Maternity Coaching

BACKGROUND:

Mars Information Services (Mars IS) is the global division of Mars Inc. and contributes to the growth, profitability and efficiency of Mars, through the development and application of relevant information and information-related services. They aim to use the best technological solutions to support all their business processes as well as support their customers and suppliers. This ranges from optimising shelf utilisation for retailers to allowing internet-based sales data transfer to enable continuous replenishment planning.

Mars requires individuals who want to be involved in the bigger picture and are keen to develop new skills and experiences. People learn through doing, as well as through formal training and their culture focuses firmly on the individual. Mars IS is also mindful of gender diversity and actively encourages women into leadership positions in a sector that has a predominance of male managers.

A female member of the Mars IS hub based in Slough, UK had a long standing and well established career with Mars IS. When she fell pregnant with her first child, she talked to her line manager about how she could continue to develop herself against her personal and professional objectives, whilst at the same time starting a family. This was a challenging task in an environment where Mars had just successfully negotiated the purchase of Wrigley and where they were guaranteed to require re-organisation of people in Mars IS. Her male line manager was very supportive of her ambitions in both her career and in starting a family.

SOLUTION:

It is still a challenge for women to take successful career breaks and return to work in an environment that enables them to balance all their responsibilities. Women need support and encouragement during this period in their careers so they can continue to be engaged and active members of their working community after having a family. Mars felt that providing this staff member with a coach before, during and post maternity leave would offer the right support.

OUTCOME:

From an individual perspective, the staff member felt supported and respected during her time on maternity leave. She felt engaged with her employers even though her primary role was learning to be a mum and looking after her daughter.

Out of sight out of mind can have a negative impact on people’s careers if they need to take extended periods of leave such as maternity or a sabbatical. Through the coaching, she was able to understand how she could encourage her line manager to be her advocate whilst she was not in the business. Her line manager was able to remind people of her valued role and her ambitions on her return.

Plenty of work was done by the staff member on her three objectives ahead of her maternity leave. These objectives were again focused on when she returned so her confidence grew, she continued to build relationships and she developed her style. She has subsequently successfully negotiated a part-time contract with Mars IS and has taken on a new position within the business which she enjoys and where she can add value. She has also been able to travel to other sites in North America, whilst still managing being a working mum and is very happy with her new role.

From a business perspective, Mars IS has an engaged member of staff who feels as though she has successfully negotiated the conflict between career and family. This has had positive outcomes for recruitment and retention because they still have the knowledge, experience and energy of a valued member of their staff.