In 2003, I was a working mom with two young children. At that time, my days looked like up at 5 a.m. to drop off the kids at daycare and elementary school. At work by 8 a.m. Pick up the kids before 6 p.m. and then home, where my evening was full of football and basketball practices, games and church activities.
As a woman in a male-dominated profession, I understand first-hand the challenges working mothers face every day.
That's why I have spent time volunteering on boards and councils to lift up women and children. As a member of Mayor Berke's Council for Women, I can see how the issue of access to economic opportunity fits into the larger picture of empowering and supporting Chattanooga women.
We know that women are working more, but making less, which hinders women and families across our country, our state and our city. Add this hindrance on top of the very real responsibilities of being a working mother, and we have a system that is not set up to support families. Half of Chattanooga's families in poverty are headed by a single woman. When a working mom is not able to provide basic needs for her family on what she earns, there is an economic impact on everyone and unfortunately, the children are those most affected.
As Chattanoogans, we can and should expect more from our companies. I have been employed by Thompson Engineering for six years. It is encouraging to work for a company that shares the same family values as I do. They allow me the flexibility to work and care for my family. They recognize we all work harder when our family is cared for.
Working mothers have mouths to feed and barriers to feeding them. Those barriers are broad and burdensome: transportation, child care, access to time off, at-work facilities for new moms. Through a recommendation made by the Council for Women, the mayor has challenged area businesses to engage their employees and make sure their workplace is family friendly.
As a Chattanooga mother and worker, I look forward to seeing what innovative solutions our local companies will come up with through the Family Friendly Workplace Challenge.
In just the last few months, great ideas have already been put forth from increased flex time and parental leave to on-site child care and more facilities for nursing mothers. Implementing these ideas - and more - will show that Chattanooga is not only a city with a strong and growing economy, but that we are a community that values and invests in our workers and their families.
Sharon Braden is the regional business development manager at Thompson Engineering Inc. She serves on the Economic Committee of the Mayor's Council for Women.