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Mums bring a unique set of skills to real estate businesses, but too many new parents are let down by company policy.
Raising a family is one of the toughest jobs out there, as any mum or dad knows.
When it comes to meshing parenthood with a real estate career, poorly designed leave and hiring policies can create obstacles for those with a young family to raise. The struggle is particularly tough for women, who continue to spend substantially more time on childcare responsibilities than men.
Olivia Chammas, director of talent at Urban Real Estate, knows that making real estate accessible to returning mothers requires meaningful policy changes.
“Returning mums from parental leave are provided with options to return in different capacities which the business accommodates,” said Chammas.
“This flexibility enables the company to retain top talent while they adapt to their new work/life requirements without compromising on earning capacity,” she explained.
To ensure that returning parents choosing not to miss out the same opportunities as their peers, the company reportedly offers several different flexible work options.
In-person office facilities offer both group and individual work stations to allow employees to come and go, while hybrid working options are available for those who need to stay at home.
Training and coaching initiatives also make professional development easier for new parents to access, while high levels of community engagement are often a core component of job descriptions.
“Culture is a powerful driver for movement within organisations because it influences employee engagement, retention, talent attraction, innovation and adaptability,” said Chammas.
“A positive culture creates a thriving workplace where employees are motivated, committed and inspired to contributed to the organisation’s success.”
She explained that making the workplace accessible for returning parents has a positive ripple effect on the company itself.
The skills forged in the fire of parenthood – such as “multitasking abilities, organisational skills, empathy, problem-solving abilities, time management and diversity of opinion” – can take a company to new heights of success.
Jessica Hurst, director of operations at Urban Real Estate and proud mum, stated that she is “grateful I never had to choose between my career and motherhood”.
“I have the best of both worlds, and I’m incredibly proud of the women I work with that all bring something unique to the workplace,” Hurst said.
“My female peers are strong, intelligent and empowered people that help each other in every possible way.”
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