[ Photo (above): Madam Chang with her husband Lee Hong San, and their three children (left to right) Jonathan, Karen and Justin. ]

The law may say four months' maternity leave. But if a firm's corporate culture does not support working mothers, 'even a longer maternity leave would not work', said senior finance manager at Microsoft Singapore senior finance manager Lily Chang.

Having worked at different firms when she gave birth to her three children, Madam Chang has seen how a supportive employer can make a difference.

When she had her second child, she was away from work for three months. Still, her former employer called her several times to resolve work problems - which she did from

home. Once she returned, her work-from-home arrangement stopped.

At Microsoft, working from home is a given. Even after returning to work there, she never had to miss dinner with her family.

This article is first published in The Straits Times.

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