New Survey Reveals Alarming Job Loss Trend Among Canadian Mothers
A recent Financial Post article highlights the findings of a national survey conducted by Moms at Work and Hudson Sinclair, revealing that 15% of Canadian mothers who gave birth in 2022 or 2023 were laid off, dismissed, or had contracts go unrenewed during pregnancy, parental leave, or upon returning to work—a rate nearly three times higher than the national average for involuntary turnover.
The report underscores a persistent "motherhood penalty," where mothers face discriminatory layoffs or demotions, lack of flexibility, and pressure to return to work early.
While legal protections exist, they are often circumvented or go unchallenged due to the immense pressure new parents face.
Mother Cover's founder, Beth Wanner, was featured in the piece, emphasizing that nearly a third of parents leave their jobs within 18 months of returning from leave, often due to lack of support.
“This isn’t about charity,” she states. “This isn’t about just doing what’s right.”
She advocates for companies to take a long-term, business-minded approach to parental leave, citing high turnover costs and the importance of employee retention.
We wish everyone acted on ethics and morals alone but where that isn’t enough, making the business case for why women and parents should be supported and retained will hopefully lead to the change that’s needed.
