This week's blog-prompt is inspired by the news that, for an increasing number of families, the pay of one parent (usually the mother) is being almost wiped out by soaring childcare costs, shrinking tax credits, and stagnant salaries.
The Resolution Foundation, who are conducting a major study into childcare costs, have found that, if a couple with two children under school-age earn £40,000 gross between them, they'll only add £3000 to their net income if the mother goes from not working to full-time work - and that's before travel and other work-related costs. Set this against a background of rising female unemployment and the fact that many women feel they'll jeopardize their future earnings if they drop out of work - and it seems a growing number of us feel pressured to work for nothing.
So this week we're calling for blogs on this worrying development. Are you "pay-neutral", or near-enough? Are you happy to work for nothing - or have you decided to opt out of employment, reasoning that it's just not worth it? Let us know here on the thread if you post - or if you're pressed for time, tell us what you think here.
Happy blogging!