Working moms share their favorite employee benefits

May 9, 2025 12:00 PM

Mom and daughter, clinking drinks with coffee and orange juice, smiling

For working moms, wearing two hats is much easier when an employer is not just tolerant, but encourages employees to put family first.

This doesn't mean work suffers — just the opposite. When parents are bolstered by an empathetic workplace culture and family-friendly programs and benefits, they have the ability to focus and excel, and that's great for business.

In a study on modern motherhood by workplace research advisory firm ELIXR, working moms were asked how the right benefits can make or break their professional experience: 63% said offerings such as flexible work arrangements and caregiver support would strongly influence whether they stay in a job, and almost half say their current benefits don't align with their needs.

There are, however, many companies doing things right, and their employees are quick to give them props. From flexibility to financial preparedness to team support, the things that allow parents to show up and do their best at home and at work are not taken for granted.

"As a mom of two teen daughters, I've experienced firsthand how powerful these benefits are," says Laura Murphy, president at Bolt PR. "[Having access to these meant I could] volunteer in their classrooms at a young age, be there for every volleyball, track, tennis game and art show, and, most recently, send our oldest daughter off to college. Bolt PR has allowed me to be fully present, both at home and at work. I didn't have to choose between being the "always on" mother our daughters needed and the leader my team relies on. I was able to be both."

Murphy, along with five more working moms, share the benefits, policies and programs at their company that make all the difference for them as parents at every stage.

Flexibility in many forms

Laura Murphy, President, Bolt PR

As a working mom, the most essential employee benefit is intentional flexibility. At Bolt PR, we recognize this need and have built a Bolt Balance program that is dedicated to promoting a healthy work-life balance for all team members, including working parents. This program features WIN (What I Need) Time, Deep Work Fridays (meaning no calls), monthly clarity days and quarterly wellness retreats. For parents like me who need extra time to step away for their child's track practice and other kid-focused events, WIN Time is an additional paid hour each week for employees to do what they need, empowering them to take that time without hesitation.

We also protect work-life balance with several supportive scheduling practices: Mandatory one-hour lunch breaks are encouraged and blocked on calendars daily, ensuring everyone has space to pause and recharge during meeting heavy days. We've also introduced monthly Clarity Days, where we aim for no meetings at all, giving team members the freedom to dive into any writing or organizing.

During the summer months, Summer Fridays allow everyone to log off at 12 p.m. local time from Memorial Day through Labor Day, giving our team a head start on rest, festivities, or whatever they need most while the kids are off from school.

At the end of each quarter, we host Virtual Wellness Retreats that encourage our team to disconnect from their screens and reconnect with themselves, whether that's decluttering their homes for spring in Q1 or embracing the holiday spirit during Q4. These intentional breaks reinforce our belief that balance isn't a luxury; it's essential for working moms everywhere.

PTO and hybrid work

Amy Johnson, finance professional within the healthcare industry

For our family, the most impactful employee benefits have been PTO that carries over (doesn't reset at the end of the year), along with a hybrid work schedule.

I have accrued so much PTO at this point that taking time off is more about getting all my projects/tasks complete, rather than if I have the days. This allows me to schedule vacations beyond the typical one week to unplug with my family.

Having a hybrid work schedule has also been extremely helpful. Our team goes into the office three days a week, and works from home on Mondays and Fridays. This allows me to interact with my babies a bit more than I would if I were in the office full time and I get to catch glimpses of those baby milestones — first crawls and first steps. I feel more like I'm not missing out when I get to be at home those extra two days a week.

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Prioritizing work-life balance

Odellé Joubert, chief operating officer at dental health platform Dentaly.org

Being a mom on top of managing operations, I can certainly understand how important balancing work and family is. My company helps me with this in the form of a very flexible work policy, which gives me the opportunity to manage my professional responsibilities while still being there for my son.

A time where this has benefited me was during the Hyrox JBX global fitness race this year. With the ability to adjust my work hours, I was fully able to train for the event while also meeting all my work commitments. The flexibility not only helped me maintain a healthy work-life balance but also allowed me to pursue my passion for fitness. These are the benefits that keep me sane, feel supported and motivated as a working mom, and I thank the company for seeing that my personal life is worth just as much as my professional one.

Open communication

Alice Wu, senior PR specialist at tech public relations company Mind Meld PR

I'm a mom of two kids, aged 7 and 9. The #1 employee benefit my agency offers is most definitely the 'unofficial' schedule flexibility that the CEO affords us.

When I landed at Mind Meld, I knew the remote role would make it easier to chauffeur my kids to activities after work hours, but I didn't know how beneficial it would be. I thought I'd have to pass on any kid's activities that were too early to too far, but not so. When I brought it up with my boss, all he said was "All good, thanks for letting me know," and that was that. I do make up the time, but that's also very flexible. It's a relief to be a working mom and have this kind of support.

A culture of support

Deanna-Marie Norcross, director of accounts at design and tech agency Studio Mosaic

The benefit that's meant the most to me as a working mom is the combination of what's written in the handbook and what's lived out loud in our culture.

I had four months of supported maternity leave, and that policy wasn't just generous on paper, it was honored in spirit. That time gave me space to heal, bond with my daughter, and transition into motherhood without the pressure to rush back before I was ready.

But what's been just as powerful is the way our team shows up for each other every day. Flexibility isn't a buzzword here, it's a practice. We build in redundancies and realistic timelines so that when life happens (as it does for all of us), I can step away without guilt or disruption. Having a daughter with some specific medical needs, the flexibility to take time for her specialist appointments has meant everything.

What's surprised me is how much becoming a parent has strengthened my work. It's made me more empathetic, more grounded, and more able to connect with clients on a human level. I know what it means to care deeply about something beyond the screen, and that shared understanding builds trust. I'm a better teammate and a better leader because I'm a mom, not in spite of it.

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Future-focused financial wellness

Patricia Roberts, chief operating officer at higher education gift registry company Gift of College

By far, my very favorite benefit as a working mom has been the matching 529 plan contributions my employer provided for my son's 529 college savings account. That extra $1,000 each year in savings helped complement my own contributions and helped result in my son's debt-free degree.

With higher education often being the second largest investment that most families will make (second only to home purchase), any support in preparing for the cost can go a very long way. And with women (according to the American Association of University Women) holding nearly two-thirds of the outstanding student loan debt, helping moms avoid educational debt for the next generation can be a real game changer!

With my son now a graduate, my employer is contributing to my brother's 529-A (ABLE) disability savings account, which also means so much to me. Having an employer who cares about what matters most to me goes an extremely long way. My son was so appreciative, and now my brother is too!

For more on how to support employees throughout their fertility and prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences, listen to EBN's award-winning podcast season,

Giving birth, then back to work