This Database Lets You Research Companies’ Maternity Leave Policies

Diana Le
Nov 02, 2015

With all this talk going around about whether or not women really can “have it all,” (whatever that means), a lot of the conversation is centered around careers and motherhood. A company’s maternity leave policy means a great deal to a woman who plans on having a family. But very few companies share their maternity leave policies publicly. The Maternity Leave Resource Center is working to solve that problem. It’s a database of about 550 companies’ maternity leave policies crowdsourced by thousands of female employees. The database was created by Fairy Godboss, a website that provides company reviews for women.

Maternity leave can play a huge role in a woman’s career goals and trajectory. In Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, she talks about how women can check out of their careers early on if they’re planning on having a family one day. They may take jobs that interest them less or not apply for promotions to plan for a more balanced life in the future. Most women don’t even feel comfortable asking a company about its maternity leave policy or expressing interest in having a family during an interview, for fear of not being hired.

A database like this can be a major advantage during the job search, allowing prospective parents — or just anyone who wants to work for a more forward-thinking company — to weigh their options beyond basic perks. It can allow women to make informed decisions on which companies to work for (Netflix and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are at the top of the list FYI), lets companies see how their policies compare and (hopefully!) may even encourage companies to improve their policies. Who wouldn’t want to be in the company of Netflix and the Gates?

Do you think this database will help companies step up their maternity leave game? Let us know in the comments below!

Get Paid $15,000 To Eat Your Way Around The World

Ever dream of globetrotting the world while getting paid? That's not a rhetorical question. Now you can turn your wanderlust into real cash with Ramada by Wyndham. The global hotel brand is on the hunt for its next "CEO," AKA Chief Eats Officer, a dream role for anyone who loves food and travel and well, a paycheck. One lucky adventurer will be paid $15,000 to travel to Ramada’s most coveted destinations, curate a list of must-eats, and share their travel highlights on social media. Learn how to enter below!

Decameron Club Caribbean Runaway Bay, Ramada Jamaica

From Thailand to Turkey and Seoul to Santa Barbara, the CEO trip will include up to seven global destinations in a three-week itinerary next spring. With hotels in 75 countries around the world, Ramada by Wyndham is perfect for travelers looking for that bucket-list experience!

Hunan, China, Ramada by Wyndham Chenzhou Dongjiang Lake

For a chance to be the next “CEO,” travel and food enthusiasts can visit Ramada.com/CEO by October 22 and submit a short, 1-3 minute video through TikTok (tag @RamadabyWyndham, #RamadaCEO) or email makemeceo@ramada.com that shows your passion for travel and discovering amazing eats.

Prize Details:

  • $15,000 reward, including a $10,000 travel stipend to cover airfare and travel expenses, plus $5,000 cash
  • Paid hotel accommodations for up to 21 nights at Ramada properties around the world
  • A Wyndham Rewards® Diamond membership for one year

Ramada Resort by Wyndham, Bodrum, Türkiye

How to Apply

To apply, post a public video on TikTok explaining why you are the best candidate for the job, tagging @RamadabyWyndham, using the hashtag #RamadaCEO, and following @RamadabyWyndham on TikTok.

Your TikTok account must be publicly viewable for the duration of the contest (through November 2024). Alternatively, you can email your video submission to makemeceo@ramada.com.

All video submissions must be between one and three minutes in length and should include your country of residence.

If applying via email, be sure to provide the handles for your active and public personal social media accounts.

All entries must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 22, 2024.

Additional Qualifications Include:

  • Applicants must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or Canada (excluding Quebec).
  • Availability to travel for up to three weeks between April 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.
  • Active and proficient on various social media platforms (TikTok and Instagram preferred).
  • At least 21 years old with a valid passport through December 2025.
  • Self-confessed travel lover and foodie.
  • Comfortable working remotely and on deadline.

Ramada by Wyndham will select the winning CEO on or around the week of November 14, 2024. No purchase is necessary to enter. For more details, including official rules, visit www.ramada.com/ceo. Good luck!

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10 "Outdated" Fashion Trends That Are Totally Cringe (But You're Probably Still Wearing)

Fashion trends come and go, but not all of them are missed. Just like outdated shoes or makeup, there are some things we'd rather leave in our confused or wild party days. From thinking it was cute to wear teeny vests to not caring if our boobs spilled out of scarf tops, we cringe every time we think of these 10 nostalgic things we used to wear.

We're also sure you happily wore one or few of them at some point. Like us, it's possibly you have a relic from the past stuffed in the deepest part of your closet.

All we can say is that we sincerely hope you don't plan to wear any of these cringey fashion trends next year!

Here are the 10 outdated fashion trends you definitely need to retire for 2025!

1. Cropped Vests

Brandon Ricketts

You didn't have to look far if you wanted to spot a celeb wearing a variation of a vest. From under boob designs to cropped versions, they used to dominate fashion. We're willing to bet you even wore the latter in middle or high school. If think we've been sneaking to look at your closet, we haven't nor are we psychic.

We know you had at least one cropped vest because we did too. Some of us had a punk rock era while others thought we were adopted the business casual style that seemed appropriate for our younger selves. Needless to say, this trend won't cut it in 2025.

2. Ponchos

Ayoub Moukhliss

If you didn't own a poncho when you were younger, what were you doing? It was one of the 'it girl' trends that dominated whether you were deemed stylish or not, and guess who couldn't get enough of wearing it? Us...and maybe you too!

Thankfully, we've outgrown our desire to be seen in something that wouldn't get us in trouble at church because we realize it's actually not flattering. Besides, the goal is to let your outfit shine without hiding it under a shapeless garment.

3. Scarf Tops

David Gari

Unless you're headed to a festival or vacationing somewhere where wearing minimal clothing isn't given a side eye, scarf tops are to be left in the past. We actually don't have the words to describe just how much we'd prefer for you to wear everything BUT this trend. Since we're currently glitching, we'll say that we'd prefer to see you wear a poncho in 2025 before you try to revive this.

4. Shorter Leather Jackets

Anna Shvets

This is more of our more controversial takes, but we'll say it anyway: shorter leather jackets don't belong in your closest in 2025. They were great when we were in college, but now? It just seems like they're reserved for 20-year-olds who are still trying to figure out who and what they want to be in life. An oversized, vintage-esque option always looks best!

5. Puffy Faux Fur Coats

Following NYC

Sigh, It seems like everyone wanted their hands on a faux fur coat, but we think this is one of the most outdated fashion trends. It looks like it belongs to the street style during 2016-2018's fashion weeks. While we're add it, please don't pair it with anything camo if you decide this is one thing you're not ready to give up yet.

6. Low Rise Jeans & Skirts

Mizuno K

All we can think about when we see super low rise jeans or skirts are our middle school days. Unfortunately, we saw too many pairs of thongs being exposed because of this style and it scarred us! Unlike other styles we've mentioned, we're adamant that you shouldn't pass 'go' for the sake of reviving low rise anything. Gen Z may say otherwise, but let's just let these lie where they belong: the 2000s.

7. White Sunglasses

Following NYC

Sunglasses are a cute way to spice up your outfit when you're looking for an accessory that doesn't feel distracting. BUT, it's possible to still get that wrong if you're wearing sunglasses that have glaring frames. They're known for making a statement, but not in a good way. Let's leave the white sunnies behind, please!

8. Page Boy Hats

Following NYC

We're sure you can pull of a great page boy hat, but it's the quickest way for most stylish people to wonder if you're trying to hold on to a time where they made everyone look great.

Sigh...Okay, we're just not a fan of this trend, and find that it may unintentionally age you.

9. Overdone Ruffles

cottonbro studio

Unless you're trying to show Lord Farquaad you would make an excellent wife, leave the overdone ruffles alone! They're not going to make anyone look good even if you've pulled them off in the past. Honestly, the above outfit would be really cute if it weren't for the layered ruffles around the neck so let this be a lesson to keep them in the past.

10. Tiny Denim Shorts

Nicolas Postiglioni

"Who wears short shorts?" Well, we used to before we realized that they're not the most stylish option. They're great for summer vacation or days where you want to give your legs breathing room, but we don't think they should be a part of your everyday uniform anymore. There's other denim styles you can rely on like balloon jeans, dresses, or even longline shorts!

Which of these cringey fashion trends did you used to wear? Let us know on Facebook!

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How To Build A Local Community When You’re A Digital Creator

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

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OMG Did Justin Bieber Just React To Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco's Engagement?!

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's engagement is the marquis diamond ring heard 'round the world — and Justin Bieber may have just reacted to it. Our collective jaws were already on the floor after Hailey Bieber liked the Instagram, but this has taken everything to a whole other level. The "Sorry" singer took to Instagram himself, making a post that fans couldn't help tying to the recent engagement news. Here's what he said (in not so many words).

Here's how Justin Bieber (maybe) reacted to Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's engagement!

Instagram/selenagomez

We all know that Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco announced their adorable Taco Bell picnic engagement on December 12, 2024. The post is chalk-full of friend, fan, and celebrity support — including a 'like' from Hailey Bieber, herself. If you're wondering why that may be a big deal, let me break it down for you.

Hailey and Selena both dated Justin Bieber in the 2010's, and there was seemingly a bit of back-and-forth between the three for a few years there. This erupted a "feud" of sorts, leaving Hailey and Selena at odds in the public eye. However, they've continued to show us that any remaining "beef" is squashed.

But now? Now, Justin is sorta stirring the pot a little bit.

Instagram/justinbieber

On December 16, 2024, Justin posted a selfie with Hailey kissing his cheek — innocuous enough, right? Well, fans noticed he attached "All My Ghosts" by Lizzy McAlpine to the post. The song has since been deleted, but Page Six still has the screenshot to prove it.

People attach songs to posts every day, but this tune in particular caught everyone's attention. In the very sentimental song, Lizzy McAlpine sings:

I can see it now, the wedding of the year

I can see it now, he stands up there and wipes his tears

I can see it now, when all my ghosts disappear

I can see it crystal clear.

Sensing any parallels to Justin's life? Yeah, us too. He could have truly just liked the song — it's great! — but it's pretty hard to ignore the underlying message there. All I know is, I hope these ghosts "disappearing" mean the drama between this trio is officially gone for good. We don't want the girls fighting anymore!

Looking for more news about your fave celebrities? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

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Sorry Jude Law, The Best 'The Holiday' Relationship Has Nothing To Do With Romance

Just like Gilmore Girls fans, The Holiday movie lovers get very passionate about which couple they love most: Iris and Miles (Kate Winslet and Jack Black) or Amanda and Graham (Cameron Diaz and Jude Law). But despite the fact Miles composing a song for Iris makes me swoon every single time, when I watch the movie, I can't help but think about how the true love story of the movie isn't between any of the romantic couples — it's between Iris and her new BFF Arthur.

Here's why the true love story in The Holiday is actually between Kate Winslet's Iris and Eli Wallach's Arthur.

Iris life changes forever when she meets Arthur in Los Angeles.

Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures

The premise of The Holiday movie is pretty simple: Iris and Amanda swap homes for two weeks over Christmas to avoid their disastrous love lives, unknowingly agreeing to an adventure that ultimately changes them — and their love lives — forever. (Oh what I wouldn't give to hop on a plane to Europe to avoid boys. What a dream). When she lands in Los Angeles, Iris is totally overwhelmed by Amanda's gorgeous home, the DVD setup, and gigantic bed, but the aspect of her holiday that really shines is her ability to connect with people.

We see Iris learn all of the gardeners' names (as well as the mailman's) barely a week after arriving, and when she notices Amanda's elderly neighbor Arthur walking alone, she immediately pulls over to help him find his house. (Also, sidebar: this scene always terrifies me because why is Arthur in the middle of the street?! Why aren't you on a side walk, A?!).

Iris helps Arthur home and takes a look around his living room (which boasts at least one Emmy and Academy Award each) before inviting him to have dinner with her and boom! The greatest relationship in the movie is born.

Arthur empowers Iris to be "the leading lady in her own life."

These two become fast friends, as Iris confides in him about her disastrous love life that very same night, and he offers her a beautiful piece of advice about acting like "the leading lady in your own life" (remember folks, this was decades before main character energy). Iris also reminds him just how much of a role he played in Hollywood by helping him prep for his Writers Guild of America gala with strength training so he can climb the stairs without his walker.

So though it's not romantic, Iris and Arthur's relationship is the true love story of The Holiday because of how much love and confidence they offer each other. Neither of them expect anything in return — they just enjoy being together.

And Iris gives Arthur his confidence back too!

Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures

Soon, it's time to head off to the WGA gala, and Arthur gives Iris a corsage, apologizing if it's corny or doesn't match her outfit. Iris declares she's "looking for corny," and it's such a small moment that really illustrates that the way they've empowered each other has changed their lives forever.

Iris helps Arthur feel sure of himself again, while Arthur's encouragement helps Iris find her power...and kick her ex Jasper out of her life forever! (Plus Arthur definitely picks up on the vibes between Iris and Miles during their Hanukkah dinner party. The ultimate wingman!).

When Iris and Arthur arrive at the WGA gala, and a sold-out crowd gives Arthur a standing ovation, it's clear he wasn't expecting so many people to care about his work. And in his overwhelming shock, he has Iris to lean on. Iris and Arthur don't only care about each other, they depend on each other, and their trust, love, and understanding is just the cherry on top. And sorry Jude Law, but I'll take that over romance any day.

Do you love relationship hot takes? Check out why The Best Bridgerton Relationship Has Nothing To Do With Romance either.

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