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Original poster

Co-op boss Jo Whitfield takes break to help teenage sons with exams

78 replies

olderthanilookapparently · 10/02/2022 13:06

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60328314

I think this is a really positive message - its only by people who make decisions like this that pave the way for other people to ask for flexible working in my opinion

In an internal interview last week I pointed out that I could add diversity to the team all of whom are men at the moment. I probably didn't do my self any favours with the 2 men interviewing me however I felt like I had to 'stick up' for working women and I am glad I did

OP posts:
EmmaH2022 · 10/02/2022 14:40

@SpaghettiArmsMurderer

I think it’s good - it sets the tone from the top of the organisation that employees should feel comfortable using the parental leave and flexible working that they are legally entitled to. And provides a nice counterpoint to the annual leave martyrs thread of people being too busy to take leave!
But people at the top always different perks than the rest of the org.

I can't imagine middle mgmt being allowed to do this.

Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 14:42

@notacooldad I don’t think anyone is pushing here that it would be better in this individual family’s case for dad to take the sabbatical. OP started this thread presenting this as a positive message. I think what some posters - including me - are pushing is that the message would be better if it were a story about dad.

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 10/02/2022 14:56

But people at the top always different perks than the rest of the org. I can't imagine middle mgmt being allowed to do this.

Maybe she is hoping they will now that she has led by example. This isn’t a CEO perk, all employees at any organisation have the right to take parental leave (If they have children) or apply for flexible working once they have worked there for a minimum length of time.

I work in the public sector and we have a career break policy open to all which is quite popular. You can take up to a year off (unpaid) and I know people at various levels including below manager who have taken it. People feel comfortable doing it because it’s well embedded in our culture. One of our SLT also did similar to Jo Whitfield and took time off to support their teenager who was going through some difficulties at the time.

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 10/02/2022 14:58

the message would be better if it were a story about dad

I dunno - I think we hear enough about male CEOs! It might be good for other women whose career trajectory could be taking them in that direction to hear this, so they don’t write off C-suite roles as incompatible with family life.

butnobodytoldme · 10/02/2022 15:16

Hmm... PPs have expressed some doubts. I would add that in here, we could be preaching to the converted, but out there, a general (false) hazy impression could form: Wrongly, people might fear employing women, believing that in place of a dependable (male) employee, a human minefield has entered the business.

Sexism and discrimination of any kind is wrong anywhere of course, but could it appear, just from cursory headline-reading, that women will at any moment claim those things, or will unsustainably enforce maternity or menopause or (now) parental entitlements, driving businesses to ruin?

This is not my view, I merely ponder if it could be that of fearful business owners (or if it could be eagerly promoted as fuel by and for misogynists)

ClariceQuiff · 10/02/2022 15:19

I wonder what the Co-op would say if one of their checkout operators made the same request for leave.

campion · 10/02/2022 15:29

No pressure on her kids to do well, eh? If they don't get stellar results after this there may be some guilt thrown in too.

But maybe hers are more biddable than mine and just need that little extra focus that their current education probably is already providing

Ted27 · 10/02/2022 15:37

@ClariceQuiff

I would imagine they would say yes,

the Co-op, as many organisations do have a policy around career breaks and sabbaticals.
I agreed a 12 month career break a few years ago so I could deal with a family matter, sadly not needed in the end.
It really isn't that unusual
Retail are always taking on new staff, it wouldn't be that hard to replace a check out operator for a few months, Organisations seem to manage it for maternity leave - no difference except career breaks are unpaid.

ClariceQuiff · 10/02/2022 15:39

Fair enough, Ted - good for them if they do.

Clymene · 10/02/2022 15:45

Four months from May? Their exams will be over by June.

I agree it would be an amazing message if a bloke did this. Instead, it's just reinforcing the notion that women are the primary carers, no matter how senior they are.

PreparationPreparationPrep · 10/02/2022 15:46

I thought most large companies/ organisations offer sabbatical / career break. As PP stated it just depends on if you can afford the unpaid break. Not many can I would imagine.

PicaK · 10/02/2022 17:03

I'm so cynical. Just assuming there is something else at play and this is the convenient cover story.
So much noise around the "doing it for the kids" and much less investigation into what else might be going on business wise.
PR spin

Ijustreallywantacat · 10/02/2022 17:08

'Mega rich person takes time off work'

Shocked.

Bitofachinwag · 10/02/2022 17:08

But exams are in May/ June so most of her time off will be after their exams.

Quidity · 10/02/2022 17:15

I was allowed to work flexibly over a 3 month period with reduced hours when my son took GCSE's - I took from Easter to July. I saved and planned and it was important for me that I was there and available at the beginning and end of each day to be a sounding board, pick up the pieces, cook a proper meal. When he got his results, usually taciturn ds said 'thanks Mum for being there and all the nice dinners'. And yes, I was lucky that I could afford to.
We have no idea of this family's personal circumstances. The dc taking A levels after 2 years of disrupted education and no public exams might be completely stressed out. The younger one might be very disorganised

Harriet181 · 10/02/2022 17:30

I don't get it. Thousands of teenagers manage just fine every year without parents taking time off! They are old enough to be independent and do revision by themselves. If they can't cope without their mum being there to help them then how will they manage at university/in a job etc Seems ridiculous!

Ted27 · 10/02/2022 17:40

@Harriet181

and many don't .

00100001 · 10/02/2022 18:20

Maybe we should be addressing the issue of the fact that a 15/16 yo feels under so much pressure/stress for GCSEs that a parent feels it necessary to stop working in order to support their child through these exams.

It shouldn't be that stressful.

CrinklyCraggy · 10/02/2022 18:21

I found the period when I had one dc doing a levels and the other gcses one of the hardest times to manage the work life balance. It's not so much that you can "do" anything as that there's lot of stress in the house and adding your own work stress doesn't help.

My DC's would have been furious embarassed if I'd told the whole world I was taking time off to support them though!

pinkandpurplepetals · 10/02/2022 18:23

Privileged. Not many people can afford to take 4 months off, when I did my gcse/a levels no parent took time off work?! What's she doing I wonder.

What's the implications on women now not being hired for fear from the company that they'll want special treatment if their dc are sitting exams, also, consider the unfairness to those dc who's parents aren't doing whatever she's doing? She's a boss. She should be there. Where is her dh in this. She's the boss of a big company I can't fathom why she needs this. I'd think it irresponsible personally to do this. Each to their own though.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 10/02/2022 18:35

She's going to be a bit late!! Exams start in May. Clearly she's taking 4 months off for other reasons. But I guess that's fine, just odd to give the exams as a reason.
She earned £1.4m last year so she can afford unpaid leave. Great if it's a company-wife policy, but most of her employees wouldn't be able to afford to do the same. Now if the company was offering lower paid, long serving employees a paid 4 month sabbatical, that would be worth talking about.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 10/02/2022 18:36

Company-wide, not wife!

CrinklyCraggy · 10/02/2022 18:40

Taking time off for an extended family trip after exams makes some sense....

pinkgingham · 10/02/2022 18:43

I agree with others that it would be better if this was a story about a man taking time off to spend time with his children. And even better still if it were about supporting lower paid co op workers to flex their hours around family responsibilities.

BobbinHood · 10/02/2022 18:44

I’m very in favour of flexible working for whatever reason employees need to request it.

But a bit gobsmacked that someone would take 4 months off to help their child study for exams. How the hell are they going to manage to do anything for themselves when they leave school if they needed this much handholding through their exams? It’s not the same as requesting different working hours to be more available in the evenings, for example.