Are the careers of women hindered by maternity leave laws?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7504637.stm

'The extension of maternity leave may be sabotaging women's careers, the head of the new equality watchdog has warned.'

Answer 1

I don't think the laws will make too much of a difference to what is already happening - I still think employers look at a woman like myself (about to get married and of child-bearing age) and think that I am likely to get pregnant soon and therefore choose someone over me.  I know it is discriminatory to do that but they still do and if challenged would use another excuse for not hiring me.

Yes, in my case, I do want kids soon.  But I have already proven in my current job, to be doing a better job than others that were employed at the same time as me who are either male or women in their 50's (who have all had lots of time off work sick etc) so if someone had picked them over me because on paper, I was likely 'to go on maternity leave', then that would have been a bad judgement call.

As someone else said, women are always going to be having children - until the end of time - so it isn't fair that we are disadvantaged for this.  I'm sure all of the blokes who sit back and decide not to hire someone who might need time off to have babies, were all happy to take the maternity package when their wives were off having their children.

Answer 2

Yes. I've had several conversations with employers where they have admitted they are sometimes reluctant to hire a woman in their lates 20s/early 30s for this reason. As I'm now 28 (and don't intend to have children) this worries me. Maternity / paternity laws should be changed so the total amount of time can be split between both parents. And personally a year off seems an enormous amount. More childcare options would help.

Answer 3

It shouldn't be gender specific - especially as many men are becoming stay at home dads. If it was gender neutral it would be fine.

The law isn't fair because even if the woman isn't going to have kids, the employer still may assume that she will one day.

Answer 4

Take a look at what the continental Europeans get.  All else pales by comparison.  Women will continue to have babies until the end of time, no matter what.  In fact, European governments are very concerned about breeding future taxpayers, and have added incentives to make the making of babies a more desirable option for women.  France has had a fair amount of success in this regard.

Answer 5

Well yea there's no point putting your career on the line when it's only your health and well being at stake....

Answer 6

The problem is you need to make laws gender neutral, it should be the relationship between child  and parent not child and mother.

But clearly the employer will always hire a man over a woman, since women will always be confined, even in Britain, socially as the caretaker.

Answer 7

As a woman I agree to women’s rights, however as an employer it is very hard  when a woman goes on maternity leave for 9-12 months. Even then when they come back I'm now legally obliged to offer them 'family friendly hours'. Running a small business is difficult in this climate and having pregnant staff or staff off due maternity is very hard. They are now also stating they want to give father 12 weeks off on 90% of their wage when baby arrives which is just stupid, where will this money come from. On top of this as an employer I have to adapt any employee’s hours to be family friendly if they have a child under 16!!

In all honesty if I had a choice between a man, an older woman or a young woman for a position, I would go for the man or older woman. As I have a pregnant member of staff at the moment and unable to get anyone to fill the position with the qualifications I require, so my childfree staff and myself will be working extra to fill the huge gap.

I think we should start giving the childfree and childless in this country tax breaks.

Answer 8

I totally agree with some of the above answers in that men get preference over women during the hiring process, in a lot of industries.

For me, I think there can be some serious consequences for women taking even 6 months off work - both emotionally and socially. If a woman does not have a good support network around her she can become very socially isolated and this can have serious effects on her confidence and emotional well-being.

I think returning to work after an extended period can be very difficult for Mum's, especially if she doesn't have a great job to go back to. A lot of jobs targeted at Mum's ("school hours"; "flexible hours") are menial and banal....

I think we definitely need to see action towards more childcare facilities in the actual workplace - That way women who work there can be at work and close to bub at the same time.

Answer 9

well maternity leave shouldn't be taken into account when hiring but for pay raises it is a tough sell.

        There is no way you can justify discriminating against a person who is there regularly for raises and promotion against someone who has to take off alot.

       I would say creating more child care services but the way feminist government is they would only allow single mothers to use it.

Answer 10

If a woman is away on maternity leave and changes in the

workplace take place.Then they are going to be and rightly

overlooked for promotion.

Answer 11

So women care more about their careers than their children?

For me, a mother, the extension to maternity leave is the best thing to happen for babies for a long time!

Answer 12

I definately think so.

I am a 26 year old woman, in a stable relationship and am constantly asked when I'm gonna have kids. My boss even keeps asking me. I dont want children - not yet - maybe never.

I had a job interview for a large company back in January and they were fishing to find out my family plans - I literally had to point out the fact that I had the implant placed in my arm to prevent any accidents ...I didnt get the job (despite being perfectly qualitfied for it) - it went to the three guys I was interviewing with!

I do feel as though I am being "passed over" just because I am at "that age" and it really makes me angry.

I do see it from a business point of view though - I don't know if I would hire someone like me when there is a high chance that they will be taking a year off soon to have a baby Not to mention the hassel of them taking sick days before and after the birth. Its a tough one.

EDIT: totally agree Mrs M! Employing women of childbearing age is just a problem for businesses, especially smaller ones.

Answer 13

Yes they are...

If an employer has an equally qualified man and woman applying for the job, the employer will almost certainly choose the man, just because there is no chance of him being allowed to take a year out if he has kids...

Answer 14

To an extent, but it s comforting to know most women put their child before their career and those who cannot do this generally do not choose to have children.