2 November 2019
Motherhood is a resource for companies, not an obstacle. Just a pipe dream? No, it’s a reality for Danone Company. All new mothers are now returning to work after maternity leave. What’s more, a high percentage are promoted after doing so. South East European HR Director at Danone Sonia Malaspina explains how companies can facilitate an increase in the country’s birth rate and value new parents’ skills. These skills are key to Danone employees’ careers. In fact, 40% of all promotions are given to new mothers that have previously taken parental leave.
It’s an important statistic, considering that 73% of Italian women that resign from their jobs are also mothers. The latest data provides a snapshot of the current birth rate in Italy. Danone decided to position themselves as an employer valued parenting experiences. The results are clear: the corporate birth rate increased by 7.5%, compared to the falling Italian birthrate – 4%.
“Becoming a mother shouldn’t slow your career down. Actually, it helps you to develop managerial skills”. Danone decided to analyse these skills, assessing people before and after they became parents, through the Life Based Learning method and the digital program for new parents.
Malaspina explains, “Motherhood is a training ground. It develops skills that are incredibly important when you come back to work. Companies spend enormous amounts of money to help people learn soft skills, improve emotional intelligence, become better at resolving problems, more agile and flexible, through courses and lessons. But parenthood is ten times more effective”.
“We’re most proud of the following statistic: all mothers return to work following maternity leave. It wouldn’t be right if they resigned, and the company would definitely lose out. 45% of our managers are female, many of them are mothers. Our group has understood that parents bring added value to the workplace”.
Companies spend enormous amounts of money to help people learn soft skills, improve emotional intelligence, become better at resolving problems, more agile and flexible, through courses and lessons. But parenthood is ten times more effective.
Sonia Malaspina
Thank you to Danone for partnering with us since 2017, including Life Based Value as a strategic element in their parental policy.
