hogmaw Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Maybe not the most appropriate forum to post this on, but our lass was moaning cos her bosses have just offered the bare minimum in terms of maternity leave. Hardly surprising considering she works for petrol pump manufacturers, and she is one of 2 women out of 100s of blokes working there. Here are some quotes from two of the directors: “The company shouldn’t have to pay maternity leave because if you are not working why should you get paid? …it is a choice to have children and you have to take the consequences…why should we [the company] have to pay for your decision? If you can’t afford to have children then don’t have them.” and “Why should you get paid if you are not working [if you are a woman who has had a baby]. In America you only get 6 weeks. After which you should be back at work. I don’t see why you should get paid if you are not working. Our taxes are for roads not for you to sit around not working.” The thing is, as a company boss myself, I'm inclined to agree with them! Which is not what our lass wants to hear. I think it's one of those situations where she 'has to be right', even when I think she and millions of other women are wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feakins Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Surely as her boss they should keep thoughts like that at home. All jobs pay maternity and I wouldn't be happy with the bare minimum (if i was pregnant ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I feel you may need to read here http://www.direct.gov.uk/Parents/Employment/EmploymentArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10029285&chk=JZIIAc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 hmm... so upto 2 days of "pain" giving birth and then around a whole year of nothing .... ... paid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Our HR Manager is a young woman. All our female staff get plenty of maternity leave. One guy applied for paternity leave and the shit really hit the fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absz Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 our office girl is on maternity leave shes getting 3 months full pay and another 3 months without pay if she wishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 Isn't one of the suggested reasons for the decline in behavioural standards of Britain's youth down to reduced maternity benefits vs cost of living? As house prices and general cost of living goes up, more and more new mothers are having to go back to work just to make ends meet. As a result, young children are growing up with less parental guidance. ....however.... as a fan of free enterprise myself, I don't think it's right that companies should have to foot the bill in any way. If the government wants to encourage parents to stay at home, it should be paid for through general taxation (ie. something that everybody contributes to), rather than by making commerce & industry pay for it..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogmaw Posted October 31, 2006 Author Share Posted October 31, 2006 ....however.... as a fan of free enterprise myself, I don't think it's right that companies should have to foot the bill in any way. If the government wants to encourage parents to stay at home, it should be paid for through general taxation (ie. something that everybody contributes to), rather than by making commerce & industry pay for it..... That makes sense, but it doesn't make sense when you see a family of 7 living off benefits. There's no doubt that the expense of having kids is one reason for not having them, but the government sees kids as a liability not an asset. I'd be happy if nursery places were free, or at least subsidised, that would help a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 I agree that too much help is given to people who CHOOSE to have kids... I won't be having kids, will I get any benefit from my company/government for it? No. But I will get peace, quiet and a healthier bank balance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 That makes sense, but it doesn't make sense when you see a family of 7 living off benefits. There's no doubt that the expense of having kids is one reason for not having them, but the government sees kids as a liability not an asset. I'd be happy if nursery places were free, or at least subsidised, that would help a lot. Yeah - the f*@king benefits system kind of undermines my whole argument, I suppose. I guess the problem is that the average single wage isn't enough to support a family any more, and from my experience of benefit-supported families, if you cut their benefits, it would be the children who suffered first, before the parents decided to stop their smoking/drinking habits. I guess its virtually impossible to distinguish those that truly need/deserve benefits from the scum that just scrounge off the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymdee Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 At our place I think you can get 6 months on full pay and 6 months with no pay if you want. I understand that you need to have something, but I agree that it's your choice to kids so why should I have to pay for it? I already pay for schools (no kids) libraries (don't use them), fire brigade & ambulances (never used them) and the roads in Bristol & Bath are terrible. I think it's a disgrace the amount we pay and the crap we get for it (rant over) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black cat Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 i have to say guys as a new dad with wife off on maternity leave those of you who are against it are talking absolute bollox!!! so all girls in the world that hold down a career cant have children and start a family!!. how would they aford it!!???????? ok so your saying, they dont have children?? is that real a choice..... rubbish. as a guy, who are you to say weather a girl canot have a kiddy or not! in most cases one wage isnt enough anymore. its all part of the nhs.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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