54% of Mums in Tech feel like their career has been held back due to having children
An estimated 20,000 women left the UK tech industry in the first half of 2023. That's 110 a day.
We wanted to find out why, and the first round of results are in.
In January 2024, HeyFlow and MotherBoard joined forces to launch the "The Reality of Mums in Tech": a state-of-the-nation research project. MotherBoard is a Business Charter, Community, and Event Series driving tangible change for mums working in the tech industry.
This initiative aims to gain comprehensive insights into the experiences of working mothers in the UK tech industry. To date, we have gathered valuable perspectives from 111 mothers currently active in the industry or who have left due to a lack of inclusion.
Today, we are sharing the first results.
“Some of our findings are alarming, yet not surprising. Lack of parental inclusion is a known barrier to many women’s progression within the tech industry and it is one of the main reasons why we see capable women being forced to exit the workforce.
Thank you to MotherBoard for including us in this much needed project, and together with these findings we will hopefully inspire change in creating a fairer industry for all.”
Nick Dean, Co-Founder of HeyFlow.
The top-line findings to date:
75% felt their manager was supportive throughout their pregnancy
40% felt like their career was held back during their pregnancy
39% who were on track for promotion ahead of their pregnancy have been promoted since
47% feel less valued after they have returned to work
58% have considered leaving their role since returning to work
54% feel like their career has been held back due to having children
Though this report could seem like a bleak picture, there is plenty we can all do to create change
Run management training in succession planning, communication on leave and effective return to work.
Create formal re-training plans for returners in all roles and on all seniority levels
Rethinking roles into being more adaptable for part-time and job share options
Encourage Mums in Tech to connect with others as part of the MotherBoard Community
Adding your perspective to the study so that we can build a growing robust set of data to bring to the government
Join the MotherBoard Charter and pledge your commitment while gaining access to exclusive training and guides to help you become a more inclusive employer for mothers and parents.
Consider the wider impact of reproductive health and run a HeyFlow employee insight project within your organisation to understand your workforce better.
Share your story If you are a Mum in Tech or an ally, we’d love to hear from you and have you as part of our community contents series.
The ‘Realities of Mums in Tech’ is an open and ongoing project and if you would like to contribute your story, you can today (link). All the data we gather will be used to help bolster the case for the mission of the MotherBoard Movement, and will be used to inform governmental support as part of ‘Women Pivoting to Digital’ taskforce.