Toolkits to help working mums launched at Westminster

The Open University has developed new toolkits designed to support mums in their transition back into the workplace, following evidence from two Business School research projects that highlights the barriers faced by working parents. 

Dr Keely Duddin, Kendal Wright, Dr Wenjin Dai and Dr Francesca Calo, have co-authored the toolkit for mums, which was launched at Westminster earlier this month. Collectively, their research highlights the ‘motherhood penalty’ across the UK including stalled career progression and wage gaps, reduced work experience and systemic bias. 

Through its new Mumentum campaign, which aims to encourage mums to push forward in their careers, the OU has partnered with several organisations including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to address the issues. 

Speaking at the Westminster event, Dr Keely Duddin said: “We've seen through research that if you reintegrate people successfully, they stay with the business for longer. I think it's really important for businesses to look at that longer-term picture in terms of supporting mothers and primary caregivers back into the organisation, because what they'll get from them in the long term is hugely positive.

Co-researcher Kendal Wright said: “While our research initially focused on mothers in the public sector, it soon became clear that these were issues affecting all new parents re-entering the workplace, across all organisations and sectors. We want to expand further on research and be able to make a difference and make a change.”

The OU’s Return-to-Work Toolkits are aimed at mothers and employers and are being rolled out nationwide. They provide practical guidance for employers on how to better support mothers and offer a blueprint for businesses to help mums in their transition back into the workplace:

• For employers: A toolkit for employers to harness the hidden talent pool of mothers, offering strategies to reintegrate them into the workforce effectively. This resource, authored by the OU academics, provides guidance on recruitment, retention, and career development for working mothers.
• For mothers and primary caregivers: A second toolkit for mothers and primary caregivers, equipping them with the resources to navigate their return to work confidently.

Josie Fraser, Interim Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, commented:

At The Open University, we believe that higher education should be accessible to all, and this includes mothers and primary care givers, who often face career setbacks due to systemic barriers. 

“Through the Mumentum campaign, we are equipping both employers and mothers with the tools they need to break down these obstacles and create a more inclusive, supportive workplace.”