Comments on: The Trouble With (Working) Women http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:50:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Liz http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3112 Liz Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:44:18 +0000 http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/#comment-3112 Some very good points - and as usually there has been some dvierse coverage in the media including some fiesty comments from Suart Rose (M&S CEO) According to Stuart Rose there is no glass ceiling. Women can have it all - babies and careers. "They've never had it better" According to the Equalities review "Clearly there is one factor that above all leads to women's inequality in the labour market - becoming mothers" Who is right? 61% of working mothers would work regardless of financial need according to UK wide, cross sector research with over 1500 working mothers. The research conducted by Mayfield Associates in conjunction with the UK's two leading parenting charities; Working Families and the NCT also showed that 95% of all working mothers saw their ideal family as a family where both parents are working. Although there is a strong desire to work only 3 out of 10 women found the return to work following maternity leave easy. The remaining 7 out of 10 highlighted significant damage to their psychological contracts, many of whom felt this was irreparable. The costs of loosing good employees are potentially very high, both in terms of hard costs (e.g. tribunals and replacement costs) and softer measures such the loss of tacit knowledge, loss of key relationships with staff, clients and suppliers as well as corporate reputation and workforce motivation. Research from Catalyst shows that productivity and profitability excel in organisations with at least 3 female board members. Research from London Business School shows that team with 50/50 men and women are more innovative. Despite the obvious benefits of employing women, a recent publication by PWC illustrated a leaking pipeline of female talent; for most companies a gender balanced intake of junior recruits falls to 30% women at managerial level, 15% at senior executive and 10% or less at board level. The Mums Going Back to Work research program (www.MumsGoingBacktoWork.com) found that Line Managers and Bosses were seen as pivotal in ensuring a smooth return to work following maternity leave. Having gain insight into mothers' experiences we are now seeking organisations to help us develop the employers' perspective through interviews and benchmarking. Our aim: to develop evidence based support for women, line managers and organisations to ensure a smooth transition to working motherhood that benefits the mother, her family and her employer. Do you care about increasing organisational performance? Do you have a story of great practice to share? Find out more about the program, how you could help and the benefits visit www.MumsGoingBacktoWork.com Some very good points – and as usually there has been some dvierse coverage in the media including some fiesty comments from Suart Rose (M&S CEO)

According to Stuart Rose there is no glass ceiling. Women can have it all – babies and careers. “They’ve never had it better”

According to the Equalities review “Clearly there is one factor that above all leads to women’s inequality in the labour market – becoming mothers”

Who is right?

61% of working mothers would work regardless of financial need according to UK wide, cross sector research with over 1500 working mothers. The research conducted by Mayfield Associates in conjunction with the UK’s two leading parenting charities; Working Families and the NCT also showed that 95% of all working mothers saw their ideal family as a family where both parents are working.

Although there is a strong desire to work only 3 out of 10 women found the return to work following maternity leave easy. The remaining 7 out of 10 highlighted significant damage to their psychological contracts, many of whom felt this was irreparable.

The costs of loosing good employees are potentially very high, both in terms of hard costs (e.g. tribunals and replacement costs) and softer measures such the loss of tacit knowledge, loss of key relationships with staff, clients and suppliers as well as corporate reputation and workforce motivation.

Research from Catalyst shows that productivity and profitability excel in organisations with at least 3 female board members. Research from London Business School shows that team with 50/50 men and women are more innovative. Despite the obvious benefits of employing women, a recent publication by PWC illustrated a leaking pipeline of female talent; for most companies a gender balanced intake of junior recruits falls to 30% women at managerial level, 15% at senior executive and 10% or less at board level.

The Mums Going Back to Work research program (www.MumsGoingBacktoWork.com) found that Line Managers and Bosses were seen as pivotal in ensuring a smooth return to work following maternity leave.

Having gain insight into mothers’ experiences we are now seeking organisations to help us develop the employers’ perspective through interviews and benchmarking.

Our aim: to develop evidence based support for women, line managers and organisations to ensure a smooth transition to working motherhood that benefits the mother, her family and her employer.

Do you care about increasing organisational performance?
Do you have a story of great practice to share?

Find out more about the program, how you could help and the benefits visit http://www.MumsGoingBacktoWork.com

]]> By: cartside http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3046 cartside Thu, 21 May 2009 12:38:46 +0000 http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/#comment-3046 Cave Mother, similar regulations apply in Germany and interestingly, I've had this discussion a lot with a work colleague. In Germany, it has led to a higher uptake of paternity leave, not sure about percentage, but it's not revolutionised things. My colleague is convinced that fathers would not take up the offer if it existed. I'm not sure - if it was an option, at least it would become more common that fathers were involved in early parenting, and it would slowly lead to a change in perception. NS, the points about forgetting about the fathers role can be transferred to so many other areas. I have a professional interest in early years, all parenting programmes, single parent support, getting single parents back to work etc are aimed at mothers, not fathers. Fathers are ignored everywhere and then end up not having confidence in their parenting skills. Society doesn't think they have this role, or that they can do this role, so it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. One thing though - the biology of women having children and breast-feeding does exclude fathers at the very start, as does lack of decent paternal leave (2 weeks? this is such a joke! Esp. considering 30% of deliveries are by c-section). This means that the effort to include fathers will always be great. And if you breast feed, the pattern will be that mum is doing it all. Which in my case was true (at the start only I hasten to add and which we've overcome now). Cave Mother, similar regulations apply in Germany and interestingly, I’ve had this discussion a lot with a work colleague. In Germany, it has led to a higher uptake of paternity leave, not sure about percentage, but it’s not revolutionised things. My colleague is convinced that fathers would not take up the offer if it existed. I’m not sure – if it was an option, at least it would become more common that fathers were involved in early parenting, and it would slowly lead to a change in perception.
NS, the points about forgetting about the fathers role can be transferred to so many other areas. I have a professional interest in early years, all parenting programmes, single parent support, getting single parents back to work etc are aimed at mothers, not fathers. Fathers are ignored everywhere and then end up not having confidence in their parenting skills. Society doesn’t think they have this role, or that they can do this role, so it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

One thing though – the biology of women having children and breast-feeding does exclude fathers at the very start, as does lack of decent paternal leave (2 weeks? this is such a joke! Esp. considering 30% of deliveries are by c-section). This means that the effort to include fathers will always be great. And if you breast feed, the pattern will be that mum is doing it all. Which in my case was true (at the start only I hasten to add and which we’ve overcome now).

]]> By: Cave Mother http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3038 Cave Mother Wed, 20 May 2009 19:13:32 +0000 http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/#comment-3038 Fascinating discussion, and one which I find highly relevant as I contemplate returning to study. Just a thought - I wonder if the parental leave arrangements in Scandinavia have affected the perception of the male role in childcare. In Sweden, for example, parents are entitled to 16 months paid leave per child. A minimum of 2 months out of the 16 is required to be used by the "minority" parent which is usually the father. Norwegian parents can also share their parental leave entitlement (a fact which may contribute to their higher than average birth rate? - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4786160.stm). Fascinating discussion, and one which I find highly relevant as I contemplate returning to study. Just a thought – I wonder if the parental leave arrangements in Scandinavia have affected the perception of the male role in childcare. In Sweden, for example, parents are entitled to 16 months paid leave per child. A minimum of 2 months out of the 16 is required to be used by the “minority” parent which is usually the father. Norwegian parents can also share their parental leave entitlement (a fact which may contribute to their higher than average birth rate? – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4786160.stm).

]]> By: Noble Savage » Blog Archive » The Trouble With (Paying) Women http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3034 Noble Savage » Blog Archive » The Trouble With (Paying) Women Wed, 20 May 2009 17:59:31 +0000 http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/#comment-3034 [...] to yesterday’s post, I’m offering up my thoughts on part two of The Trouble With Working Women, which aired last [...] [...] to yesterday’s post, I’m offering up my thoughts on part two of The Trouble With Working Women, which aired last [...]

]]> By: Shannon http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/comment-page-1/#comment-3033 Shannon Wed, 20 May 2009 17:38:57 +0000 http://noblesavage.me.uk/2009/05/19/the-trouble-with-working-women/#comment-3033 Excellent, well-written post. I'd love to see this documentary, I wonder if I can access it somehow here in Canada. I totally agree with TheFeministBreeder - we must see some of this before we are married. I could see what a huge role family had in my husband's life before we were married, and I was right, his kids have become his whole life. He was actually laid off from a very stressful job last winter that ended up being a blessing in disguise - he ended up getting another job with more reasonable hours, and he loves it. He is home much earlier and is so thrilled to help out and spend more time with our three kids. It makes me so sad to see so many women empowering their husbands to take a back-seat in parenting decisions and responsibilities. You can do something about it, and the entire family will benefit from it. I've also seen women back at work days or mere weeks after having a baby and being praised for this. I wonder why I am so seldom praised for accepting my year-long maternity leaves to care for, nuture, love and breastfeed my babies. I feel strongly that my choice should garner that type of praise as well. And, Steve, I don't think (and I have not seen the documentary) that anyone is pressuring women to go back to work and not stay at home if that is their choice. It is a choice, and a challenging one at that, so I believe a woman should be able to choose either side and feel confident that she is doing what is best for she and *her* family. Excellent, well-written post. I’d love to see this documentary, I wonder if I can access it somehow here in Canada.

I totally agree with TheFeministBreeder – we must see some of this before we are married. I could see what a huge role family had in my husband’s life before we were married, and I was right, his kids have become his whole life. He was actually laid off from a very stressful job last winter that ended up being a blessing in disguise – he ended up getting another job with more reasonable hours, and he loves it. He is home much earlier and is so thrilled to help out and spend more time with our three kids. It makes me so sad to see so many women empowering their husbands to take a back-seat in parenting decisions and responsibilities. You can do something about it, and the entire family will benefit from it.

I’ve also seen women back at work days or mere weeks after having a baby and being praised for this. I wonder why I am so seldom praised for accepting my year-long maternity leaves to care for, nuture, love and breastfeed my babies. I feel strongly that my choice should garner that type of praise as well.

And, Steve, I don’t think (and I have not seen the documentary) that anyone is pressuring women to go back to work and not stay at home if that is their choice. It is a choice, and a challenging one at that, so I believe a woman should be able to choose either side and feel confident that she is doing what is best for she and *her* family.

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