Mothers returning to work after maternity leave research summary: Maternity leave isn’t a guarantee in the US, and many mothers struggle with what they want to do once they have an infant.
On the one hand, many mothers want to spend as much time as possible with their new babies. On the other hand, some feel guilty about not returning to work or have important financial obligations.
We’ve investigated how many mothers return to work after maternity leave, and according to our research:
Key Takeaways:
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55% of moms return to work after taking maternity leave.
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26% of US women who take maternity leave return to work less than two months after giving birth.
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Only 70% of all women in the US take some form of maternity leave.
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26.5% of new moms report their mental health as “fair” or “poor” in their first month back at work.
The most common time moms return to work after maternity leave
When mothers choose to take maternity leave in the US, they’re most likely to return to work between 2-3 months after taking leave. However, around half of those who choose to return will take less than two months of leave.
When moms return to work after maternity leave
| Amount of maternity leave before work reentry | Share of mothers |
|---|---|
| Less than 4 weeks | 10% |
| 2-3 months | 16% |
| 3 months or more | 29% |
Of the 55% of mothers who return to work after maternity leave, 29% will take three months of leave or more, while 26% will take less than two months of leave.
Moms who don’t take maternity leave
In the US, around 30% of all mothers don’t take any maternity leave, the reasons cited for this decision include:
Why US mothers don’t take maternity leave
| Reason for not taking maternity leave | Share of mothers |
|---|---|
| Finances | 84% |
| Fear of losing job | 35% |
| Risk of career stagnation | 15% |
| Fear of irrelevancy in career | 11% |
While these explanations are specific to mothers who chose not to take maternity leave, they also apply to the many mothers who choose to return to work less than 1-2 months after taking leave. The reality is that paid maternity leave isn’t guaranteed in the US, and many mothers are forced to return to work for financial security.
Returning to work after maternity leave FAQ
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How many mothers return to work after taking maternity leave?
55% of mothers return to work after taking maternity leave. In more detail, 10% of moms return to work in less than 4 weeks, 16% between 2-3 months, and 29% after three months or more.
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Is maternity leave paid in the US?
No, maternity leave is not typically paid in the US. Unfortunately, only 23% of those working in private industries have access to paid maternity leave in the United States. The FMLA only requires companies to offer 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.
This results in 30% of mothers choosing not to take maternity leave for primarily financial reasons and 26% of mothers who take maternity leave returning to work in less than two months.
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What am I entitled to if I don’t return to work after maternity leave?
If you don’t return to work after maternity leave, you’re still entitled to pay for any unused paid time off and COBRA benefits. If you’re one of the 45% of mothers who choose not to return to work after taking maternity leave, you may have financial options and obligations.
While you’ll likely be able to collect unclaimed PTO and benefits, you could also have to pay back health insurance premiums if they were used to cover health expenses over your maternity leave (which they likely were).
Additionally, keep in mind that it’s best to still follow company policy and common decency by giving adequate notice of your decision not to return.
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Why do moms not return to work?
45% of moms don’t return to work because they want to spend more time with their kids or cannot arrange childcare options. When surveyed, 28% of mothers said they wanted to stay home with their kids, while 15% said they didn’t have childcare options.
Research indicates that 64% of new mothers would return to work if given flexible schedule options.
Conclusion
55% of mothers return to work after taking maternity leave. Most take 2-3 months off, but some are pressured to return to work in less than two months. Further, 30% of mothers don’t take any maternity leave.
While not taking maternity leave and returning to work quickly may be a choice for some mothers, many are forced into the decision by a lack of financial options. To address the issue, US companies need to provide more paid maternity leave and flexible scheduling options for mothers who want to work.
References
Author
Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.
