If you’re a parent, you know this stretch of August all too well. For many families, the kids aren’t back in school yet or they’re on a patchwork schedule of half days and teacher meet-and-greets; summer camps have ended; your babysitter is back at college; and your PTO is dwindling. It’s chaos.
That’s why, August 21-September 2, the Moms First office is closed. Every year, we hit pause at the end of summer so our team can rest, recharge, and survive those blurry days when school is kinda-sorta-but-not-really back in session.
Some people might call it a perk. We call it practicing what we preach. If you’re trying to change the future of motherhood, you’d better not burn out the moms (and allies) doing the work.
Why Workplace Flexibility Works (Spoiler: It’s Not Rocket Science)
Here’s the thing: flexible workplaces aren’t just nice, they’re necessary. And the data backs it up:
- Employees with schedule flexibility report 20% less stress and are 62% more satisfied at work.
- A 2025 GAO study found rigid, five-day office mandates are, frankly, outdated. Jobs with telework options saw a 12% bump in performance.
- And when companies provide child care benefits? They can see a return of up to 425%. That’s not just ROI, that’s R-U-Kidding-me?!
This isn’t complicated: when parents aren’t stretched to the breaking point, they do better at work and at home. Everybody wins — including the bottom line.
And plenty of companies are already showing what it looks like when values match policies. Etsy has built flexibility into its culture. Patagonia has offered on-site child care for decades. Synchrony and UPS provide backup care. Fast Retailing helps parents stay on leadership tracks with stipends. Bobbie is rewriting the formula (pun intended) by caring for moms in the office as much as the ones they serve. And organizations like Chobani, Athletes Unlimited, National Women’s Soccer League, and the Adecco Group US Foundation are finding creative ways to put caregiving at the center of their workforce strategies. Proof that when companies invest in people, people invest back.
And Then…There’s Momwashing
Of course, there’s the flip side. We’ve all seen companies that love to market to moms while ignoring the mothers who work for them. That’s called momwashing: selling products that benefit moms with one hand while denying their employees paid family leave with the other. It’s not just hypocritical, it’s bad business. Workers notice, customers notice, and increasingly, so do investors.
A study co‑authored by scholars from Oxford and Harvard found that companies with happier, more satisfied employees enjoy higher firm valuations, stronger returns on assets, and better stock‑market performance, suggesting value-conscious investors reward organizations that treat employees well.
Care Isn’t a Perk, It’s Power
If there’s one thing we know, it’s burnt-out moms are already keeping companies afloat, but imagine what we could build if workplaces actually supported them back. The future belongs to the employers who get it right — the ones who treat caregiving as an investment, not an inconvenience. Let’s make sure there are more of them.
What You Can Do (Besides Forward This to Your Boss)
Change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens because people push for it. So here’s your playbook:
- Talk to Your Employer: Share our Workplace Playbook that includes 10 ways companies can step up.
- Make the Business Case: Use our ROI Report with BCG (spoiler: child care benefits pay for themselves).
- Tell Us: What policies would make your workplace better? Know a company doing it right? Share your story.
Big News: Our New Website Is Live!
We’ve been working behind the scenes to make Moms First even easier to engage with, and today we’re thrilled to share our brand-new website.
On the new site, you can:
- Explore the issues we’re fighting for, from paid leave to child care.
- Take action with just a few clicks.
- Learn more about our movement, our impact, and more ways to get involved.
And in the coming weeks, we’ll be adding even more features — including a full archive of The First Word so you can revisit and share past editions.
Go take a spin: momsfirst.us. We can’t wait to hear what you think.
- Book: Rest Is Resistance (Tricia Hersey)
- Podcast: Mom’s At Work (Work Life)
- Article Series: The Price of Parenting (The Wall Street Journal)
At Moms First, we believe change starts with living our values. That’s why we’re stepping back for a week, not because we’re slacking, but because we’re serious about the future we’re building. A future where rest is respected, care is valued, and workplaces work for families. I’m so grateful that you’re building that future with us.
Signing off,
Reshma Saujani