This is how I #BalanceforBetter

One year ago on International Women’s Day, I wrote about how I #PressforProgress by bringing discussion around paid maternity leave to the forefront. It’s an issue I’ve always felt passionate about, and one that felt especially personal to me after the birth of my third child. When I decided to take my first maternity leave since founding The Honest Company, it was all too apparent that not all women are afforded that same choice.

Since my post, I’ve been thrilled to see more companies offering this necessary benefit to employees. The tide is turning, and I hope soon, paid leave for new parents – moms and dads – will become mandatory, not an added HR incentive.

This year, I’d like to take the conversation one step further. Because when it comes to gender inequality in the workplace, there’s one factor I believe deserves our renewed focus – it’s a term coined by sociologists called the “motherhood penalty.”

The wage gap between men and women is widely studied and well-documented. But a growing body of research suggests that gap is largely due to motherhood. Women are more likely to give up or postpone their careers once they start a family. They often pursue more flexible work environments to fulfill caregiving responsibilities at home. And they face nagging perceptions that they’re less committed to their job or not “in it for the long haul.” All of this limits advancement opportunities and earning potential.

As an employer – and a mom – the motherhood penalty is simply unacceptable. Women should never have to choose between a successful career and having a family. Female employees are an invaluable asset to the workforce, and we need to create an environment where they are set up for success – regardless of their home life.

At The Honest Company, our women’s employee resource group – Women Excelling in Leadership and Living (WELL) – offers professional development and mentorship programs that empower mothers to thrive, both at work and at home. WELL has allowed us to formalize the supportive, inclusive culture that’s been core to our company from the very beginning.

The results are promising. I’m incredibly proud that 60 percent of positions at the VP-level and above are currently held by women, and about 23% of Honest employees are mothers. And I’m committed to seeing those numbers continue to grow.

This year’s theme for #IWD2019 is #BalanceforBetter – celebrating women’s achievements while calling for a more gender-balanced world. I hope that today, you’ll join me in taking a step back to think about the barriers working mothers face. Then, let’s spend the other 364 days of the year working to break those barriers down.