How many of you will be taking advantage? Sounds great in principle,but to be honest all maternity leave is a big issue for small business All my employees are key personnel:if they are not at work then a percentage of the business ceases to function They cannot be easily replaced in the short term except at massive cost,in fact we'd have to run that vehicle at a loss . Might be easier for office-based business,but a nightmare for us
well I put in for 4 weeks parental leave this year and 8 weeks next year (2 under 5yrs). my employers jaw hit the floor and a large global company. put it this way i have started photocopying everything with my name on it as they are incorrectly recording my parental leave as sickness. our future looks uncertain and sickness is a criteria they look at. I called ACAS and they were helpful. different leave I know but perhaps with some employers the underlying animosity whatever the leave type is the same...
I sympathise man,sounds like you're in for a bumpy ride.I know firms that either won't take anyone on if they've got young kids,or if the employee is fairly new they get shot of them tout-suiteAnd I have to say they all look very hard before employing a female of child-bearing age...........(we've only ever had one,she was as good as gold)These things sound so good when they trip off the tongueBut quite often they become a battle between employer and employeeWhen it should be a partnership....
I truly believe the onset and ultimately demise of my role as a commercial director at a print firm all stemmed from having just 2 weeks off when my first biological child was born in February of this year. I'd offered to still do 'some' work from home as and when just to make sure things were ticking along, needless to say the md made sure I was sent every urgent quote to do throughout those two weeks thus reducing me to an on call estimator (far from my role) Following that blatant spite our relationship broke down and I stepped down from my role 3 months later Money's been tight but would I change the months I've had over summer with my little girl to continue earning that man millions per year? no I have sympathy for small business owners but ultimately things should be judged on give n take, I wanted two weeks of wind down, what I got was forced out a company due to him treating me like a wage theif during my paternity
Sigh. Since when did children become the centre of our universe? I'm as guilty as most, having spent most of the last 17 yrs running around after my son but no where near as much as my wife does Is this a by product of two partners now working? We made a choice when he came along: my wife gave up hers to stay home and I worked hard in the day, and she did an eve job, to pay the bills, but meant he always had a parent around, no childcare. Wife then did child minding as it also suited until he was full time and settled at school then did a job where she works school hours slightly off topic but connected; what right do I have to put my employer under pressure because I have a sprog? None.
well your incorrect. if your 'sprogs' are under 5 you have every right. the law recognises that. just like it recognises a fair wage for a fair Days work. and equal opportunities if your black or white. where would we be without the drive and foresight for a fairer and more caring society. my kids are young once and they wont play second fiddle to my job.
But thats not how it was nor how it is in almost (Scandinavian countries maybe excepted) every other country? Where does progression stop? And who are the first to moan they don't get appropriate wage increases when a decent % of the workforce are on maternity leave? Do you expect to be fuller paid for all the time off? i think a couple of weeks seems reasonable, as an add on to any annual holiday entitlement so fully paid, but after that it becomes a lifestyle choice. If it doesn't suit the kind of life you want with your children, either become a househusband or change to a job which will allow more time and thats the fairer and more caring society: oNe stays at home while the other works or share job and income responsibilities by not sticking children in the care of some under paid, over worked young woman who's lucky to make minimum wage while you pay a grand a month for the privalage.
and some countries dont let women vote or drive cars either but that dont make it right does it. so what you are saying is that irrespective of your circumstances. if you want time to enjoy with your kids you should stop at home and not work unless its a couple of weeks. great message that sends out. and why should one stop at home, why deny them the same opportunities as people without children.
Because its about personal responsibility. Why should anyone else take responsibility of supporting others need, desire or whatever for children? Sounds a fantastic message to me, one that has been long lost in times of 'human rights' and mis-placed liberalism I would rather see any money put into this be put into training and supporting those that don't work so that can, those that cant work because of some form of disability being supporting so they can have a reasonable standard of life and those that an below the poverty line dragged up to and above that line
well I dont ask anyone to be responsible for my children. I pay higher rate tax. dont claim benefits. dont encumber the state with drug addictions or other issues. contribute to the tax system. and pay for everything they need through my hard work. perhaps you can enlighten me to what money is 'put into this' parental leave that could go elsewhere
I`m all in favour of equal opportunities as long as it is recognised that we don't all have equal ability and for example, men in general may be better miners . Men and women should of course have the option of equal maternity/paternity leave . However, should it exist at all ? Surely it is a choice to have children and we accept that we will loose out on sleep, have to take holidays in school holiday time and so on but I would argue are better off as our lives are , or should be , enhanced by our children. When my daughter was born my wife stopped working and we had to manage on one wage. I know things change and we have to adapt but imagine that a small company with maybe 10 employees is looking for a new member of staff. They will pick the person that they feel will be in the best interests of the company. If the choice comes down to 2 people, one in their twenties and likely to start a family and one in their fifties with a grown up family, all other things being equal I imagine the older person wins every time. That is the problem with legislating without considering all of the consequences. Younger people will miss out frequently.
Nor me, and we are lucky to be able to. But the principle is why should an employer pay for people to have lots of time off to 'introduce' themselves to their child when there is no maternal reason. Simple biology makes it sense to have a woman have time off, breast feeding is an easy example, last time I looked a bloke cant do that. And conversely, why should those who choose to, or worse still cannot, have children be precluded from a great benefit of taking up to 6 months off mostly paid (at some level depending on company and state benefits which I'm sure you will take or your employer will on your behalf) every couple of years? How is that fair?
One of my old colleagues is gay and we used to laugh about him adopting kids, the other 4 of us would take turns to partner up with him and take 6 months at a time and share it around
but your replying to my posts not his off the bat I said my circumstances aent the same but parental leave but anyway all this is paid for through taxation if its paternity leave.
Replying to principle rather than personal circumstance and keeping on thread. Personally, surprised a global business has an attitude like that, given they will have a process and policy for everything under the sun. And if its unpaid, maybe its a question of timing: when is absence least likely to impact the business
I don't agree with many things but the well looked after kids of today will run this shop in years to come. chasing the dollar for mega rich companies or small businesses has to be balanced with catering for the needs of ones kids, just as ones disabled other half, sick parent etc. thats society's values for a better soceity. should it really be like the 50s and 60s.
