Software Developers Returning From Maternity Leave Face New AI Coding Requirements

Software developers who returned from maternity leave in 2025 described workplaces that had shifted to AI-assisted coding during their time away. Danielle, a software developer at a car company in Portland, Oregon, left her role in mid-2024. When she began applying for new positions a year later, most listings required familiarity with AI coding tools.

Before her departure, Danielle said, developers wrote code directly. Upon return, employers expected staff to review and edit AI-generated output instead. A Minnesota software engineer at a marketing software company reported a similar change. In September 2024 her team used AI mainly for troubleshooting; by late 2025 all code changes passed through AI models and a leaderboard tracked usage.

U.S. health tech company, said her employer provided training on the new tools after she returned. She noted that routine code review tasks now require less time.

Danielle sent 40 job applications after a layoff and received one interview. Postings listed AI skills without detailing how candidates would use them. A UK project manager on maternity leave said her manager recommended an AI course during her absence.

She stated she could not afford the time or expense while receiving statutory maternity pay. Daniela Gulie of Bring Women Back to Work said employers often treat extended leave as an exit rather than a pause. Rachel Grocott of Pregnant Then Screwed said the combination of AI adoption and maternity timing adds to existing disadvantages for women.

The Minnesota engineer said she is weighing whether to have a second child while trying to maintain her current role. Danielle said she is considering training in landscape architecture if coding work continues to center on AI oversight.