequilas is too many? Is it weird to take a selfie with the boss? What’s the best way to signal to hubby that his fly is open?” But if you’re pregnant, things are about to get even more complicated. Hormones are going crazy, maternity dresses don’t seem to fit and depending on how...