South Carolina recently ranked 49 out of 51 on Wallet Hub’s list of the best + worst states for working moms – so last week, we asked our audience how they would like to see conditions improved. From paid maternity leave to better daycare systems, we got a lot of useful feedback. Here’s what our followers had to say:

Maternity leave

“Oh ya know...actual paid maternity leave vs. having to use PTO or sick days, more childcare options that aren’t sketchy or don’t have a 3 year waitlist if they’re nice, bosses who understand that your kids get sick & you’re the caregiver to take them to the doctor. Basic things like that??” – @mgschmolze

“A good, paid maternity leave for sure. Childcare is pretty unaffordable too - it doesn’t even make sense for me to work just so I could afford child care.” – @valuemindedmama

“An actual mandatory paid maternity leave.” – @lockesavannah

“Paid maternity leave! Flexibility in the workplace (e.g. work from home, schedule flexibility for doctors visits/parenting)! More paid time off + family time!” – @marissayourhill

“Paid maternity leave!” – @jessicagnickles

“Longer maternity leave and better paying jobs.” – @the_rickt

“Longer maternity leave!!! A mandatory one: something similar to Cali.” – @realestatelisha

Childcare

“More affordable childcare and more remote opportunities.” – @lucysuekessler_

“More quality child care. Options for infants are especially slim unless you are downtown. Looking at you, Northeast Columbia!” – @bobakanoah

“Yes childcare is too expensive! I also feel like there should be something in place to protect working moms when their spouse gets deployed.” – @johnandroses1

On-site daycare, breastfeeding accommodations + more

“I’m not a working mom yet, but I worry about how I’m going to be one in the future. I honestly don’t know how they do it! I think employers need to offer childcare, flexible schedules and the option to work remotely (when possible) along with paid maternity leave.” – @margarethollifield

“Daycare on site.” – @marigoldlover63

“My employer, @scfirststeps (a state agency) recently adopted an Infants in the Workplace policy, allowing parents to bring their newborns to the office until the child is 6 months old. I’m expecting a baby this fall, and while I may not be able to take as long of a maternity leave as I would prefer, I take a lot of comfort in knowing that I can continue to be with my baby during those early months and that we won’t need to scramble for interim childcare until a spot at our preschool opens up. It’s a big win for me personally, but it’s also an indication that the needs of working families are beginning to be taken seriously by those in charge. I hope other SC agencies and employers will follow suit.” – @bethfadeley

Flexibility + remote options

“Flexible work schedules. Paid maternity leave. Well-being check-in shortly after returning to work. Breastfeeding accommodations. Close the gender pay gap. Opportunities for advancement and/or raises based on quality of work.” – @rachwjones

“Not a working mom yet, but definitely more remote jobs, or jobs that let you work from home occasionally!” – @booksandbighair

“As a mother of three here in South Carolina, it’s not just the leave but the accommodations when you return. Flexible working hours, family leave for those that have partners, realistic facilities for breastfeeding mothers, teleworking and/remote work opportunities without such strict rules etc. etc. and on and on.” – @maudraconsults

Other

“Federal standards for breastfeeding moms at work don't apply to "exempt" employees of FSLA (like teachers). It would be really nice to see SC take care of women with more comprehensive protections to ensure that we can provide for our children since we are forced to return to work way before our babies are ready for us to. The *only* protection breastfeeding mothers have is that we can't get arrested for public indecency when nursing in public.” – @sammyrainnnn

“Unbiased hiring, incentives for referring women, business resource groups.” – @shannonroses