The Work Couch: Black maternal experiences and supporting colleagues, with Shanice Holder, Tinuke Awe, Clo Rebecca Abe and Tonye Alagoa

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast series where we explore how your business can navigate today's tricky people challenges and respond to key developments in the ever-evolving world of employment law.

As we celebrate Black History Month, the theme of which this year is reclaiming narratives, and as we also approach Baby Loss Awareness Week, the Work Couch is devoting a special episode to a very important but perhaps rarely discussed topic: black maternal experiences and the impact on employees and their families.

Guest host, Shanice Holder, associate in our professional and financial risks team and member of our ethnicity community, is joined by Tinuke Awe and Clo Rebecca Abe from charity Five X More, named after the MBRRACE report, which in 2018 found that black women are five times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. This shocking and heartbreaking statistic drove Tinuke and Clo to found their charity to campaign for better maternal outcomes for black women and birthing people. And also joining the conversation, Tonye Alagoa, associate in RPC's risk and compliance team, who shares his experiences as the partner of a black woman.

They discuss:

• Commonly reported experiences of black women during pregnancy, labour and the post-natal period;
• The complex and multi-faceted reasons behind the statistics, including the role of stereotypes, systemic issues, gaps in knowledge, and misinformation;
• How black women and their partners can prepare to advocate effectively during the pregnancy, labour and afterwards;
• How employers can support colleagues affected by these issues; and
• The importance of raising awareness across the workforce and creating safe spaces for people to talk about their experiences.

To access further support and information, you may wish to visit: Five X More, AIMS or Birthrights.

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The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.