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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Plans to allow small firms to negotiate parental (maternity) leave

82 replies

flyingcloud · 14/03/2011 10:23

Has this been done?

It just makes me so :(

OP posts:
AliceWorld · 14/03/2011 22:11

Orange - you think you're joking but I saw a comment is response to this article that started 'you see this is what happens when you give women the vote'.

meditrina · 14/03/2011 22:13

Does anyone have a link to show that this is a serious part of Goverment thinking?

Thanks

AliceWorld · 14/03/2011 22:14

There's one in the OP. It was also on the Today programme this am.

meditrina · 14/03/2011 22:16

Sorry, ignore my last - just seen there was a link in OP !

It also said:

"Furthermore, under changes to take effect in April, if a mother returns to work without taking a full year?s maternity leave then the father will be able to take the remaining time, up to a maximum of six months ? another moved opposed by most business leaders."

So a mixed bag of proposals, and no detail yet on what parameters there might be on individual negotiation. Hmmmm. One to watch.

MarionCole · 14/03/2011 22:17

I can only find reference in the OP article and The Torygraph isn't what I would usually consider reliable.

Portofino · 14/03/2011 22:18

Sardine, though maybe that is true for these tiny companies, but larger firms - it is in their self-interest to be more inclusive. Hence big employers can cope with parental leave, but also cope with sabbaticals for long term employees, and some also (e.g. my employer ) have a positive discrimation policy with regards to recruitment of minorities and SNs employees amongst others. I got accepted on their "Diversity" project for being English! Grin

I think in reality you need slightly different rules for different size companies. For example, Joe Bloggs the local baker might struggle if they are forced to employ a quota of one person of child bearing age, one ethnic minority and someone with a disability. Your local Tesco, on the other hand, could do this relatively easily.

It's not always about the moral judgement, because companies won't exist if they don't make money. The rules NEED to exist to protect vulnerable people and to ensure equal opportunity - but you need to choose where to fight your battles IFYSWIM.

mercibucket · 14/03/2011 22:20

I can't imagine this making it past Europe tbh. all our maternity leave allowances have been Europe driven - without Europe we'd be more like the US - use up your holiday allowance then beg and borrow your colleagues holiday allowances then go back to work

Portofino · 14/03/2011 22:31

mercibucket - I live in Brussels. You get 3 months ML here. Plus 3 months parental leave (for each parent) to be used before the child is 12. The UK provision is MUCH better! But child care provision is better, well to be more accurate, cheaper, here.

Portofino · 14/03/2011 22:33

Oh and the parental leave is pretty much unpaid.

swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 08:00

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Bonsoir · 15/03/2011 08:15

swallowedAFly - the current government wants to change the reality you describe by encouraging two parent families and reducing people's entitlement to state support.

Bonsoir · 15/03/2011 08:21

"But child care provision is better, well to be more accurate, cheaper, here."

The French/Belgian model of cheap crèches certainly makes the financial aspect of the decision of whether to continue to work or not easier on parents.

swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 08:43

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swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 08:45

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Bonsoir · 15/03/2011 08:47

swallowedAfly - I don't think there are any easy answers at all, and one of the issues that is most complex is marriage and how you get couples to live harmoniously together for at least as long as their children are growing up, if for no other reason than for the financial one.

Divorce/separation are financial luxuries, just as being a SAHM is.

swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 08:48

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swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 08:49

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swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 08:52

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ajandjjmum · 15/03/2011 08:52

As a tiny company, we have had someone on maternity leave - she decided after 12 months not to come back. During that time she had use of a fully expensed company car (except fuel), and we also had to pay her holiday pay.

This is in a recession when times are very hard for us as a business. We cannot afford to replace my company car, so I am car-less, mega reduced salary and holiday - what holiday?!!

These things are never clear cut.

I like her and valued her input, so we supported her as much as we could, despite the personal sacrifices that we had to make.

Bonsoir · 15/03/2011 08:52

Because it is much cheaper for parents to live together than separately. Divorce/separation/single parent families are massive financial burden on all Western economies.

Bonsoir · 15/03/2011 08:54

You also need to bear in mind that the fact of paying tax does not make you a net contributor to society. In the UK, only 25% of the adult population are net contributors - 75% are net beneficiaries (though most of these do pay tax).

swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 09:03

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Bonsoir · 15/03/2011 09:06

It's fairly basic economics to work out that it is going to be cheaper to have children living with both their biological parents than not.

I live in a blended family and I know the costs (to us, not the state, but still...).

swallowedAfly · 15/03/2011 09:24

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wubblybubbly · 15/03/2011 09:26

It's also, no doubt, much cheaper to have women stay at home and look after their children, than to ask the state to pick up the tab. Is that the idea?