Is working full time harming my kids?

[Jraven]

Ok as if I don't feel guilty enough for working, there's a study out today published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which says that working full time while your kids are pre-school increases their chances of psychological stress, unemployment and doing less well at A level. What should we do - all pack it in? Where are these mythical part-time, flexi-hour jobs that we have be promised so long? Is the government's policy of getting mothers back to work all wrong?

[Jbr]

Hm, that doesn't seem compatible with what they preach does it?

If you join YouGov.com you can get the e-mail address of your local MP to write and complain to him/her.

However, the government are still concerned as to why it is nearly all women who give up jobs. The Equal Opportunities Board of whatever it is called (does anyone know the proper name?) say that 35% of women with children have no job, compared to just 10% of men. It is less than it used to be, because even when childcare was available, a lot of women still didn't work in the "old days" because of a woman's place being in the home and all that bollocks! My mother didn't work even when we were at school because there was nothing that fitted in the hours and there was nowhere for us to go after school and during the holidays. It doesn't explain why my Mother stopped working as opposed to my father. My father sometimes had 3 jobs at a time! But, having said all that, it is still not enough. I can't help thinking in some cases, (although not in yours Esme) sexism and not practicality dictates this trend for women with children being in the highest unemployment category (and that means women who don't work but don't/can't claim JSA because they aren't actually looking for work).

[Esme]

I work for a government department but am currently having to take a career break because they won't give me part-time hours in my home town. I can no longer commute due to the hours not being compatible with nursery care so applied for a transfer. They would only transfer me if I could work full-time and travel away regularly. All this bollocks that the government keeps banging on about with regards to employers encouraging women back to work. It makes my blood boil as they do not practice what they preach.

[Hedgehog]

What a load of old nonsense!!! living on the breadline as a single, no-prospects, unemployed mother would harm my children a lot more!!!! What is more, my children, all 4 of them, are growing up with the expectation of having to work hard for their achievements- just as I did.

Perhaps if the government were forward thinking enough to fund quality, affordable childcare rather than these ridiculous and destructive studies, then the whole country would be better off. After all, other countries in Europe manage to provide fantastic childcare facilities, why can't Britain!

[Emmagee]

see 'working mums .....and dads' thread