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Original poster

working mothers

135 replies

novicemama · 10/09/2010 10:02

The company I work for is signed up with 'wellbeing works' - this is part of our 'benefits' and there are helplines you can use etc. Every week they send out an email, usually with articles about health, stress in the workplace, your workplace rights etc. I have already had to complain to them once this year about an article entitled 'Rape: don't become another statistic' warning women not to drink too much or give off mixed messages to male colleagues in the pub Hmm

Now today I see [[http://eu.healthinsite.net/ContentViewerPane/ContentViewerPane.aspx?cookie=2100001605&Content=5914&ContentType=2
this little gem]] about working mothers and how to deal with having to spend nights away from your family.

I don't know where to start really, there are just SO MANY things in there that make my blood boil. Would anyone like to kick off? And any input into the complaint email I'll be sending this afternoon would be welcomed too!

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmum · 10/09/2010 21:16

"Shitting hell - what a pile of arse"

oh Elephants you have such a lovely turn of phrase Grin

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 10/09/2010 20:11

are you my twin fuchsia? :o

fuschiagroan · 10/09/2010 20:01

It's how they view husbands and children as basically the same, as if your husband has the mental age of 3

ullainga · 10/09/2010 19:57

great. Showed the article to "hubby". He is now demanding a treasure map for the time I'll be on a business trip.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 10/09/2010 17:07

Shitting hell - what a pile of arse. OP, great complaint. I really think you should reply now asking when they can expect the counterpart article addressed to male employees. Tell them you are a user and you are requesting it. And ask that they write it including the assumption that the male employee's partner has a mental age of 4, as they have so kindly done in this case.

Is there anything at all in that article that distinguishes the "hubby"'s needs and feelings from the kids'?

StarlightMcKenzie · 10/09/2010 16:54

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StarlightMcKenzie · 10/09/2010 16:53

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edam · 10/09/2010 16:30

btw, well done for getting the ghastly thing taken down.

What worries me and should worry your employer is that this company purports to offer health advice. If this is their idea of acceptable content and psychological insight, I wouldn't trust their advice on any health topic at all.

edam · 10/09/2010 16:25

bollocks to the psychology writer - it's not just "Mom" (repeatedly) that gives it away as American, it's "cell" instead of mobile. They are fibbing fibsters of fibsville USA.

Still think you should tell your company that they are paying for drivel and need to look very carefully at the contract. They are being ripped off by a bunch of stupid sexists.

ISN'T - you had me worried for a second there!

cestlavielife · 10/09/2010 16:15

??/The article is an original piece of work that was developed by our psychology writer in response to a user request

man with hamburger complex? and no real mommy, poor thing

StealthPolarBear · 10/09/2010 16:02

You are probably now included in their spam filter :o

ullainga · 10/09/2010 15:51

Yes i read it the same way too, "we don't see anything wrong with it, but since YOU are offended we have removed it"
They are probably rolling their eyes and complaining about feminism ruining everything.

vezzie · 10/09/2010 15:47

One of the most tragic things in that piece is the suggestion that the "mommy" should herself arrange for the children to put notes in her suitcase. I can remember my mother encouraging us to do this for my dad when I was little, and it was an exciting secret that we smuggled whisperingly into the case. Later when my mum started going away sometimes, we had the habit and we did it for her too. I can't think of anything sadder than sitting your kids at the kitchen table and dictating your own "we love you, mummy" letter. "How many kisses should we put?" they ask. [sob]

pinkfizzle · 10/09/2010 15:45

Yes good idea slug... and what a response.

And as for the article ofcourse it was offensive.

Unreal.

And the thought of leaving little surprise notes... OMG - your children might think you have gone bonkers....

sethstarkaddersmum · 10/09/2010 15:41

I like that Slug, passive-aggressive is the way to go when dealing with HR types I think!

pinkfizzle · 10/09/2010 15:39

Thank you for posting NoviceMama - I find this unbelievable... and I suppose you are going to tell us that your HR department consists of mainly females.

Shock Shock

I wonder if women at your work are also underpaid along with being undermined.

ISNT · 10/09/2010 15:35

LOL @ judgejudith

edam I missed a word out of my previous post, it should have read "Not to mention anyone with the temerity to be gay edam...."

Although maybe wellbeing works are working on a way of stamping out edam, who knows Grin

slug · 10/09/2010 15:34

Perhaps you could suggest to HR that the company/writers should undergo some diversity training. Hmm

EleFunTess · 10/09/2010 15:17

Well done for complaining.

ROTFL at 'You make an excellent point'. They are probably shitting themselves from you now. Good work!

TheCrackFox · 10/09/2010 15:05

"By "psycology writer" do they in fact mean "psychiatric patient"?"

Snort.

StewieGriffinsMom · 10/09/2010 14:50

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StarlightMcKenzie · 10/09/2010 14:45

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emy72 · 10/09/2010 14:10

Oh my goodness, I almost fell off my seat.

Well done for complaining, I would have done the same and I am fuming as much as you are.

Let's hope they get the message. The person writing these should be sacked.

Original poster
novicemama · 10/09/2010 14:06

Yeah stealth I'm not sure how much action is taken but at least they're not ignoring me. The person who is responding to my emails is a woman BTW Confused

OP posts:
JudgeJudithSheindlin · 10/09/2010 14:04

By "psycology writer" do they in fact mean "psychiatric patient"?

You'd have to off your rocker to think that's an appropriate article in this day and age