Are SAHMS discriminated against. Red magazine are doing an article about it.

[Darkesteyes]

Just seen this on twitter.

Are stay at home mums discriminated against? Are you one and unhappy with benefits, or feel judged? Tell us.
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What is astounding is the ignorance abound of a lot of employers when it comes to one of their most expensive outgoings- people. Believe me, i have no interest in working with such ignorance and stupidity, I'd be bored and frustrated within seconds- luckily I have freelance options!

goldenbear where did I say SAHP are a write off? Justify that comment or retract it. Did you just make that up in you head to justify your opinion?

Sahm's are discriminated against but no more than any other woman. There are many different types of sahm too, so it depends on ehich type you are talking about. for e.g discrimination in applying for work would only apply to a temporary sahm, because by definition a full time sahm for the whole of dcs childhood (like me) wouldn't be looking for work anyway.
To answer the OP Yes I am a sahm, I am mostly happy with benefits my family are entitled to as the cuts don't seem to affect us. I am not happy with the system for so many other people. Yes, sometimes i feel judged, but only on Mnet, not rl. Does it bother me? Not really, I couldn't give a stuff as long as my family are happy.

"Oh you can Karlos but you shouldn't be getting help with childcare too,you clearly don't need it. "
I don't get any help with childcare. I pay for it out of taxed income. Plus tax and NI on the nanny's salary too. Then I pay - despite the massive whack it takes from me both from my salary and the tax and NI I pay on my nanny's - for extra help and schooling for my son that the state is too lame and inadequate to provide.
Although having to do this means I have a lot more gumption than the sort of whiner who thinks people like me should be shelling out on top to support them at home, so it's not all bad, I guess

im bit shocked at 8%of women in uk earn 40k.

plus im guessing higher salaries mostly southeast/london
where childcare and cost living more expensive.

be interesting if we had % of sahm in southeast as guess could be high as would have to earn leasts 40k with more than 1 child to consider going back.

Would be harder for single mum who earns 40-50k in southeast compared to 2 income family both decent wages in southeast.

Im south west and to consider going back reckon need 30k position which with my 4year gap dont think I will get.

For xmas I applied for few temp xmas jobs 8hour temp sales in fashion retail where I had worked for before as supervisor and left on good terms.

I get automated email back for all 3positions within that company.
no reason just saying I dident match the skills and experience they looking for.

Husband thinks its because so many people are applying after so many ie first 100 -200 applications they think thats too much so guess its the firstfew applicants .

He advertised 8hour temp job in south wales min wag had applications in 3days.

Recently was costa 1400 aplications for just 8jobs.

Because husband employs people he said so may applicants have been good people over qualified lost retail expereince and coming to him after their old employer went under woolies, focus, hmv.

retails partiuarly tough sector as less retailers out there.
food retail keep wages low and use workfare and other cheap labour schemes.
fashions struggling as no one has any money to spend.
Also younger ones under 21 are cheaper.

When I worked I always gave every applicant fair chance and many of my workforce were working mums or teenagers living at home with their parents.

Most retail positions unless managerial or supervisory are part time.

My mam lost her job twice last few years as worked for rosebys then ponden mill and they both went under.

I think its all very well say go back to work.
But where are all these private sector jobs they keep banging on about.

if I was jsa I could go college fe and do course at concession rate so gcse for example £60 or 500quid.

It would be helpful if they could make education more mum freindly as i have been priced out going back to uni with 9k tuition fees !

At end of day gap and inflexible on hours puts sahm at disadvantage.

Can I just reiterate that when recruiting people to my team I choose the best person for the job. It really is that simple. Recruitment is an expensive business. Mistakes costly. I want someone with up to date knowledge and skills who will fit into the team. I couldnt give a shiny shit if they've spent the last 3 years at home or trekking in the himalayas -
I they are the best person they get the job. And if the job goes to someone who is currently in a similar post against someone who's been a SAHM then that isn't discrimination- its because the person I appoint has what I need to get the job done.

Golden - can I ask, are you in the work place because you have very lofy opinions about how we are all missing out on recruiting these SAHP's. Someone trashed my exoerience of recruiting and then said they probably didn't want to work for me. As they didn't turn up I don't know how they would be able to decide!!

If you have been out of the job market for x number of yrs you will be at a disadvantage and will have to work extra hard to prove yourself. Just as applying for a role where you don't have all the skills will also put you at a disadvantage.

People are stating what it is like to apply for a role these days. You can decide not to listen if you wish but it doesn't changee reality!

maisiejeo that's so true... As much as people may not like it, it's reality...

Over the last few years I've seen a huge increase in the number of applicants applying for posts when I advertise. There has never been any problem recruiting: it's more often the case that I could happily appoint 2 or 3 people after the final interview. So I too an a bit sceptical about the idea that there are hordes of people out there who I'm missing out on.

To a certain extent its not just SAHM's who have problems at interviews. You could be overweight, you could have special needs and need a job to be developed for those needs, you might not have any qualifications, you might have personal hyegine problems and it goes on and on.... Its not just SAHP's who face issues.

Having said that I need some fairly major work done in the garden (about 4k). I have rung two local companies a few days ago. One has not bothered to call back and the other said he would come and see the garden some time yesterday. He didn't turn up either.

Anyone want to do it (only joking).....

I assume you mean lofty not 'lofy'? I am not in the workplace, I am one of 'them' the SAH people you speak so highly of.

Like I said before, if someone is intelligent, highly qualified, has years of experience in a particular field, is a quick learner, can apply knowledge to practice easily prior to being a SAHP they don't loose those credentials because they have a child that they SAH with for a period. The best person for the job as not necessarily the longest serving in their career. They could have been a time waster, a clock watcher for the last 4 years, getting out of one company before they're pushed out or before they're found out. However, recruiters are blind to this as some are shortsighted enough to think years of employment equals up to date knowledge.

Personally, I'm not in a position to have to prove anything as I have been offered freelance work which is better paid and more flexible.

Lose not 'loose'

I run a (very) small business from home - hours are such that I don't need "paid for" childcare for DD. I don't claim any benefits of any kind whatsoever. I'm in the UK. DH earns a decent salary, slightly less than I earned before we had DD; we have a small house, cheap tastes, and savings. I don't earn enough to pay tax, but I don't feel I am obliged to earn as much as possible so that I pay as much tax as possible.

It absolutely is my choice; I make sure I have "kept my hand in" enough to make me competitive in the job market in future, though I wouldn't be able to enter job at same level as pre-baby this is partly due to excessive hours, overseas travel, etc making it impractical/not what I would want to do.

It's blindingly obvious from many of the posts here that people resent this, and assume that SAHP all claim some kind of benefits and/or don't want to "get on in life". This is simply not true, and it never ceases to amaze me how many apparantly intelligent and well-informed people buy into a stereotype of "SAHM watching Jeremy Kyle at the taxpayers expense".

I don't know where you've been applying for jobs Goldenbear but I certainly wouldn't assume that someone who has been in a job for years is necessarily going to be the best person for the job. The recruitment process is a little more refined than that you know! It does surprise me that some people seem to find it hard to believe that employers want the best person for the job. It's a tough old world out there and recruitment is a costly and time consuming business. It's in my interests to get it right!

Golden Bear is freelance. She doesn't apply for roles. She just claims we are all getting it wrong and recruiting the wrong people most of the time.....

£

I haven't been applying for jobs Janey, my work is as a SAHP for now. I've been offered freelance work and turned it down.

I am well aware of the Recruitment and Selection process, I'll think you'll find it was ME who first commented on how employing the wrong person can be a 'costly' mistake. I am Graduate CIPD qualified and my specialist area of HR was recruitment!

I'm not freelance, I'm a SAHP, I don't want that compromised!

Ah right thanks for clarifying!

goldenbar you still haven't answered by question. Since you accused me of writing off SAHP. Where did I say SAHP are a write off? Justify that comment or retract it. Did you just make that up in you head to justify your opinion?

Earlier up-thread there was a comment that being a parent doesn't give you skills... I'm amazed by that. It depends on the level you're going in at, and what the role is, as to whether you'd be expected to have developed those skills already/would be likely to find those skills useful.

But if I were looking for a junior-entrant and was presented with a CV of (eg) a single mother who had been a SAHM then won qualifications when her DC(s) were older - say at 15hrs-per-week-funded nursery or started school - then actually I would feel she would be more likely to make a reliable, sensible, mature, independent and hard-working employee than many a new graduate/newly qualified. That isn't being politically correct, it's appreciating that not everyone lives the same life. I'm not in HR or recruitment, incidentally, but that just seems like common sense to me.

Goldenbear

Can somebody tell me why the question above isn't really being addressed and why on earth a thread about sahm's, benefits and discrimination has developed into HR specialisms.

by the way my action research part of the CMI executive Diploma was Manpower Planning, in case anybody wanted to know

morethan if you read through you'll see that most people have answered that.

littlechickpea, I'm unsure what needs explaining, if it does then that is your problem really, not mine.

This is another interesting article:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9958191/Full-time-mothers-penalised-by-Government-says-Bishop-of-Exeter.html