Thinking About Career Breaks

"What does the opting out phenomenon have to do with the gender pay gap?"

The title of a recent episode of Think on NPR caught our attention. We wanted to avoid it, but given the choice between silence and listening to it while I got ready to start my day, I opted to listen. And I'm glad I did.

The episode is called "Can Moms Who Stay Home Catch Up On Careers?" I'd wished it was called, "Can Parents Who Stay Home ...", but by the end of the conversation, I got it and wasn't as bothered.

For 48 minutes, the host, Krys Boyd, talked with Pamela Stone, professor of sociology at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Pamela has written two books of interest and the latest one was co-authored with Meg Lovejoy and called Opting Back In: What Really Happens When Mothers Go Back to Work.

Women and men considering a short break from their careers will want to consider the info shared during this podcast.

Spoiler alert: If you are a high potential employee and do opt out, even for a very short period of time, it's very unlikely you'll pick up where you left off when you return to the workforce.

Krys Boyd is a mother, wife, and the host and managing editor of KERA FM's flagship midday talk show Think since 2006. She hosted the weekly TV program of the same name from 2007-2011

Pamela Stone co-authored Opting Back In: What Really Happens When Mothers Go Back to Work with Megan Lovejoy.