Note: I am a spokesperson for The Hartford’s My Tomorrow Campaign.
The New York Times Magazine recent article, “The Opt-Out Generation Wants Back In,” followed up their much-talked about “The Opt-Out Revolution” 10 years ago and offered several conclusions about the impact of leaving one’s career. However, one conclusion not drawn in story was how women might protect themselves and safeguard against the challenges of “re-entry” to the workforce.
As a career and Millennial expert, I regularly encounter young women who, despite not yet being married or having children, are interested in how to manage their careers with a family. I trace this to the fact that a majority of Millennials were raised by working moms and saw firsthand the challenges and benefits of combining work and family.
Millennial women are smart to think ahead. In millions of American households, a mom’s paycheck is essential. The Hartford’s 2013 Benefits for Tomorrow Study found 46 percent of working women have kids relying on their paycheck and 10 percent have parents depending on their income. In fact, those numbers skew even higher for Millennial women, with 49 percent citing their children and 13 percent their parents as depending on their salary. And a record 40 percent of households with children under the age of 18 include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income, according to the U.S. Census Bureau as cited by Pew Research.
If you are a Millennial woman planning for a successful tomorrow, here are some suggestions:
Network early and often: Start now to build and maintain a professional network. For the women in the Times article who were able to opt back in to the workforce, it was usually because they had strong connections who vouched for their skills and talent and made introductions to employers. Use LinkedIn to keep track of your connections over the years.
Protect your income – now and later: If you are currently employed, take advantage of the benefits – such as gym membership discounts, smoking cessation programs and insurance – offered by your employer to help you today and make you stronger physically and financially tomorrow. One benefit often overlooked by young women is disability insurance, which keeps a paycheck coming in if you cannot work due to an off-the-job injury or illness, including pregnancy. It also provides return-to-work resources.
Lean into your mentors: One of the best ways to make decisions about your career is to learn from women who have made those decisions themselves. In your company, your family or a professional association, ask women how they have figured out whether to opt in, opt out, lean in or zigzag. There is no need to go it alone.
Remember there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to work/life decisions. The best choices are the ones that work for you. Just be sure to educate yourself today in order to allow for a successful tomorrow.
The Hartford’s My Tomorrow Campaign aims to help consumers understand insurance benefits and empower them so that they can protect the life they’ve built.
