Monday, February 19, 2024

Working Mothers and The Mommy Tax

Motherhood


MBE Guest Post
by Carleen Haylett
Founder and CEO, EnrichedHQ


It's Q1, the Corporate Retreat Season. Seasoned veterans of Corporate America spend countless Q1 weeks at off-site planning retreats and sales kick offs. Many consider them a dual “love ‘em/hate‘em” experience. In the pro column employee off sites are often the wonderful respites they're set out to be. At the same time, they can be filled with dread. Especially for working moms. Attending corporate events can easily run into thousands of dollars of unnecessary additional non-reimburseable expenses just to participate.


Women Executives in Business Meeting


Exaggeration? Let's take a look. Whether a single or dual-income household, overnight care alone could cost close to $1K for a 3-day business trip without a local, nuclear family to step in. And that's just for starters. Families may now need to add in the costs (and stress) of arranging for pick-up and drop-off of children at school, coverage for extra travel days, extra groceries (and the higher costs of take out food), and spending money that wouldn't exist without these required employee events.

When "Out of the Office" Meets "The Mommy Tax"


It's a stark reminder that the Mommy Tax exists. This tax on working families, particularly women, represents the out-of-pocket expense and professional losses incurred simply due to having kids.

Organizations offering family support in the form of childcare benefits generally cater to the littles of workers through daycare stipends or back up care. Yet, working families with kids between the ages of 10 and 18 are far and away the largest population in the US, yet few options are available for parents of older kids through high school. This group is often having little or no additional benefits to choose from to offset childcare costs.

We need to look no further as evidence that The Mommy Tax is crushing working mothers financially. According to the National Women's Law Center, women already earn just 71 cents for every dollar paid to male colleagues. A discrepancy that continues to rise 5% for each child in the household compared to career women without school-age children. 

Moreover, a study by the Center for American Progress found that women are 40% more likely to experience childcare-related career disruptions, adversely affecting the career trajectories and earning potential. Black single mothers, the largest US group, are disproportionately impacted, spending up to 50% of their annual income on childcare. This far outpaces other other demographic categories: all for the right to have a job.

It's no wonder then to learn that The Mommy Tax is a primary contributor to women's labor participation being at levels not seen since the late 1970s. The Council for a Strong America suggests this alone represents a staggering $57 billion loss of income. If a business case for supporting women's participation is needed, look no further than the recent McKinsey report revealing women's workplace equality will add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025.


Asian Teen Boy Wearing Glasses Wireless Headphones


What's a Mom With Tweens, Teens to Do?


While solving for the complex contributors to The Mommy Tax are numerous, there are a few immediate things working moms can collectively do to bring about rapid change. 

Several Ways Mothers Can Inspire Change

  • Speak Out Loudly. It's no cliche that the squeaky wheel gets oiled. Moms need to remain vigilant about being vocal (and loud) with human resources about the impact these events (and the lack of adequate benefit options) have on families.
  • Demand Change. If the pandemic taught us anything it's that virtual events CAN and DO work well. Highlight the need for your company to offer more flexible working options.
  • Build Strength in Numbers. Many organizations adopt employee support groups as a way for staffers to support each other. Seek out and actively participate in these groups. If they don't exist, start one and use that platform to push for change.


Teen Girl With Blonde Hair on Laptop Laying on Bed


A Call to Action for Corporations


Corporations have a critical role in shaping family-friendly work environments. First and foremost, human resources leaders much look at childcare benefits from the lens of all parents, not just those with infants and toddlers. A comprehensive approach involves offering flexible work schedules, providing, or subsidizing after-school care and creating family support policies.

Per the Boston College Center for Work and Family, such measures not only aid employee retention but enhance job satisfaction and productivity. Corporations can quickly provide access to benefits, specifically targeted toward school-aged kids, as an immediate, low-cost extension of traditional childcare benefits.

While none of these represent the magic pill in eliminating The Mommy Tax, incremental steps lead to major change. HR leaders are at a crossroads, looking for innovative approaches to retain and support their female workforce. Making the mom voice a collective clarion call for radical change is a powerful step toward bringing about change.


About the Author of this MBE Guest Post


Carleen Haylett is the CEO of EnrichedHQ. In 2020, as a single mother and technology leader, Haylett witnesses pandemic-driven gaps in the U.S. educational space when her fifth-grade son began to thrive with homeschooling. The schoolwork was manageable, but the lack of affordable virtual extracurricular programs available, which would stimulate his development as a student preparing for middle and high school, was a shock.


Mom Executive Carleen Haylett EnrichedHQ
Carleen Haylett, CEO, EnrichedHQ

 

About EnrichedHQ


Torn between motherhood and her career, corporate pressure mounted prompting Haylett to leave her job. Out of her personal experience as a mom, she founded EnrichedHQ to solve the logistical nightmare of finding and managing options for kids who no longer need day care or a sitter, bridging childcare through high school. Leveraging her 20+ years in technology development, product management, and sales, she developed a platform that offers virtual extracurricular programs for middle and high school age children that enrich them for life. Working parents are able to find an immediate remedy for this common parental stressor through their employers. 

EnrichedHQ handles all the logistics, letting parents easily find, book, schedule, and pay for multiple virtual programs for multiple children across multiple providers. Both corporations and parents benefit from Enriched HQ's commitment. Learn more by visiting EnrichedHQ.com as well as follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Wonka Hot Chocolate Truck Tours LA

Family Fun


Free Hot Chocolate Feburary 15 - 18


Celebrating the release of the movie Wonka from Warner Bros. now available to watch at home, you're invited to stop by the Wonka Hot Chocolate Cart pop-up at various locations around Los Angeles this week. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a cup of free hot chocolate courtesy of the world’s most famous chocolatier, Willy Wonka. If you are a Wonka fan and love chocolate as much as I do, I hope to see you and your kids there.


Free Wonka Hot Chocolate


MBE partnered with Warner Bros. and post contains affiliate links

Wonka is available for rent on Digital now. The movie will also be available to own on 4K UHD and Blu-ray beginning February 27. 

Here's this week's schedule for where and when to get your free hot chocolate from the friendly servers working on the Wonka Hot Chocolate Truck.
 

Thursday, February 15, 11 am - 6 pm

Meet and Greet with Wonka film star Calah Lane at Noon 

Santa Monica Pier Main Pier 
at the Route 66 sign
200 Santa Monica Pier 
Santa Monica, CA 

Friday, February 16, 11 am - 6 pm


Santa Monica Pier Main Pier 
at the Route 66 sign 
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA

Saturday, February 17, 10 am - 5 pm


Los Angeles Zoo
next to the Alligator Exhibit
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 

Sunday, February 18, 10 am - 4 pm


LA Smorgasburg LA
777 Alameda Street 
Los Angeles, CA


Disclosure: Mommy Blog Expert participates in the Amazon Affiliates program and receives a bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, when you make a purchase using MBE's links 

About Wonka

The feature film Wonka, from Warner Bros. which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award,  is available now on Digital and will be released on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on February 27th. Learn more by following @warnerbrosentertainment @WonkaMovie on Instagram; @WBHomeEnt @WonkaMovie on Twitter; and @warnerbrosent @WonkaMovie on Facebook.

Friday, December 29, 2023

New Years Eve Watch Guide DIY Kids Party

Celebrations


Kia America Delivers 2024 Numerals to Times Square


Just before Christmas, on December 21, Kia America pulled into New York City's Times Square with the 2024 numerals that will light up as the world-famous Ball drops at the stroke of midnight on December 31st. Continuing a Kia tradition, which started during COVID in 2021, the four giant numbers were towed into the city this year by the all-new, all-electric 2024 Kia EV9 three-row SUV after a 2800 mile USA cross-country road trip that began in Los Angeles in late November followed by stops in Tucson, Arizona and Philadelphia before arriving in Manhattan.


New Years Eve DIY Ideas for Families Kids


This post contains affiliate links

How to Watch New Year's Eve
in Times Square from Anywhere


As always the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square will be televised and can be also be viewed this year via PBS and online. 

Official Times Square Webcast

Watch the official Times Square webcast live with closed captions and American Sign Language options starting at 6 pm ET. At 11:51 on ET legend Paul Anka performs his iconic song My Way and John Lennon's Imagine, a song of peace which couldn't be more appropriate at this time of war in Israel, Ukraine, and elsewhere around the globe. See a complete list of scheduled show performers throughout the night, beginning with the raising of the Times Square Ball at 6 pm ET through the conclusion of the show at 12:15 am ET

Times Square Ball Countdown

Join in for the official Ball Countdown from either of the two Ball Cams as well as learn fascinating facts and history about the world's most famous ball. Did you know for example that the first Times Square Ball Drop was in 1907 to celebrate the new year 1908? The ball has dropped every year since then, with the exception of the 1942 and 1943 dim out of New York City lights during WWII. 


Kia Mommy Blog Expert Times Square


CNN Max

Starting at 8 pm ET on CNN Max on New Year's Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, featuring performances by The Jonas Brothers, Rod Stewart and others. CNN Max will also be live streaming celebrations from around the world from 8 am to 8 pm ET.

ABC Television

For the 19th consecutive year Ryan Seacrest returns to host 52nd annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, this year with co-host Rita Ora on ABC starting at 8 pm ET/PT across the US. In additional to the traditional music performances, for the first time the show will also include a comedy show and live radio broadcast. This year, the show will also be trying to make a Guinness World Record with content creator @Airrack trying to visit the most fast food restaurants in 24 hours, limited only to counter-service pizza shops. 

PBS Television

Actor and singer Cynthia Erivo will be singing at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The show airs on PBS starting at 8 pm ET as well as streaming on PBS.org and the PBS App


Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate Whipped Cream


New Year's Eve Party for Kids DIY Ideas


There are so many fun and easy ways to celebrate at home with kids and family, here are just a few simple things you can do.

  • Organize a Family What's App, Facetime, or Zoom Video Call. It might be especially fun to organize chats by matching up cousins by age group or perhaps multiple generations of kids, parents, and grandparents to celebrate virtually together. When setting a time for your meetup online, don't forget that not everyone may be in the same time zone. 
  • Mix up some festive and fun holiday mocktails or hot chocolate for the kids using Jordan's Skinny Sugar Free Syrups (all 0 calories and all delicious); adding alcohol for grownups over age 21 is also an option. For some seasonal drinks try Jordan's special holiday flavors available as a single bottle, two pack and three pack sizes depending on the flavor. Holiday flavors include Peppermint Bark (my personal fave is in hot chocolate with whip cream and a candy cane garnish), Salted Caramel Mocha, Spiced Cranberry, and Sugar Cookie. Jordan's entire line of syrups is certified kosher OU, Gluten Free, and Keto Friendly, too.
  • Stage a small get together with your kids and a few of their friends. If the children are old enough and you're up to it, why not make it a sleep over party? All you need to supplement the watching/streaming of their favorite kids shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime and/or the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square in NY are a few creative New Year's Eve themed DIY food and drink refreshments, board games and party favors.
  • Incorporate crafts into the fun with this cute cardboard photo booth craft idea by Crayola. Then kids can take turns snapping photos of each other with their finished work.
  • Serve cookies and milk at midnight (whether the pretend or real time, depending on ages of the kids) in plastic champagne glasses with colored sprinkles around each glass' rim.
  • Take lots of photos of the food, drinks, and fun the kids and grownups have during the various activities you've planned. Also be sure to capture some screen shots of fun moments if you do a virtual video call with family. 
  • Get even more DIY inspiration on MBE's New Year's Eve DIY Pinterest Board and follow us on Instagram for more ideas. 


DISCLOSURE: Mommy Blog Expert is a member of Amazon Affiliate program and we receive a small bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, if you click on our Amazon links in this post and make a purchase.