“Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.” ~ Tina Fey, actress, writer, producer
All moms work; raising children is very hard work. Many also have jobs or careers at the same time. From my own experience, during the years my children were growing up, there was no work-life balance. At times, work came first. But usually, life commanded my full attention. For me, it was more like a juggling act than a balance act. With a nod to Mother’s Day, let’s look at how are working moms are faring in the workplace and what laws and strategies can they use to strive for a good work-life balance.
Mothers in the workplace
Many mothers with young children want or have to work, and the numbers bear this out. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2025 moms whose youngest child at home was 6 to 17 had a labor participation rate of 78%. For moms with younger children, the rate was still high. Last year, 63% of married mothers with children under age 5 at home were in the workforce; it was 70% for unmarried mothers.
For both groups (married and unmarried mothers), 55% were working full time, although many would prefer to work less than full time. And 20% would prefer not to work at all but instead stay home with their children.
What the government can do to improve moms’ work-life balance
Moms with children under age 18 say they would benefit from certain government policies that currently may not all be available to all working moms. These include:
- Paid parental leave
- Flexible work arrangements
- Child tax credit
- Affordable healthcare
- Government-subsidized childcare
- Free parenting education programs
The U.S. still lags behind many other developed countries in supporting working moms. With that said, there are some helpful measures:
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FSLA). On the federal level, employers with 50 or more employees must give up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave time. Check for similar or even more favorable laws at the state level.
- Breastfeeding accommodations. Employers must give break time for nursing mothers for one year following the birth of a child.
- Employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave. Employers are encouraged to continue paying workers who take this leave by means of a tax credit.
- State salary history bans. A growing number of states bar employers from asking about prior wage history. This helps women who take time away from the workplace to raise children without falling behind on the pay scale.
Final thought
Many dads have similar challenges and would benefit from the same things aimed at working moms. But that’s a subject for another day (Father’s Day).
Find more written about moms in the workplace in this list of blogs here.
