Harman at it again.

[SueEllen]

I totally agree with you that both sexes should be treated equally. A man can be just as bad. However, I believe paternity and maternity laws aren't comparable at the present time. Let’s see Harman change that one.

If she changes it to the Scandinavian model where maternity/paternity leave is shared then it would change some employers' attitudes. As another part of discrimination is that some employers presume that the person will not fit in with the employers' "culture" due to their sex, race etc.

I have been on 2 occasions the only woman in a department doing technical work. A few months later I found more women (always young and childless) have been contracted/employed in similar roles.

Whilst people say that this is a deep rooted problem and is all due to the old boys club in establishments, everywhere I've worked, it's always been men the last one out of the door at night. Why shouldn't companies be allowed to reward perceived loyalty and commitment to work first?

Not in the companies myself or my family members have worked in. It's the young ones without children who leave the latest. Older people who have been made redundant are more wise about loyalty to employers.

[expat]

Whether you agree with it or not, the fact is that given a choice between two equally qualified candidates, one a woman "of child bearing age" and the other a male, an employer will very often view the woman as an unacceptable risk. Potentially having to cover for her maternity, involving hiring cover, while at the same time paying her. Double hit there, plus the disruption, and as Sas pointed out, some roles can't take upheaval.

and reclaiming the statutory maternity pay.

[Lucy]

"A society which is equal and fair is one which is more at ease with itself," she added.

Is it Harman or Pol Pot!

Equal in the eyes of the law, yes, equal in terms of outcomes is called communism.

Fair? According to who's standards? A million people have a million different ideas of 'fair'.

ASFIAC there should be no paid maternity leave or subsided childcare, if you want children you pay for them.

[DodgyAgent]

"A society which is equal and fair is one which is more at ease with itself," she added.

Is it Harman or Pol Pot!

Equal in the eyes of the law, yes, equal in terms of outcomes is called communism.

Fair? According to who's standards? A million people have a million different ideas of 'fair'.

ASFIAC there should be no paid maternity leave or subsided childcare, if you want children you pay for them.

Are you losing the Pol Plot?

[Lucy]

Are you losing the Pol Plot?

Why do you ask?

[Bagpuss]

Pol Pot, POL POT,
it's a holiday in Cambodia...

[sasguru]

Are you losing the Pol Plot?

It happened a long time ago.

[realityhack]

"A society which is equal and fair is one which is more at ease with itself," she added.

Is it Harman or Pol Pot!

Equal in the eyes of the law, yes, equal in terms of outcomes is called communism.

Fair? According to who's standards? A million people have a million different ideas of 'fair'.

ASFIAC there should be no paid maternity leave or subsided childcare, if you want children you pay for them.

Not sure about the non-paid leave or subsidised childcare, but I agree with the other sentiments. We have to have subsidised childcare for the good of those kids whose parents at the bottom of the income ladder, so I think it should be means tested if not already.
There is that argument that you shouldn't have kids if you can't afford to - but that's way too draconian for me - what about unplanned pregnancy? Having children is seen as a right* regardless of income, and the welfare of the child is paramount.
You'd find it very difficult to cater for the kids without catering also for the parents (a wider argument).

*Somehow, the simple common sense attitude that's it's probably not a very good idea to plan a pregnancy if you have no means to support the child - seems to have gone by the wayside.**

**And this brings me back to my oft-repeated point that welfare is a privilege, not a right, but impossible to implement in that fashion without upsetting the PC brigade.

[Lucy]

As I see it RH a right only exists when it doesn't take away from others, so childcare etc isn't a right. And maybe if people were forced to think about the real cost of bringing up children they would give it a bit more thought.

[tay]

As I see it RH a right only exists when it doesn't take away from others

Womans logic.....