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BOOST Global Competence for Advancing
Social Inclusion and Career Paths for
Vulnerable Women

COACHING CASE STUDY

Level 1 | Personal development

Anabella (38), Portugal
Secretary, mother of Diana

Anabella has been working, over the last, 14 years as a secretary and assistant to the

CEO of a SME that operates in the retail sector. She had her first child just when she

turned 37, a beautiful baby girl named Diana.

After her maternity leave, which lasts for about four months, she was confronted

with some situations she wasn’t expecting. Suddenly, she wasn’t “fit for the job” …

She had her chief saying constantly things like: “Anabella, you are not working as

hard as before; critical issues are being left behind” (…) “Anabella, you are not giving

your time and effort like you used to” (…) “Anabella, you were a lot faster before

having your baby.”

The list goes on, and these daily sayings are leaving Anabella stressed and filled with

guilty. This was because, prior to her return she informed her chief she was going to

make use of the leave to breastfeed her baby. In Portugal, you are entitled to two

hours ‘nursing’ leave per day during the first year after the birth of a child, with no

reduction of earnings. The right to be absent from work to breastfeed is supported

by the employer, since it does not imply a benefit paid by the social security system.

Anabella now thinks she has jeopardised her job because of the choices she has

made.

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