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RailsConf 2018: Keeping Moms Around for the Long Term by Tess Griffin Being a mom is awesome! You finally get to be the one to post a million cute pictures of your adorable baby. It is also one of most challenging and hard things a woman can go through, especially if they're in software. In this talk you'll hear stories from women in the programming community, struggles they have gone through, and why many of them left their jobs after or during maternity leave (including me). If you want to help your mom friends stick around and feel included, or if you are from a company who wants to support the growth of your mom employees, then this talk is for you.
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In her talk titled "Keeping Moms Around for the Long Term" at RailsConf 2018, Tess Griffin discusses the challenges faced by mothers in the tech industry. She highlights the struggles that women face after maternity leave and the need for support from companies to retain mothers in the workforce. Griffin uses her own experiences and anecdotes to illustrate the disparities between parental leave in Canada and the U.S., emphasizing that parental leave in the U.S. is predominantly maternity leave. She stresses that company policies significantly impact the parental leave experiences of employees. Key points include: - **Parental Leave Disparities:** Griffin compares parental leave benefits in Canada, where parents can take a year of paid leave, to the U.S., where leave is often unpaid and limited to 12 weeks. - **Importance of Company Support:** Employers can enhance parental leave benefits, allowing more parents to take the necessary time off without financial strain. - **Flexibility and Understanding:** A flexible work schedule can help parents manage the realities of child-rearing, including unexpected health issues and childcare commitments. - **Sick Leave vs. Vacation Time:** Griffin highlights the importance of having ample sick leave to account for the multiple illnesses children inevitably face, as well as the need for a culture that does not penalize sudden absences. - **Inclusivity in Company Events:** Companies should consider the needs of parents when planning after-hours events, potentially providing childcare or scheduling events at family-friendly times. - **Creating a Family-Friendly Culture:** Organizations that value parents create a more inclusive environment that helps with employee retention. Throughout her talk, Griffin emphasizes that diverse teams lead to better products, and that understanding and supporting working mothers is crucial for fostering a strong and inclusive tech community. She concludes by urging companies to reevaluate their benefits and policies regarding parents, fostering empathy and support to keep mothers in tech.
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