Susan jackson

by Susan Wenner Jackson (Mommy Track'd: Around the Watercooler)

Remember that cheesy deodorant tagline from the 80s: “Never let ‘em see you sweat”? For the past few months, as part of my New Year’s get-fit resolution, I’ve been breaking that rule of female empowerment at the office.

Between meetings, at lunch, after work – pretty much whenever I can find the time – I head down to our office gym for a seriously sweaty workout. That includes changing into my unflattering exercise attire (oversized T-shirt and yoga pants) in the locker room, which is nestled behind my coworkers’ cubicles. Then, I stride past those coworkers (who all happen to be male in that area), who are still clad in regular clothes and going about their work, and head into the gym.

If you are a working mom in the corporate world, you know about the pressures of face time. All you want to do is keep your head down and work hard so that you can get home to your kids as fast as possible. But are you losing work-related leverage because you aren't spending time socializing with colleagues at work? Susan Wenner Jackson, a contributor to the Mommy Track'd Around the Watercooler column ponders the consequences of working moms reluctance to spend more time "around the watercooler." Read More »