As the global workforce evolves, working mothers in Southeast Asia are grappling with the intricacies of balancing professional duties with personal responsibilities. According to a recent study by Milieu Insight, a leading survey software company, the quest for effective time management techniques has become paramount for these women, especially amidst the celebrations of Mother’s Day.
Milieu Insight’s quantitative study polled 3,000 working mothers across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, and Thailand, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges encountered by women in the region. Despite women’s significant contributions to Southeast Asia’s economic growth, their representation in managerial positions remains below parity.
Milieu Insight, Co-Founder and CCO, Juda Kanaprach emphasised the pressing issues faced by working mothers, including the delicate balance between professional and family commitments, the struggle for self-care amid hectic schedules, and the burden of guilt when prioritizing career responsibilities. However, amidst these challenges, Kanaprach noted that working mothers employ various strategies to navigate their personal and professional lives.
Balancing Act: Work vs. Home
The study revealed that 6 in 10 women in Southeast Asia struggle to manage both work and family commitments effectively. Drawing comparisons, data suggests that American mothers navigate work-family dynamics differently, with motherhood often disrupting full-time employment for over a decade.
Struggles with Self-Care
Amidst the relentless demands of work and home life, working mothers face significant hurdles in prioritising their well-being. In Singapore and Vietnam, 42% of women find it increasingly challenging to prioritise self-care, exceeding the regional average of 31%. Additionally, 44% of respondents expressed a desire for greater understanding of the difficulties they face as working mothers.
Calls for Workplace Support
The study underscored the need for robust employee well-being policies to support a healthy work-life balance. With 53% of working mothers expressing neutrality or dissatisfaction with their country’s maternity leave policy, there is a clear call for enhanced support systems.
Providing resources for self-care and promoting a culture of wellness could alleviate the strain on working mothers and enhance job satisfaction and productivity.
Career Impact and Flexibility
One in five working mothers across Southeast Asia feels that motherhood has adversely affected their careers, with Singapore reporting the highest percentage at 40%. However, innovative time management techniques are being adopted by 55% of working mothers to navigate work-life integration.
The introduction of flexible work arrangements, such as Singapore’s 4-day work week option, offers a progressive approach towards empowering mothers to take control of their schedules.
Extended Leave and Stigma
Despite the need for extended leave policies, about half of working mothers in Southeast Asia have had to resort to unpaid leave or extend maternity leave to care for their children.
In Singapore, where paid maternity leave is capped at 16 weeks, 54% of working mothers desire extended leave policies. However, stigma persists around taking time away from work, with some companies penalizing parents who take maternity leave.
The study concludes that workplaces can create nurturing environments conducive to both professional excellence and maternal duties through inclusivity, flexibility, and support.
Conducted via Milieu Insight’s survey community, the research offers valuable insights into the experiences of Southeast Asian women in the workforce, highlighting the need for tailored solutions to address their unique challenges.
