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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:
JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 10/02/2022 18:45

This sounds positive. I've used parental leave in the past and although I couldn't afford to take 4 months off I took 3 weeks to settle my son into school and it was really beneficial.

For those who are cynical, take the opportunity to learn more about it. Parental leave is a statutory right and cannot be refused.

Co-op does not pay minimum wage, it's an accredited living wage employer. My mum used to work there and when she was struggling with work due to caring commitments, her job was keep open indefinitely. Co-op walk the walk.

CrinklyCraggy · 10/02/2022 18:46

You'd think the person writing the article would say "hang on, won't exams be over by mid June?" Grin

SoupDragon · 10/02/2022 18:50

Yes, it's ridiculous... what support are they going to need during July and August?

Nightlystroll · 10/02/2022 18:54

This is so much hooey. What exam help do they need in July and August? If she was going to help them with exams, she'd be taking time off in the run up to the exams, not the month of. Sounds like she just wants time off for herself and is using her kids as an excuse.

pinkgingham · 10/02/2022 18:57

Parental leave is a statutory right and cannot be refused.

Not quite - your employer can request you take it at a different time. And you only get 4 weeks per child per year, not 4 months.

Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 18:59

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

This sounds positive. I've used parental leave in the past and although I couldn't afford to take 4 months off I took 3 weeks to settle my son into school and it was really beneficial.

For those who are cynical, take the opportunity to learn more about it. Parental leave is a statutory right and cannot be refused.

Co-op does not pay minimum wage, it's an accredited living wage employer. My mum used to work there and when she was struggling with work due to caring commitments, her job was keep open indefinitely. Co-op walk the walk.

Learn more about it? Such as the fact that Parental Leave is only a statutory right for 4 weeks per child in any given year? (to a maximum of 18)

I’m far more impressed by the situation for your mum.

Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 19:01

That sounds like I’m unimpressed by the sabbatical of the OP… I am impressed by that too! Just more impressed by a story of flexible and supportive employer lower down the chain.

Gherkingreen · 10/02/2022 19:02

Our DSs are doing GCSE and A level exams this year. We could both technically take an unpaid career break but we couldn't afford to.
I also can't work out what support we could give to DSs other than what we do as parents - like make sure they have time and space to study; cook decent meals; support them emotionally and financially (though 18 yo has p/t job and pays for his own stuff these days); help them be organised; give academic support where we are able if they ask. We can do this while working full time in two busy roles.

Louisianagumbo · 10/02/2022 19:03

Such as the fact that Parental Leave is only a statutory right for 4 weeks per child in any given year? (to a maximum of 18)

So if you have 3 children, you can have 3 months off every year on top of holidays etc? 🤔 I need to get me some kids!

Fairyliz · 10/02/2022 19:05

She’s paid £1.4m nobody is worth that money certainly not if the business can manage without her for several months.
How about her leaving altogether and her salary being distributed amongst her minimum wage staff.

Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 19:06

@Louisianagumbo

Such as the fact that Parental Leave is only a statutory right for 4 weeks per child in any given year? (to a maximum of 18)

So if you have 3 children, you can have 3 months off every year on top of holidays etc? 🤔 I need to get me some kids!

No. As I said - up to a maximum of 18. That is per child though. And it’s not paid. I think 3 kids would take up rather more of your time overall than the year’s worth of leave - and you’d still have to look after them during it 🤣
Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 19:07

@Fairyliz

She’s paid £1.4m nobody is worth that money certainly not if the business can manage without her for several months. How about her leaving altogether and her salary being distributed amongst her minimum wage staff.
You haven’t ever worked with a good CEO then 🤷🏻‍♀️
Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 19:12

@Fairyliz

She’s paid £1.4m nobody is worth that money certainly not if the business can manage without her for several months. How about her leaving altogether and her salary being distributed amongst her minimum wage staff.
She’s part of the team responsible for this, and very high up in the decision makers on it, I would think:

employeebenefits.co.uk/co-op-pay-33000-employees/

So the staff aren’t on minimum wage. And if her vision and leadership were part of delivering the profit to be able to pay Living Wage and the company values to do so… is that nearly as good for you as give up some of her own pay?

Disfordragon · 10/02/2022 19:13

I’m really shocked by all the negativity around this. it’s parental leave and anyone in employment is entitled to ask for it. Not for one second did I think this mum is going to sit over her children and help them revise. We are a working couple. I have had a couple of career breaks. Home life is definitely calmer when I’m at home and I just assumed that this mum wanted to create a less stressful environment for the time her children are doing exams- and is in a sufficiently fortunate position to be able to do so.

blueshoes · 10/02/2022 19:22

Helping with studies from May?

Gosh, she has left it a bit late. Her planning sucks because exams are in May/June. What a shocking hypocrite and virtue-signalling cover for what is essentially a sabbatical for a wealthy overpaid executive.

Wonder whether Co-op should re-think her £1.4 m remuneration. Co-op is well known for its former chair who was nicknamed the 'Crystal Methodist' ...

Fairyliz · 10/02/2022 19:26

@Cocomarine
I worked for an organisation where I identified that some of the employees were underpaid and pushed for them to be regraded which went through.
I wasn’t paid 1.4m more like £30k so no I don’t think that justifies her salary.

HermioneWeasley · 10/02/2022 19:29

@Fairyliz if they distributed her earnings (which will include variable pay, that won’t all be salary) they’d get £42 each. And there wouldn’t be anyone in charge of hundreds of shops.

Cocomarine · 10/02/2022 19:29

[quote Fairyliz]@Cocomarine
I worked for an organisation where I identified that some of the employees were underpaid and pushed for them to be regraded which went through.
I wasn’t paid 1.4m more like £30k so no I don’t think that justifies her salary.[/quote]
That’s great that you did that. I’m also paid far less than £1.4m (I’m not even part of the MN disproportionate number of 6 figure salaries club!) but I work in a company with people who are. And in many cases, I truly believe that their vision and leadership is worth that money, and that as individuals they are a huge part of driving profits that mean we can afford them.

Have also worked with some criminally overpaid lazy shites though 😉

Louisianagumbo · 10/02/2022 19:36

So if you have 3 children, you can have 3 months off every year on top of holidays etc? 🤔 I need to get me some kids!

No. As I said - up to a maximum of 18.
That is per child though.
And it’s not paid.
I think 3 kids would take up rather more of your time overall than the year’s worth of leave - and you’d still have to look after them during it. 🤣

3 kids, 4 weeks for each = 12 weeks per annum.
Unpaid maybe, but I wouldn't be working. So worth the pay cut. I don't how who would teach in my place but not my problem. December, January, February would be nice, carrying he two weeks chrustmas holiday over into March and running into Easter. Those are the worst months teaching I always find.
And I wouldn't be needed if they were teenagers. They could stay with their dad or gps while I holiday.
I love having rights. 🥳

SD1978 · 10/02/2022 19:46

Only people that can afford this type of thing, and are in a position like this would be able to. It's not normalising anything really- as most people couldn't afford to take a four month leave of absence, if I'd earned 1.4million last year, I'm sure I could work it into the budget to take the summer off too.........

WhiteCatmas · 10/02/2022 19:50

This is the bitchiest thread I have read in a long time. Women can’t do anything right.

Fairyliz · 10/02/2022 19:55

@WhiteCatmas

This is the bitchiest thread I have read in a long time. Women can’t do anything right.
@WhiteCatmas Don’t think it’s aimed at women. I’m sure most of the negative comments would apply if this was a male ceo.
WhiteCatmas · 10/02/2022 19:59

Well that makes it ok then Hmm

InvincibleInvisibility · 10/02/2022 20:00

Its true the months seem odd but Ive already decided to take a sabbatical when my 10 year old is doing A levels. Why? Cos he has ADHD and dyspraxia and an anxiety disorder. Life is already stressful without adding A levels on top.

My youngest has just been diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia too so I know they'll both need a lot of support throughout their education.

Who knows what her DC are dealing with?

Boood · 10/02/2022 20:07

It’s not a positive story at all! It says, even when you’re a Chief Executive, if you’re female you have to be prepared to drop it all to “support” your children while they do exams. How much pressure is this now going to put on other women to do the same?

Also, I don’t think it’s at all healthy that GCSEs are considered to be of such life-shattering importance that kids taking them need their mum on hand all day. At 16-18 they should be becoming more independent, not less. I’m unsure whether it’s putting far too much pressure on them, or mollycoddling, but again, I don’t think it’s a good thing.

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