Five
reasons why exclusive maternity leave is bad for women
The radical extension of maternity leave and parents’ rights is sabotaging
women’s careers, according to the head of the new equalities watchdog.
Nicola Brewer said that it was an inconvenient truth that giving women a year
off work after the birth of each child - soon to be paid throughout - was
making employers think twice before offering a job or promotion.
The chief executive of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission was speaking
to The Times on the eve of a speech in which she will call for a significant
rethink of family policy.
Ms Brewer said that generous maternity benefits had entrenched the assumption
that only mothers brought up children and failed to hasten a social
revolution where both parents were equally responsible for caring for their
family.
British fathers have the most unequal rights in Europe, entitled to only two
weeks of leave compared with 52 for mothers. At the moment, nine months of
maternity leave is paid, but this will rise to a year by the end of the
current Parliament.
Ms Brewer said that calls to the commission’s helpline from women who had lost
their jobs after becoming pregnant suggested that they were paying a heavy
price for their new rights. She said that her fears deepened earlier this
year when the entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar claimed that many employers binned
the CVs of women of childbearing age.
Business leaders have criticised the new maternity laws, saying that they are
a headache for employers and that it is difficult to plan the workforce if
parents go part-time. But this is the first time that a criticism has come
from an organisation that campaigns on behalf of women.
Ms Brewer said she feared that plans to extend the right to request flexible
working hours until children were 16 could hamper women’s employment
prospects further. Of the one million parents who have made use of flexible
hours so far, the overwhelming majority are women.
“There has been a sea change on maternity leave and flexible work and we
welcome that,” she said. “But the effect has been to reinforce some
traditional patterns. The Work and Families Act has not freed parents and
given them real choice. It is based on assumptions, and some of the terms
reinforce the traditional pattern of women as the carers of children.”
She added: “We have come a long way but after winning all these gains it is
worth asking: are we still on the right track? The thing I worry about is
that the current legislation and regulations have had the unintended
consequence of making women a less attractive prospect to employers.”
Although the latest legislation allows for the last six months of maternity
leave to be transferred to the father if the mother goes back to work
earlier, but that misses the point, she says. “The way it is framed means it
is up to the women to transfer the leave to the man. It is not his right,”
she said. Ms Brewer said that it was not a case of taking away the new
rights from mothers but of extending them to fathers. In her speech today
she will ask why men should not be entitled to 12 weeks of leave on 90 per
cent of their earnings following the birth of a child - the same as women.
She questioned the way in which the Government and opposition parties always
tried to make a business case for each piece of family-friendly legislation.
“Of course, there is a business case for these changes and many companies
are going further,” she said, “but this is a social argument as well as an
economic one. There may well be a cost [to business], but as a society we
are already thinking in terms of wellbeing as well as take-home pay.”
Officials at the commission say that they are studying research from Sweden
that has found that fathers who take up to two years off work after the
birth of a child are 30 per cent less likely to get divorced. A six-month
consultation exercise is to be launched today through the online chat rooms
Mumsnet and Dad.info.
Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for equality
between women and men, said that she shared the commission’s concerns about
the effect of legislation on women’s careers. “Under EU law employment
rights once given cannot be taken away, so there is no point regretting past
decisions,” she said. “The Government should both better protect pregnant
workers and introduce paid parental leave that supports mums and dads to
share care.”
The commission has in the past been accused of courting controversy. Trevor
Phillips, the chairman, said in April that a lack of control over
immigration had led to a “cold war” between rival ethnic communities. He
also criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury for saying that Sharia should
have a role in the legal system.
Let's just stop having babies altogether, shall we - and see what happens! Oh, would not that be great! No one picking at the tax-payers money, no one taking any maternity leaves, no one leaving all the work for the collegues to finish, no flexi-hours! Now that I call social engineering!
Lilia, Cambridge, UK
Interested to see how this pans out. Local and Central Government will start shaking out soon. Those with above view will probably be retained (in soft work). Those who don't? A solicitor I know said that he didn't employ women of child age. Start your own small business and employ women perhaps?
Austin Tassletine, South West , UK
It is not he law that holds women back... it is backward values that people hold. I and my husband have decided to move to Sweden (where am from) to be able to keep our careers as well as sharing ‘maternity leave’; the UK is too far behind in all aspects of progressive policies….
Tina, London,
Further proof that no matter what society gives them, women will never be happy. They will always find something to complain about.
Joshua, Shreveport, USA
The best workers are men and women over 40 years that have raised eheir children, have experience and are truly glad of being employed.
Victoria Alea, Barcelona, Spain
I fully support one year paid maternity leave. To that I would add kinder-garten/ nursery etc. for all pre-school children from age 1 year. We the community to meet all the costs through general taxation.
It is the cost which is the problem not the principle. The UK can afford this.
David Morrison, Airdrie, UK
The headline could have read 'family policy holding men back at home', rather than women at work. Ms Brewer is to be commended for asking why men do not have 13 week pay at 90% (like women) . It illustrates the difference between campaigning for women's rights and equal rights.
Rory Ridley-Duff (Dr), Sheffield, England
If you cant afford for one parent not to work then dont have a child. It is that simple. The responsiblity and cost is the parent's, not the employers.
Wardy, Lisbon, Portugal
Quote: "To Dr Stuart H Russell of Grantham:
How exactly has nature equipped women for the task of 'keeping home for hubby'?"
Psychometrically and biophysiologically. Maternal instinct is considered an index of female gender congruity, and its absence in a woman is usually taken as an anomaly.
Dr K Liebens, london, uk
Here is why Britain must have shared parental leave. We are a young educated couple and when we have children we will be sharing the maternity leave. If Britain will not allow this then we will move elsewhere in Europe and Britain will loose to educated people who will bring up decent children.
L&D, uk,
This is a very bad situation for small employers who employ the largest proportion of people in the country. It will soon be unworkable and in the current climate who would want to be an employer. I have been an employer for 32 years with excellent staff but now see no future for small business.
Joyce, newcastle upon tyne, uk
To Dr Stuart H Russell of Grantham:
How exactly has nature equipped women for the task of 'keeping home for hubby'? Last time I checked I did not have scrubbing brushes instead of hands and vacuum cleaner attachments instead of feet! What a load of rubbish some people spout. Unbelievable!
Ceri, Cambridge, UK
England. the land of benefits and "entitlement".
Nine months maternity leave is rediculous, let alone a year! Little wonder the economy is so dire. Expect a baby boom folks.
Jeannine, Florida, USA
Might be heading for a flaming or worse but: I think one or other parent should stay at home at least until the child is of school age & NOT be paid for that time, not by an employer nor the state.
Children need to bond with they're parents, be set high moral & social standards.
Mark, Marlow, UK
Firstly, the next generalrtion are very important, and for those of you who think it won't affect- who do you think is going to pay your pension . Secondly, business is always crying poverty when these issues arise- its a tough old world- innovate, join the 21st century. mums and dads are needed.
claire, sheffield, uk
Where does that leave women who like me, are not planning to have children? At 34 I've made more money for my employer than my male peers. My boyfriend is in favour of equal pay and i believe my colleagues are too, because to them am not a baby maker but a hard working, highly productive female
n l , london,
I would find it bizarre to be refused a job on the grounds that I may become pregnant. I may be a female of childbearing age, but I have as much desire to have children as I have to jump off Blackpool Tower. You'd be safer employing women like me than most men!
Juno, Loughborough,
This government's sexist, short-termist and politically opportunistic approach to family is most sad and disgraceful. I find some acts of Fathers 4 Justice extreme but i cant help sympathise with them. The government is responsible for all the violent teenage crime spree and the breakdown of family.
P. Dordoe, London, UK
Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General in Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" would have a ready solution to this problem -- require everyone to include 2.4 years of enforced idleness in their careers, irrespective of whether and how many children they intended to have.
ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK
Oh the irony ... So it really didn't occur to anyone that giving a years paid leave to women , per child , might be detrimental to their employment chances , when compared to men without that option ? Apparently employers want what's best for their business . Shocking !
Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,
We may probably benefit from more dialogue..The EU has just adopted a proprosal to end discrimination “beyond” the workplace. I trust this will help us avoid using our own “beliefs” as an excuse to treat others less favourably. eg If I don't believe I need to take up "employment rights" I won't.
Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley, Bacup, UK
The difference between Melissa from Exeter and me is that for 11 years pay, her employer got 10 years of work, whereas for 11 years pay, my employer got 11 years of work.
Clearly, from an employer's perspective, giving Melissa a year off is not as good a deal as NOT giving me a year off.
Tony, London, UK
The fair and simple answer is to scrap statutory paid parental leave for both genders. That way, those of us who are childless do not have to meet their costs through extra taxes and/or extra unpaid work. If you choose to have children, you should meet those costs yourself.
Paul, Coventry,
The comments expressed here are very disappointing, both sides need to recognize there are issues. Pressure groups and individuals alike need to see that this is a real issue for small businesses. While businesses need to recognize the benefits of a diverse workplace and look beyond the risk.
John W, London, UK
While reading some of the opinions I got the feeling that, according to some people, we should not have children at all anymore ???!!!!!! simply beacuse that's more convenient for the employers. Well, are you considering what will happen when we grow old and 'run out' young people???
adriana, sarajevo,
I am sorry if I am going to shock you but I firmly believe that some things fall to the mother and that she needs to put her children first. Having said that, some of the most successful women I have known have been mothers who took a career break when their children were young.
Margarita, Crouch End, England
It looks like 40 years of feminist sophistry has taken its toll on young women's minds.
How difficult a concept is it? Raising a child is a FULL TIME occupation. Seeking an ambitious career is another. If you want to do both, you will eventually have to answer for the harm you do to your child.
K Liebens, london, uk
Only women can have babies. The recovery from the physical trauma of childbirth takes time quite apart from the need to look after the child. Some women recover more quickly than others. Society has to decide whether women should be full-time earners or not.
tomi, Crieff, Scotland
And then there will be people saying stop! we don't want immigrants! Well, there has to be some balance. Maybe China's example is not bad: limit the number of children per family (ok, it doesn't have to be one, it can be two).
adriana, sarajevo,
Rob and Guy
So it is wrong for women to want to be a parent and have a job, but not for men? Does not really make sense. If men want children, then men can share the responsibility for them. It is not a pick and choose issue. No wonder there is mass exodus of educated women from this country.
Andy, uk,
The so called Equality laws are biased towards men too!
John, Salford, England
A further aspect is that those who do not have children are being discriminated against.
bruce, Apt, France
Maternity leave rules are daft and a big drain on British business. If a woman wants a family then she has a choice - family or job. No company should be obliged to hold open her current job, provide maternity pay while employing a temp - this is financial suicide and commercial madness.
Don, Oxford, UK
I would love to start a family with my husband. BUT I am the "bread winner" and we cannot survive on my reduced wage for the length of the minimum stint of maternity pay. However if my husband could receive the maternity pay over this period we could. Also I wouldnt want my small employer to suffer.
Debbie, Tyne & Wear,
I worked for my employer for 10 years before taking a year of part-paid maternity leave with my beautiful daughter. Now I am back at my job, more motivated than ever before. Surely that year was a good deal for both myself and my employer? Why is short term thinking so widespread?
Melissa, Exeter,
My wife's just returning to work part-time after a 10 year break looking after our kids (she has a PhD). I asked her if she'd consider working full-time and having me look after the kids and work part time? "No way!!" she said. I can only assume that women want their cake and eat it too.
Bry Barnes, Somerset, Uk
If I were an employer I would employ middle aged men and lesbian women. The men do not qualify for a year off for 'paternity leave' and the lesbian women will not have children anyway, and thus will not have to keep running home. Basically, I think that a woman's place is in the home.
Dave Griffin, Ilfracombe, UK
If a woman wants to taken seriously, she needs to get back to work before a year has elapsed. Good childcare is no more difficult to arrange at 6m that at 12m. The 12 month break is a sop to political correctness. We need to address inequality in the workplace with intelligent policy not guesswork.
Susan Barone, London, UK
If there is going to be equality in pay , job opportunities, etc etc then WHY should there not be equality in parenting leave?
What's with the 'Equality here' but 'Discrimination there' argument?
No sense at all.
And, yes, women SHOULD play best of five at Wimbledon...!
william tapley, London, uk
Yes I must say its the feminist ideals gone wrong. The idea that you can have it all, career, family, and a happy relationship. Once people accept that you have to make choices in life, and that one choice precludes another.
Gavin, London, UK
I will never employ another women under 50 in my company, paterinty leave, and flexi times for school have ruined my business. I have had 2 employee's join my company and 3 months later anounce that they are expecting, cue light duties and lots of time off till the baby is born, and 2 years pay. ?
james, portishead, england
For most, being a working mother is a nightmarish balance of work, annual leave and childcare arrangements combined with guilt. Financial pressures leave little choice. UK society has got its priorities wrong.
Robin, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
The majority of the comments are not the result of sexism; rather common sense. If you can't afford to have children without disrupting your employer and colleagues, then don't have them. They are not a right and they are not accidental either. Get the grandparents on board, or get a cat.
C Smith, Norwich, UK
Far from 'ruining men's careers', legislation that granted equal leave to parents irrespective of their sex would force employers to look beyond sex - to merit. Binning the CVs of men aged 20 to 40 along with women's CVs isn't really an option - employers have to employ someone!
Zoe, Leamington,
Instead of giving the female 9 months to a year paid and men only 2 weeks, why not give both 3-4 months paid? Makes it ambivalent to employers whether they hire/promote a man or woman, gives enough time to women to recover from delivery and men to bond with their child and help out at home.
Kate, London, UK
People tend to confuse ancient role paterns: men were providing PROTECTION (NOT FOOD... hunt only provided food occasionally), women provided the FOOD. So women who combine working with nursing ARE sticking to their role patern and why can't we make something which worked for eons work anymore?
kate, London, UK
Im sorry to say but in the current economic climate, your paying someone to fill in the job of a woman on maternity leave therefore two salaries etc are going out of the business. Not many businesses I know can afford to do this. Its all down to simple maths!
debra steadman, Leicester, UK
I run my own business. Who was supposed to pay *my* paternity leave?
Tim Bartlett, Upwell, UK
Interesting that most respondents are men here. Think further. The government wants women in work to pay tax. Long maternity leave allows a woman to deal the with hormonal uproar of having a child and then get back to work placing the child in a nursery, which again feeds the economy. Whoshould pay
Karen, Southend on Sea,
Lisa, quitting is one thing - we can all do that, giving some notice, except from the military. The big threat is someone insisting on taking months off work while still getting paid and then having the option of returning! Can't fill the vacancy fulltime, forced to use short-term staff... very bad.
James, Perth, Scotland
This is madness, as an employer my task is to make a profit in tough economy, both for myself, and for my staff - so I can pay them. Our company is not here to subsidise a socialist ideal dreamed up by the pc brigade. Children are a life choice, putting food on my and my emloyees tables is mine
Rob Bain`, Derby,
It's worrying that the people who often choose to remain childless because of career considerations are in fact the very kind who should be encouraged to procreate - well-educated, career-minded, ambitious, self-sufficient. What effect will this have on this country's gene pool in the long term?
Anna, London,
I have a small company, and can afford one or two staff who aren't on a contract basis.
There is no way on this earth that I would risk employing a woman under 45, due to the current maternity laws.
Take someone on, then have to pay them when they're not actually doing anytyhing for me?...nuts!
Flash, London, UK
Equal rights to leave is much better: it only diminishes the father's role by assuming that it is always the mother who wants to take time off. Maternal leave leads to discrimination and is why many women choose the public over the private sector so as not to risk being fired or viewed as a burden
MB, Edinburgh,
Total madness and don't be fooled by this woman. What she is really saying is level the playing field downwards by making it equally unattractive to hire men and to hell with employers.
Rob, Warfield, England
The day that men get 90% of their earnings for twelve weeks to stay at home to play with their newborns will be the day the UK goes to the wall.
My company will stop trading the day this legislation is passed as will most other small and medium businesses who are above board.
Pete, Stockport, UK
in a few years, these do gooders advocating 1 year of paid parental leave for both parents will be wondering why the job market has contracted. entrepreneurs and small businesses will not be able to afford to employ 20-40 year olds.
Unpaid parental leave is the only answer.
will, grimsby, uk
Companies claim back SMP from the government so its not a case of paying employees for no work return. The biggest issue for small companies is having to keep the job just in case the person wants to come back. Whilst its only possible for women to have children we shouldn't be penalised!
Sharon , London ,
People seem to be getting into an uproar about nothing here, it all seems simple and reasonable to me. The new proposal is that if a couple have a child then 1 person gets time off to look after it for a year (mother or father). This merely offers fathers the opportunity to be that person.
Leigh, Birmingham, UK
For a variety of reasons I generally dont employ:
1 Women between 25 and 35
2 Anyone under 23
3 Anyone without a degree
This rule of thumb serves me well.
Also if you give men equal rights what makes you think we'll take them?
Men know better than women its Children OR career not both
Guy, London , UK
Businesses can't be expected to support people on maternity leave and the government needs to find a solution to support these people - but they are too busy giving money to the societys spongers who dont want to work etc.
Emma, York,
In my opinion you should get nothing at all for being off work to have children, the world is already massively overpopulated, why encourage people to add to the problem? Besides it's not fair to make hard working people with no children pay for these people to indulge themselves.
J Roberts, Manchester, UK
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, Mothers of babies need to be home for 52 weeks because babies need cuddling and breast milk. Later, when the toddler falls, he cries for Mum. But why should the employer pay for all this? It is the Dad's job to earn the money, so he cannot be off work too!
Nigel MacNicol, Oakham, Rutland UK
People who have children can't win. If they have a child and work then they are ruining small businesses with maternity leave pay, if they don't work then they are spongers. I don't have kids but realise that someone has to! Has anyone thought workers with kids are more likely to be loyal employees?
Leigh, Birmingham, UK
This is interesting - given Alan Sugar's response, it's clearly not maternity leave that damages women's prospects but the attitude of men like Sugar. European countries don't seem to have a similar problem, perhaps Nicola Brewer should focus on eliminating actual discrimination
Jim, Birmingham,
Sarah, is not only british feminist, same thing happens in many countries, Spain etc. Feminist have been very succesful getting equal rights in most areas, but not in Family law. Why? Perhaps they not really interested in letting go this one.
jr, bournemouth,
I am incredibly disappointed by the sexism and old-fashioned attitudes in these comments - Dr Russell and Michael from So'ton fail to understand that children are not just the responsibility, or the 'choice', of mothers but of both parents. What are they afraid of?
CJ, Manchester, UK
It's not just the financial impact of maternity leave that should worry business owners. I was once a single male in an office full of parents and I will not do it again! Last choice for annual leave, extra work so some guy can watch his kid play football, and someone on sick leave every single day!
Mark, London,
Giving men equal parental leave rights will only make males of early 20's to early 40's less attractive to employers as they will take more leave.
This will ruin men's career chances .
To women: accept that only you can mother kids, too many women want it all (career + kids) you can't have both
Michael, Southampton, Hampshire
Smaller private businesses cannot financially cope with this sort of legislation, and disruption,so, what do they do? Easy. Do not employ women of child bearing age; and of if this equates to men - employ the "older" man.
Chris, s'bury,
My team of professionals are 50/50 male/female. We have had periods where over half the 30 something women are off on maternity leave. The rest of us have to work longer hours to cover their costs but turnover, profit etc is still hit.
Women are just too risky & too expensive.
Mark, Berkhamsted,
The gap between what women and men are entitled to on the birth of a child is not just about who gets to stay at home/ commit career suicide. It's also about society failing to encourage/enforce paternal involvement from Day One. And then we complain about 'absent' fathers and no male role models!
Jeremy, Manchester,
Problem for many employers is cost of the scheme. Some businesses can adapt well, others less so and the financial costs can be huge (hiring and retraining temp staff etc with no certainty mother will return). Government must provide financial assistance to employers who shoulder an unfair burden.
Christopher Wild, Gloucester, UK
If the State considers that mothers and fathers need 12 months' paid maternity/paternity leave, the State should fund it in the private sector, just as it does in the public sector. When tax goes up to pay for it, we'll see how much of a popular measure it really is.
Martin, London,
This is too much like common sense for this stupid, sexist and blinkered government to understand. They cannot comprehend that 1. Equality applies to men as well as women 2. In the private sector businesses need to make money to survive 3. there are consequences to legislation - often unintended.
Chris, Cheltenham,
Women have a very important job - bearing, nurturing, & generally looking after our next generation, & keeping home for hubby. Nature has equipped them for this task. No amount of unnatural, politically correct nonsense from the cultural Marxists currently dominating us can alter this. Get over it!
Dr Stuart H Russell, Grantham, UK
Just for the small business geniuses who haven't worked the 'game' out.
Fixed term contracts and temporary workers.
I hope you stop crying and get with the program.
Job security is a thing that was lost in the 80s. Training is uneconomic. Pay peanuts and create jobs that can be done by monkeys.
J D S, Cardiff, UK
The answer is simple: give mothers and fathers automatic equal rights on the birth of a child. It is inequality that causes problems. The problem then would getting men to take leave. Perhaps it should be compulsory!
Clare , Gwaenysgor, Wales
Great. Men to get equal rights - but only if women's groups demand it. Thanks also, Camilla Cavendish, for bringing the unjust secret family courts to public attention. Again this helps caring dads - but only if a mother has suffered the same unfair fate. Please keep it up for the sake of the kids
Michae, Redhill,
To Malcolm of London:
Who exactly are you referring to when you say that British feminists oppose giving men parental leave rights? I think you'll find that feminists (this one included!) would welcome equal parental leave rights for men and women.
Mel, Manchester,
Donald is wrong. This is not social engineering. Most parents cannot choose to share - it is too expensive. P-t work is rubbish, dad's leave is unpaid and for most men, time off is career death. Every country that has changed the economics sees millions of families choosing to share care more.
Duncan Fisher, Abergavenny, UK
A woman can pump out a baby a year and hardly work at all: all paid. What employer who doesn't want to go bust would employ a gynaecological time bomb? Employing more gay men is the sensible answer.
Oh, and there are too many people anyway - why encourage more?
C Smith, Norwich, UK
The current and proposed changes to maternity leave for both sexes will prevent new businesses starting up.
The reason being potential employers have no interest in paying people for up to a year doing nothing to help the business.
If you want a family then you should save up and pay yourself!
Mike, Teston, England
Malcolm, which 'British feminists' oppose equal parental leave for men? In my experience most feminists are strongly in favour of this - it's the traditional 'family values' crowd who don't like it.
Sarah, London, UK
I'm surprised to see the suggestion that 'feminists' are against shared parental leave - in my experience most feminists are strongly in favour of this, and have been calling for it for many years.
Sarah, London, UK
Mark, Statutory Maternity Pay is recovered from tax by companies. There are costs associated with a woman going on maternity leave, but companies do not cover the cost of SMP.
K Turner, London, United Kingdom
My company bends over backwards to accommodate parents (both mums and dads). They made record profits last year, so obviously it doesn't harm their turnover.
M. R., Stockport,
The answer is simple, use positive discrimination to ensure all men are unemployed and ban men from having access to children. Women then can have total control of the work force.
Graham Pennells, Bexley, UK
Who is this woman who thinks it is her right to organise a social revolution to change traditional parenting patterns. I didn't vote for her to do so. She is an unelected social engineer. We have had enough playing around with society and it has nearly destroyed it.
Donald, Maidstone,
I'm a father of 3, who ran a small business at the time they were born. I couldn't afford to take any time off at all. Under these laws staff can take up to a year off, and the small business owner has to find people to replace them, while still paying them.
Where's the fairness in that?
Martin, London,
When women's salaries are the same as men's then other costs are considered - who has maternity leave, who retires earlier etc and then employers work out which sex is the cheaper - MEN.
This is why they then get the jobs - and the promotions. It's not too hard really.
Dave, slough,
Be careful what you wish tor.
Simon Marshalnd, Bath, UK
I teach maths, but I can't publish a book in which half of the engineers, in the examples, aren't female. And this is great for my daughter.
But equally, all books and classes about parenting should have about half the primary parents as male.
Affirmative action works both ways.
Bob, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
Of course legislating a year off at full pay will impact the job opportunities of women at a child bearing age. And this is unfair on those that have chosen not to have a family.
What kind of manager, who's filling a crucial role, attached to a high salary, would not take this in to account?
nick, Singapore (ex London), Singapore (ex UK)
It should also be considered that some people are playing the system. I have 1 employee who has had 5 children in the 7 years she has worked for me. In addition I now have 3 more staff members from a team of 91 who are all going on maternity leave in January. The training budget will blow my profit
Tony, Sheffield, UK
AT LAST common sense on this issue. If the pay gap is to disappear, men have to represent as big a risk to businesses as women. This can be achieved very simply, by sharing parental leave. In any case, couples, and men, should have the RIGHT to share that leave.
David Space, London, UK
All I can say is... duh! These people are in business to make money, they go with what is most cost effective. Paying someone for 6 months to a year with no work, is not cost effective. The world is a tough place, it's not descrimination, it's all costs.
Graeme, Edinburgh,
In a Times report on Iceland (apparently one of the best countries in the world for women) one feminist commentator argued that shared parental leave was the best thing to happen to Iceland's women. Why do British feminists oppose giving men these rights when it is so clearly good for both sexes?
Malcolm, London, UK
The world is already over populated and It just amazes me that people desperately want to have children when there are so many unwanted, needy children that COULD BE ADOPTED!
Jane, Oregon, USA
Very simple: Shared parenting, equal rights, equal dutys, equal leave for both parents. Its about time Feminist understand that they can not have it both ways, asking for equality in some areas and not in others (family laws)
jr, bournemouth,
Think about it; you have a small company and employ 10 staff or so. What happens if 4 out of the 5 go off on maternity? How does your company survive paying 4 wages for a year on top of hiring 4 new staff? Simple, it doesn't. There should be a choice career or children and certainly not both.
Mark, London,
When a business is looking to employ someone the cold hard fact of the matter is will the person they are going to employ increase the bottom line for the company more often than not employing a woman of child-bearing age, does not.
Stephen, St. Ives, England
Meanwhile, those of us without children will continue to do these parents' work for them, for the privilege of subsidising their taxes. Immoral.
David, London,
For crying out loud, any company that uses a possible maternity leave a few years down the road as an excuse to not hire or promote someone is simply looking for an excuse to discriminate.
Without this leave policy, they would have found another reason.... including she'll quit to have a baby.
Lisa, Detroit, USA
Helping couples who prefer the 'shared care' approach to raising children is one thing, but forcing it upon parents as the only politically acceptable model is quite another! For ' real choice' there must be equal support (rather than contempt) for the full time mum/dad sole breadwinner model.
M Peacock, Salisbury, UK
The big picture is a country's economy and standard of living _ can UK afford such legislation and still enable small business, which provides the vast majority of jobs outside government, to survive?
hana, kuala Lumpur, malaysia