"Childcare In The UK 'Most Expensive In World'" Sky news report

[LittlePickleHead]

news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16064005

The cost of childcare is forcing women to turn down jobs or give up work because they can't afford the cost of childcare.

This is true personally, DH and I are holding off on trying for DC2 until DD is in school as putting two into childcare would cost more than I can earn. Much tougher is on those who already have children who have no lost tax credits or subsidised childcare and are now being forced into poverty.

My cycnical side thinks that taking mothers out of the workplace has many benefits for the government...

So Badgers you would argue that instead of making it easier for both parents to work if they want to, we should make it easier for either parent to stay off?
I do agree this also needs to happen, but it doesn't solve the issue of having the most expensive childcare in the world. What if BOTH parents want to work but can't, just as hard if it's the male counterpart giving up their career unwillingly

"So Badgers you would argue that instead of making it easier for both parents to work if they want to, we should make it easier for either parent to stay off?"

My post was in response to a suggestion that is is the gender pay gap that leads to it mainly being mothers who take a career break, which isn't true, even when there is no gap it's that the law denies couples a genuine and equal choice.

on the gender inequality - i point out that men can only start taking the allowable 26 weeks after the baby is 20 weeks old. Because most companies are only paying statutory SMP at that point, that's all a man is ever eligible to get. A father can't take off from day 1 or before birth and get the same benefits as a mother. For my family and many others this means there's no chance of DH taking off time under the supposedly improved leave rules.

Cereal , not just one or two kids, no, actually. I think that's a pretty limited contribution, focusing on such a small number of people. I am sure women are capable of doing that and other things, given the fact that we are not subsistence farmers and washing our clothes in a river with a couple of stones any longer.

So you think being a SAHM is pretty worthless then, SeniorWrangler?

Cereal, in my field going on holiday for 2 weeks is damaging to my career. Returning to work after a year or more career-break does not exist.

Cereal, I think it's got some value, but in this day and age, most women are capable of a lot more than just exclusively fussing over a husband and one or two children for years on end. Whilst looking after kids it is entirely possible to look outwards as well and contribute to society in a broader way. One of my personal heroines is the woman who set up the organisation Action on Rights for Children (ARCH) whilst homeschooling her brood, for example. That's a good case study of how it is possible to reconcile both things - meeting domestic responsibilities and also broader social involvement at the same time.

Added to that, I think the point at which my thinking around this crystallised was when I read about the group of 9/11 widows that had challenged the US Government about whether sufficient intelligence had been present to prevent the attack. These were all educated women, but they had married wealthy men and spent years concerning themselves with comparatively minor domestic matters as they did not need to work, and they tended only to hang around with other wealthy families - in a kind of privileged bubble, if you like. Without exception, after 9/11 they expressed huge regret that they had not used their considerable brains and education to make more of a social contribution when they could have done, and they spent years afterwards exposing the shortcomings of the intelligence community and seeking to put that right. It represents a salutory lesson to anyone who thinks inward-looking domesticity is the exclusive answer to any social issue.

Childcare is way to expencive I turned down a part time job today as I would be going to work for -£62 PM. I have a 4 month old and a 6 yr old. Childcare was £990 for both baby full time and and 6yr old breakfast club. I would pick up £620 PM with help off the gov at 308 PM. The nursery still charge a full day even though I would work 9 till 3 they offered me 10% off which is the figure above!! The nursery staff get paid a rubbish wage and also get no sick pay. I find it all so hard to get my head around?! I will not have any other children now and I have worked all my life Accept mat leave off for 6 ry old since I left school at 16 (went back to work when he was 3 1/2 months old). I find it so stupid that it works out like this. Im lucky as I get Maternity Allowance until mid December and I am better off right now. I think something needs to be done for people that want to work and its in no way selfish. As if like me you have been divorced and a single parent at some point you need to work I worked full time so a good job I had skills to get a job to enable my son and me to live okish. So if I was to become single again and have to look for a job what would I have to offer if off work for 3 yrs??? Life does not always pan out like you think....

Also pay needs to be the same for men and women. I might be the childbearer but then why is it ok for me then to know how to cook, wash, clean, look after kids, run the house? When men say I just cant do DIY I dont get all well your a man you should know....... But for a woman we HAVE to do these things if were at home. Some women like this and thats ok if you do but if you want to work also you should not get called selfish!! Men tend tot get paid better IMO....