Working Single Mothers Strengthen Their Resilience with Unique Solutions

In today's blog post, I’d like to share the findings of my research on working single mothers, along with my comments and suggestions for solutions.

In an interview published in the April 2023 issue of Harvard Business Review Türkiye, I had the opportunity to share the results of my research on the work-life balance of single mothers working in the private sector and the effects of this balance on their resilience.

In this blog post, I will dive deeper into the important topics we touched on during that interview and provide a closer look at the key findings of my research.

My goal is to highlight the challenges faced by working single mothers in the business world and explore what can be done to better support them.

The Work-Life Balance of Single Mothers: Why Is It Important?

Single mothers are tasked with juggling two important roles: their careers and their family responsibilities.

These women not only need to fulfill their professional obligations but also take care of their children and maintain their roles as parents. Balancing these two aspects of life can create a significant mental and emotional burden for working single mothers.

In my research, I observed that many single mothers feel unable to fully meet their parenting responsibilities due to their heavy workload, resulting in high levels of emotional exhaustion. This burnout negatively impacts their motivation, productivity, and overall mental health.

Key Findings of the Research

In my study, I focused on analyzing both the internal and external motivational factors that influence the work-life balance of single mothers. Internal motivators include factors such as a sense of personal achievement, self-worth, and self-fulfillment.

Single mothers who feel successful in their jobs and can serve as good role models for their children experience increased resilience. On the other hand, external motivators are related to factors like employer support, societal resources, and financial obligations.

When single mothers do not receive adequate support from their employers or face financial difficulties, these external factors can significantly weaken their resilience.

The findings of my research revealed that despite facing great challenges, single mothers demonstrate significant flexibility. They find creative ways to address the daily problems they encounter at work, and this positively impacts their productivity. However, for this flexibility to be sustainable, increased support from employers and society is essential.

The Role of Employers: How to Create a Supportive Work Environment?

Employers have a significant responsibility to help single mothers be more productive and maintain their resilience in the workplace.

By implementing more flexible and supportive work policies for single mothers, employers can enhance both employee well-being and workplace productivity.

Here are a few key steps employers can take:

• 1. Flexible Working Hours: Flexible working hours can greatly benefit single mothers in maintaining their work-life balance. When mothers can adjust their work hours according to their children's needs, they can be more productive at work and fulfill their parenting roles more effectively.
• 2. Remote Working Opportunities: The remote working model, which became widespread during the pandemic, has provided significant relief for single mothers. Offering certain days of remote work helps reduce the stress of commuting and allows single mothers to save valuable time.
• 3. Childcare Facilities: Providing childcare facilities either at the workplace or nearby can help alleviate the challenges single mothers face in maintaining their work-life balance. Knowing that their children are safe allows mothers to focus more on their work.
• 4. Paid Leave Options: Single mothers may need paid leave from time to time to attend their children's school events or manage family responsibilities. By offering paid leave to these mothers, employers can help them maintain a better work-life balance.
• 5. Counseling and Support Programs: Employee support programs are crucial in helping single mothers cope with their work and family responsibilities. Psychological counseling, parenting advice, and stress management programs can enhance their emotional stability and overall well-being.
• 6. Career Development Opportunities: Helping single mothers develop their skills and advance in their careers increases their sense of accomplishment at work. Employers who offer specialized training and career development opportunities for single mothers not only boost their motivation but also improve workplace productivity.

Differences Between Public and Private Sectors

Although my research focuses on single mothers working in the private sector, I’ve also observed significant differences for those employed in the public sector. In general, the public sector tends to offer more social benefits and flexible working arrangements.

In some countries, public sector employers are legally required to provide extended maternity leave, flexible working hours, and on-site childcare services. These benefits help single mothers achieve a better work-life balance.

However, these advantages can vary greatly depending on the country, region, and type of organization. Therefore, it is important for single mothers to be aware of the opportunities and resources available in their own work environments and make the most of them.

As a final note;

The findings from my research show that working single mothers put in great effort to balance their responsibilities at work and in their personal lives, facing significant challenges in the process.

However, through their flexibility and internal motivation, these women manage to overcome these challenges. The support provided by employers in this process will not only enhance the emotional stability of employees but also positively impact overall workplace productivity.

Ensuring that working single mothers can maintain their work-life balance and resilience is critical not only for their success but also for the success of the organizations they work for.

Therefore, companies must develop more flexible and supportive policies to better support this valuable group of employees.