MOMS LEAVE THE WORKFORCE IN DROVES TO RAISE CHILDREN; Businesses Struggle to Keep Them

More moms, educated and experienced alike, have abandoned their office jobs to raise their infants. There was a six percent hike in women choosing to stay at home, according to the New York Times, and the percentage looks as if it's still growing. Last year alone, 1.4 million moms left the workforce. This trend has made businesses take notice. From attempting to bribe high level moms with expensive, in-office day care, to trying innovative new "bring your baby to work," methods, business owners have exhausted their resources. The only way to meet the bottom line and please their employees was to re-think the way businesses have been run entirely. Lori Kerrigan, and Sonja Stewart, forerunners to the home sourcing phenomenon recognized a need in the workplace. Noticing the trend for corporations to out source their customer service and tech support centers, they decided it was time to match the homebound mothers with companies that can outsource the work.

"It was easy enough to figure out," says Lori Kerrigan, president and co-founder of the non-profit organization, IncMoms.com. "These moms were looking for extra income and these businesses needed employees. We found a way to help them out."

A quick look over the internet and one can find exactly what she's describing. There are countless websites promising all the glory of the stay-at-home experience. But very few deliver, as Sonja discovered.

"There were a lot of places that wanted money or a lot of personal information. That wasn't what we wanted at all. We wanted to attract legitimate companies looking for experienced, intelligent women; who just happened to be moms."

When the extra income of a part time or work from home job is not enough, families have to cut back in other ways. One mother had to give up her wine, her shoe shopping habit, her trips to Starbuck's, and sell one of the family cars. Budgeting, she insists is the key to making it work.

"It just takes determination. And focus. Once you decide staying with your kids is the most important thing, you make it work. There are no other options." A mother to a one year old writes, "IncMoms.com has made the resources available to moms for free. It's been so helpful. The articles help too. It helps me figure out my family budget, think of things to do with my daughter, and directs me to businesses that need me. It's been so helpful."

When asked if leaving the workforce is worth it, mothers are praising their decision.

"I can sleep at night," a 32 year old mom of three says. "I couldn't before. It's not perfect, I have bad days, but I know it's for the right reason."
And that sentiment, sober and shoeless, seems to be the consensus across the board
IncMoms.com is a non-profit organization founded to assist mothers who wish to work from home. The site offers articles on parenting, resources on infertility and free daily job postings to arm moms with legitimate work from home options