Putting your career on hold for a few years to raise children has its ups and downs, according to a recent survey by TheLadders.com, a New York-based jobs Web site for executives earning more than $100,000 annually.
According to TheLadders.com, "The majority of executives want to continue working after having kids, yet the specter of co-worker resentment for extended parental hiatus looms large." Indeed, when questioned about their perceptions of executives who return to the workforce after raising their children, 42% of survey respondents said executives were "resented for taking time off." Another 23% stated that taking an extended leave would leave executives "too far removed from the action to be effective."
However, more than one-third of survey respondents felt that executives returning from an extended maternity/paternity leave would be "valued for their renewed perspective."
According to survey results, many executives are determined to keep their foot in the door of their workplace to avoid negative perceptions.
"For those executives who want to take an extended leave, the key to a smooth transition back into the workforce is to stay engaged: keep reading and sending e-mails, meeting with colleagues and reading the trade publications," says Marc Cenedella, CEO and president of TheLadders.com. "It is important not to get too far removed."
