We’ve all seen the statistics. The millions of women driven from the workplace in the pandemic — fired, furloughed, or forced to leave because of the childcare crisis that began when schools closed. The huge mental health burden. The major gap in available services and resources. The lack of new jobs or suitable employment opportunities. Working mothers are COVID’s silent, unacknowledged victims.

The fact is, these statistics aren’t just numbers. They’re real people. Real people like me who were laid off during the pandemic with a two-month old infant. Real people like the 900,000 women who had to give up their careers to take care of their children because their employers did not have family-supportive programs or policies.

It’s also a fact that COVID didn’t create these struggles faced by working mothers, only exposed them. And while the media has recently begun shedding much overdue light on the situation, the fact is, women have been carrying this invisible burden for a very, very long time.

I was one of those women. And like so many others, I never had any recourse. I never had any guidance. I never had anywhere to turn. I didn’t know where to go, where to look, or how to ask for help. I didn’t know who would hire me, a mother of one, two, and now three children.

That ends today. 

Working mothers are an asset. An asset to companies, to societies, and to economies. Mothers in the workplace outsell, outperform, outpace, and outwork their peers. And despite the number of prejudices, biases, barriers, and “broken rungs” on their ladders up in their careers, working women and working moms are critical components of the labor force. And its time we’re treated as such.

It took me five years, three children, and three horrible employer experiences to build this platform. I built it against all odds so that I might give women everywhere a trusted place to turn to for guidance, advice, insights, and support. A place where women like me who wanted to work — needed to work — could connect with employers and opportunities that valued women workers and understood the delicate work-life balance every working mother maintains.

Jobs.mom was born from the struggles of the working mother, but also her many accomplishments, her unique capabilities, her determination, her drive, her resilience. 

The Jobs.mom launch also coincides with the first day of Women’s History Month — a welcome, and fortuitous alignment. I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants as we fight to make room for women in the workplace. As we focus on employers that are leading the charge in equitable workplace practices, and advocate for change in those that are not. As we give a voice and lend a hand to women everywhere who have been left out of the workplace. 

Our goal, as always, is singular: to connect mothers to jobs, inclusive employers, and a community of resources.

Over the coming weeks you’ll see us roll out new functionality, interfaces, and services. Browse expert content in our knowledge hub, listen to our interviews and insights on our podcast, or get help directly from our team as you prepare for your journey back to work. Whatever you need, you’ll find it here. And if you don’t, it’s always just an email away. Jobs.mom is for you. 

As we navigate the uncertainty of these unprecedented times we live in, I recognize that we’re also in a remarkable position of being able to shape the future. Because the future starts with the women who birth it, the moms who raise it, the community that nurtures it. It starts with you, with me, with all of us.

Help, support, services, advice, expertise, advocacy, solutions. It’s all here now.

Jobs.mom is here.

Zabeen Mirza

Founder & CEO