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@BandDmommy: whether she is campaigning to shorten or not, other high level women execs at yahoo will not feel comfortable taking the full leave no mater what they want simply because of what she has done. And that culture will filter all the way down the the lowest level at the company.
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@BandDmommy: But she's setting an example for working women and other tech companies. How are employees supposed to feel comfortable taking even their 12 weeks of protected FMLA when their CEO only took 2 weeks? And why should companies offer anything more than they legally have to when they have a great example of a high profile woman only taking such a short period of time off? Clearly if Marissa can go back to work after 2 weeks, other women can (and should) too, right?
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@Mrs D: I'm not saying that there is any less of a bond no matter how much time you take. This is dependent completely on the mom. But, I think moms who want to take 8 weeks or 12 weeks for bonding purposes should be able to. Instead most U.S. Policies only offer 6 weeks for vaginal delivery and 8 weeks for csection (ie the policy is purely about the mom's recovery; nothing more).
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She is choosing to do what many moms have to do- return to work within a couple of weeks of giving birth. More power to her for expanding her family and running a company!
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@Mrs D: Even if Zuckerberg does work during his leave, at least what he's publicly promoting to his employees and everyone else is that a work-LIFE balance IS important to him and it encourages his employees to feel free to do the same.
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@AggieDaze: That is only accurate and a reasonable way of thinking if these other execs are given her perks...she has admitted fully that she has more help than most people. She is not ignorant to her blessing in that regard.
@Adira: Again...a reasonable woman would see the differences between themselves and a woman who has a small army helping her care for her newborns (who are in a room right next to her executive office).
I actually think the fact that she has had a set up in place for them to be onsite with her sets a great example for Moms who want to have it all. You can be both a mom and a powerful executive.
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@AggieDaze: I can't speak for other women at yahoo. But there is a company policy on maternity leave and it's their choice to take full time allowed.
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@Adira: except he is saying and doing different things. What that really means is he is saying he is disconnecting...but not really doing it. So when you disconnect - you are still supposed to be available to your employer as he is to his stakeholders...I think that is far worse than being honest...
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@Adira: I doubt most people would view themselves in a comparable situation to the CEO who can have a nursery put in the office. I doubt this will change US maternity leave policies at all.
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I think she could have communicated her decision better.
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I think the issue is that working Moms who fall in to the "wanting to stay home longer" and those hoping to impact change in our US maternity policy are looking for her to be their spokeswoman...and its not a role she wants.
Its like asking a vegetarian to advocate for cattle farmers rights just because they are both humans... (ridiculous comparison I know - but I thought it and it made me laugh so I thought it might lighten the mood!)
Its not fair.
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@BandDmommy: Having a company policy doesn't mean people will feel comfortable using it. What your leaders do has a huge impact on what you, as an employee, feel comfortable doing.
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Honestly, if she was my CEO, I'd still take my 12 weeks to the last day lol. Personally, her decision has no effect on mine b/c I know how she can swing it, and how I cannot. I would not, and could not compare my own situation to hers! And if anyone thinks they're "better" b/c they returned to work faster? Well, I don't really care
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@Mrs D: Well, that's just your speculation of what he's doing. For all we know, he really is focusing 100% on his family during his paternity leave.
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@Adira: so, she should just stay home even though she would rather work.. Or is it better if she just told no one, I'm going to return to work prior to 6 weeks because I am ready?
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@Adira: I agree - its all speculation and assumption which I generally just dont believe it. But working for a large company as I do - I know my CEO is literally available 24 hours a day...as I have literally be called into meetings with him in the middle of the night over disasters...
So I just dont believe that someone in that position is fully disconnecting.
And to be honest - if I were an investor I would not be pleased if the leader of a company was completely disconnecting.
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@Adira: I agree. Where I worked when LO was born, no one took the full 12 weeks. Even though I was entitled to 12, I didn't feel comfortable about taking 12. I was the first in our office and people made a lot of weird comments. Tone at the top matters.
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@Mrs D: She's a high profile working mom, so yes, I think other working moms would like it if she was an advocate for them.
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@Mrs D: It's speculating that Mark Z. is still working/lying, that's not fair to him either. For all we know he is logged off/disconnected for the next 2 months focusing on his family, it's unfair to him to assume he's lying. And even if he is still checking in, I took a full 12 weeks and I still checked and responded to my email. I didn't consider myself "working" by doing that, just preventing me from having 3K emails when I returned.
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@Adira: I think people are putting too much pressure on one women's decision.
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I work in Silicon Valley. Some companies have very generous maternity leave policies and the women I know do use the time they are entitled to. The last company I worked for was in the middle. For the first 6 weeks they topped up my STD to 100% pay. The standard leave was 12 weeks but I was able to take 16 weeks.
And I agree with others, I doubt Zuckerberg is taking the entire two months off and completely disconnecting. When you are CEO of a company you have a certain responsibility to the stakeholders. Especially when it is a publicly traded company.
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@BandDmommy: I think if she really wants to return at 2 weeks, she should make it very clear that although SHE WANTS to return to work so early, she believes that other women may not want that or may not be able to and that she supports longer paid family leaves so that women (and men) can make the decision that's best for their family, which may be the complete opposite of what she's chosen.
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@Applesandbananas: That really sucks!!
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@Mrs D: I must have missed that then, so my bad.
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@Adira: but you're ignoring her own personal wants and desires? Is that fair? Just becuase she is a working mom doesnt mean she has to agree with every working mom... Its that same rationale that makes me feel bad for being the mom that wants to go back after 6-8 weeks.
I dont judge people for wanting to be home for longer - so why am I judged for wanting to go back sooner? I should stay at home longer just to not upset those who feel different?
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@snowjewelz: I took the 12 anyway and left shortly after I returned lol
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I don't think he has to completely disconnect while being on paterntiy leave; just not having to go anywhere and be able to stay home and help out, that's already a lot! My husband took 2 weeks off for with DD and I never expected him to not even respond to emails, etc. I mean, I was checking my own email too the whole time!
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@BandDmommy: If we had other examples of high profile working moms, her decisions wouldn't affect other working moms as much. Unfortunately, there's just not a lot of them out there...
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@Applesandbananas: Go you!!
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@Adira: so you don't like how she went about announcing her decision. Again, I think she was trying to talk about her personal situation not make general sweeping comments about appropriate maternity leave.
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@LuLu Mom: I agree - and admit that I am making an assumption/speculating. But to most people being on leave is "not working"...it does not mean checking emails...
ETA: but then he is setting the precedent that while on leave you should still check emails...right?
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@Adira: I agree that there isn't a lot of news on what other high profile women are doing and that's why maybe her announcement is now so "controversial"
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@BandDmommy: I think as such a public figure, she has a responsibility to consider how her decisions affect others.
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@Mrs D: You are making assumptions about what he's doing. We don't know that he's still working. We don't know that he's checking e-mail. I think it's unfair to assume he's doing any of those things and to debate about whether it's right or not since we have no idea what he's actually doing except spending time with his family.
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@Adira: Agree, I think if there were more new moms with her level of visibility and/or guaranteed paid leave in place for all American parents, this would be much less of a hot-button issue. But there's a lot of contention around the lack of parental leave in the US right now (especially on the part of working moms!), and MM has taken on an extreme position with a casual tone. I don't think it's surprising that it hits a nerve with so many working moms.
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I just hope it's something she truly WANTS to do and not something she feels pressured to do because of her industry and position.
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@ms.line: Yes, exactly! You said it much better than I could've.
@lovehoneybee: I agree - I hope this is truly what she wants. Though it sounds like she'll still be able to have her children with her while she's working, which... jealous!
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@lawbee11: That makes me so sick. I am a SAHM but I think that is such sexist bullshit. If a dad takes 2 weeks off he is applauded and no one questions his bond with his kids.
Like others, I'm torn. She should get to do exactly what she wants to do without being questioned or judged.
However, I do think it probably sets a certain precedent for other women at her level. I wish it could be that you could take a reasonable amount of time off and still be viewed as committed, competitive, etc.
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@Mrs D: Not in my mind, he's not announcing that he feels it's necessary to check email while on his 2 month leave, we are just assuming he probably is?
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@LuLu Mom: no...but if he announces that he is on leave and the THEORETICALLY gets involved in work materials (assumption I know) it is sending the message to all those other executives that he is working with what his idea of leave is!
I just re-read a lot of this. I just find it such an interesting dialogue. Here we have a working mom, who has admitted to having LOADS of help and wanting to get back to work because she feels she has a lot to do to improve and work on Yahoo and she is being blasted. Blasted everywhere. She should be an advocate for womens rights (specifically that they should have 12 weeks or more of leave - which she may or may not personally feel is important) and should have preached loud and hard when announcing her decision.
Then we have a man, Mark Z, who make a similar bold announcement. In essence slamming men who dont take the paternity leave he is fortunate enough to have at his disposal. And he is a hero and a saint. No one is checking into his life - making sure he is truly not working - worrying what he is doing. Just because he stood up and said what everyone wanted to hear. Hopefully a journalist will drill into his "paternity leave" and what it was really like. So we all know the truth some day and know if his sainthood was worth it.
Instead we'll all just go back to bashing the hard working executive mom.
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