Mothers’ return to work, maternal mental health, and children’s outcomes

Research shows that mothers’ earnings stagnate and often decrease following childbirth, leading to a large and growing gender pay gap. This is often referred to as the “motherhood penalty”. In response to this, considerable work has focused on policies that may facilitate the return of mothers to the workplace. However, knowledge remains scarce regarding the implications of the timing of this return on maternal mental health and on children’s development.

This workshop brings together experts and academics from academic and other sectors around topics at the intersection of maternal labour supply, policies that support mothers’ return to work, mental health, child development, and family wellbeing and dynamics.

Registration at this event is limited to 25 people.

Agenda

8:30 – 9:00	Sign in, refreshments, and networking
9:00 – 10:00	Keynote: Bridging work and family: What policies help mothers return to work and thrive? Speaker: Elizabeth Dhuey
10:00 – 10:45	Session 1 of 2: Mothers’ return to work, maternal health and children’s outcomes Study title: Is there a “double penalty” of childbirth? Investigating the impact of childbirth on employment and well-being in the UK Author(s): Kourtney Koebel and Daisy Poilene
10:45 – 11:05	Break and refreshments
11:05 – 12:35	Session 2 of 2: Mothers’ return to work, maternal health and children’s outcomes Study title: In survival mode’: Navigating postpartum mental health and workforce re-entry for Muslim mothers in South Africa Author(s): Feranaaz Farista
12:35 – 2:00	Lunch (provided)
2:00 – 3:30	Session 3: Policies and programs that encourage mothers’ return to work Study title: Initial effects of the early learning and child care “Toward $10-a-day” fee reductions on mothers’ labour market outcomes Author(s): Derek Messacar
3:30 – 3:45	Break and refreshments
3:45 – 4:30	Session 4: Mothers’ return to work and the role of spousal involvement Study title: Mothers’ return to work after childbirth, and the role of spousal involvement in mothers’ mental health, mothers’ careers and their children’s development  Author(s): Tímea Laura Molnár and Gaëlle Simard-Duplain
4:30	Closing and acknowledgements

This event is being held to share outcomes and learnings at the close of the Vanier Institute of the Family’s 2024 Early Career Scholar Secondary Data Analysis Grant” which was awarded to Gaëlle Simard-Duplain and Tímea Molnár. Additional support for this event is provided by Carleton University.