How Female Construction Workers Can

How Female Construction Workers Can Make a Healthy Return to Work After Maternity Leave

For many new parents, coming back to work after having a child can be a life altering experience. Female construction workers who give birth are often recovering from the physical and mental effects of pregnancy and labor during their maternity leave that can make the transmission back to the jobsite after welcoming a child a stressful process.

Mental health support in the community
Postpartum looks differently for every person who gives birth and the changes that occur to the body and mind can greatly affect a female construction workers return to work. Postpartum starts immediately after childbirth and typically lasts six to eight weeks, but for some women postpartum symptoms can last months or years after childbirth. According to the National Library of Medicine About one and seven women experience postpartum depression (PPD) within the first year after childbirth and can stem from a combination of hormonal changes and environmental factors. Along with PPD, women can also experience postpartum anxiety and adjustment disorders that can make returning to work a stressful process.

If you are experiencing these effects when returning to work, it is important to seek mental health support from other women around you. The postpartum period can be challenging in many ways and if there are other female workers on a jobsite who have had children, talking with them and sharing your experiences can benefit both workers. If there are no other women on the jobsite, reaching out to friends, family, or even asking other NAWIC members on the NAWIC mobile app for advice and support can be the next best thing.

Attending online forums, classes, or employee resource groups for parents and new mothers are great resources to find a community of working parents to help guide you through this new chapter of life.

How your company can help
It is important for employers to provide adequate support and resources for women who are returning after maternity leave. The construction industry is a mostly male dominated field and because of this some employers don’t have the proper resources for mothers returning from maternity leave. Before leaving for maternity leave, talking with managers and HR leaders about returning to work after leave can be very beneficial, especially if you are one of few women in the company. Checking to see what resources your company has in place for leave can help create a smooth transmission back to work from maternity leave.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides certain workers job protected leave when taking time from work for birth to bond with a child. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides covered employees with the right to take breaks at work to pump when needed. Not all employers and employees are covered under these acts, so it is important to do research before going on leave about your company and connecting with employers with any questions about the process.

Returning to work after maternity leave is a personal and sometimes challenging experience, especially for female construction workers navigating the physical and emotional demands of postpartum recovery. Open communication, early planning before leave, and access to resources like mental health support, peer networks, and workplace accommodations can make all the difference.

NAWIC provides support, networking and mentorship, leadership training and educational opportunities for more than 6,000 members in 120 chapters across the U.S. Want to know more? Contact a chapter near you.