'Birth-friendly' jobs boost options for working mothers

When Meng Lei fell pregnant within six months of starting work at one of China's biggest online reading apps in 2020, she worried she might have to voluntarily resign like many women in a similar predicament have done in the past.

But her supervisors at Fanshu App were more concerned Meng had considered quitting her job because she was pregnant.

"I still remember their words," said Meng, now 37 and thriving in her role as the director of Fanshu's psychology institute. "They said if our company, which aims to promote reading and kindness, has no place for a pregnant woman, we are already done. You can just settle down and work here in peace," Meng recalled them telling her.

Formerly known as Fan Deng Reading, and with over 77 million registered users as of March, Fanshu's bosses promised Meng her work while pregnant would not be "superficial".

Meng, who is married and lives in Shanghai, said she was never excluded or marginalized at work during her pregnancy.

The bosses carefully considered her talents and placed her in a suitable position, where she was able to continue creating value for the company and have a sense of purpose.

Working with a pleasant team and enjoying a birth-friendly corporate culture, Meng received strong support from her colleagues throughout the whole process.

"My workload was a proper workload, and the company's policies allowed me to get off work one hour early. I was always in a very good mood, and loved the beautiful sunset on my way back home," said Meng with a smile.

When she returned from maternity leave the support continued. Meng said she was understood and accepted by her workmates and given time to adapt to her new role. She eventually became a department director and now handles a business worth millions of yuan annually.