How Maternity Leave Derails Women into Part-Time Work

Episode 17 of Women at Work with Fexingo explores an overlooked career trap: the moment a woman returns from maternity leave and is subtly shifted into part-time or reduced-hours work without a formal title change. Lucas and Luna examine a 2025 McKinsey study showing that 38% of women who return from maternity leave within two years are in roles with fewer responsibilities, and only half ever regain their original trajectory. They discuss the 'mom track' label, how it persists even in flexible workplaces, and why the shift often happens through informal conversations like 'We thought you'd want more balance.' The episode offers concrete strategies for women to proactively define their post-leave scope and for managers to avoid imposing assumptions. Listeners learn one specific question to ask before returning to work: 'What is the scope of this role, and how will success be measured in the first six months?' #MaternityLeave #MomTrack #CareerTraps #WomenAtWork #PartTimeWork #ReturnToWork #McKinseyStudy #GenderEquity #CareerAdvancement #ManagerTraining #WorkLifeBalance #FlexibleWork #ReducedHours #PayGap #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers #Leadership Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo