Working mothers need more than flexibility to help their wellbeing and manage work/life balance, according to a new report co-led by the University of Plymouth.

In collaboration with community interest company, Pillars of Wellness & Wellbeing (PoWW), the new report outlines how working mothers still feel under significant pressure, with a high proportion accessing mental health support just to cope with daily life.

The joint initiative, funded by the University’s Get Involved Awards, interviewed working mums from a variety of backgrounds and sectors in the South West. In addition to identifying the issues, the work explains the success behind the follow-up wellbeing initiatives designed to combat them. 

The report’s authors now recommend that employers in all sectors consider rolling out the new wellbeing sessions to all employees, and not just provide ‘tokenistic’ gestures.