I never imagined that losing my job while on maternity leave would happen to me once, let alone twice.
It was a sunny day when I took my newborn for a stroll in the park. As I was enjoying the fresh air, an email from my boss popped up on my phone: “Sarah, can we have a Zoom call tomorrow?” My heart sank. I had a gut feeling this was trouble. Just two years prior, I had faced a similar situation while on maternity leave with my first child, when my company eliminated my position as part of cost-cutting measures. And now, it seemed history was repeating itself.
My career in social media has always been precarious; layoffs are just part of the landscape. Prior to starting my family, I’d already been laid off once due to management changes. After I welcomed my first child in the summer of 2020, the pandemic struck, and layoffs were rampant across industries. My company attempted various survival tactics during that tumultuous time, which included furloughs and pay cuts. They reduced my salary by 10%, which, while significant, felt manageable at the time.
I took 14 weeks of parental leave at that reduced pay, followed by another four weeks at an even lower rate. As the fall approached and my return to work loomed, my boss texted me one morning, suggesting we chat. The tone felt odd, but given the chaos of the times, I assumed he just wanted to discuss something casual.
With my second pregnancy, I had a foreboding feeling about my job security, and when I was let go again, it felt even worse. I was devastated, confused, and angry. I wished I had taken more steps to protect myself.
It’s crucial for anyone expecting a child to consider their job security and explore resources for family building and home insemination. For more information, you can visit resolve.org, an excellent resource that offers guidance on these topics. If you’re interested in various baby birth methods, check out this link.
I also encourage you to read more about similar experiences on our other blog post here.
Summary
Sarah shares her experiences of being laid off during maternity leave, detailing the emotional impact and the challenges faced twice in her career. She emphasizes the importance of protecting oneself during such vulnerable times and highlights resources available for family planning and support.