Maternity Leave - equal rights

Bendihorse · 24-02-2015 12:08PM #1

Women won't receive equal pay or conditions in the work place until fathers are granted equal entitlements to maternity leave. This seems like a no brainer to me. I definitely am an advocate for breast feeding, but I think that there should be say 10 months granted and parents should be allowed to decide between them how it is divided out based on what suits their needs.

Floor open for discussion...

DoYouEvenLift · 24-02-2015 12:10PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Women won't receive equal pay or conditions in the work place until fathers are granted equal entitlements to maternity leave. This seems like a no brainer to me. I definitely am an advocate for breast feeding, but my feeling is that there should be say 10 months granted and parents should be allowed to decide between them how it is divided out based on what suits their needs.

The floor is open for discussion...

That's funny seeing as they already do.

joxer1988 · 24-02-2015 12:11PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Women won't receive equal pay or conditions in the work place until fathers are granted equal entitlements to maternity leave. This seems like a no brainer to me. I definitely am an advocate for breast feeding, but my feeling is that there should be say 10 months granted and parents should be allowed to decide between them how it is divided out based on what suits their needs.

The floor is open for discussion...

Controlling for maternity leave, associated career breaks and everything else, women still get paid less than men.

Karl Stein · 24-02-2015 12:13PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Floor open for discussion...

Breast milk spilled on floor.

Floor closed for 'elf and safety.

efb · 24-02-2015 12:14PM

Statutory maternity leave is that - statutory it should always be included in calculating a woman's service. Children are a necessity of society and we need to promote this. Post natal care is divided equally afaik

Elly_Welly · 24-02-2015 12:14PM

I'm also in favour of men and women sharing the 9 months of pregnancy equally, in the true spirit of gender equality.

keithclancy · 24-02-2015 12:14PM

In Germany they call it 'Parental Leave'

Excluding the actual time for recovery from birth, the Man or Woman can take parental leave for Children.

This would be better for women as they would not be at a disadvantage due to taking long breaks in their work history.

Dravokivich · 24-02-2015 12:15PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Floor open for discussion...

Thanks for the warning, would hate to have fallen through it.

keithclancy wrote: »

In Germany they call it 'Parental Leave'

Excluding the actual time for recovery from birth, the Man or Woman can take parental leave for Children.

This would be better for women as they would not be at a disadvantage due to taking long breaks in their work history.

There is parental leave here. Upto the equivalent of 16 weeks before the child is 8. The issue is a lack of "Paternity" leave that functions somewhat similarly to Maternity Leave.

Just a little Samba · 24-02-2015 12:15PM

DoYouEvenLift wrote: »

That's funny seeing as they already do.

They definitely don't receive equal pay.
Women on average get paid 14.4% less then men for the doing the same job in Ireland.

Bendihorse · 24-02-2015 12:16PM

joxer1988 wrote: »

Controlling for maternity leave, associated career breaks and everything else, women still get paid less than men.

It would take a long period of correction but I think this would be the start. Whether its talked about or not, a 28-35 year old woman applies for a job, it is considered that she may seem maternity leave at some stage in the near future. Unless she is streets ahead of the other candidates, she may get passed over for the job. If a male candidate stood the same chance of taking 5 months off as a woman, then that levels the playing field. This would filter through to all levels eventually.

24-02-2015 12:16PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Women won't receive equal pay or conditions in the work place until fathers are granted equal entitlements to maternity leave. This seems like a no brainer to me. I definitely am an advocate for breast feeding, but I think that there should be say 10 months granted and parents should be allowed to decide between them how it is divided out based on what suits their needs.

Floor open for discussion...

It is already possible for a man to take the "maternity" leave and the woman to go back to work.

TwoShedsJackson · 24-02-2015 12:17PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Women won't receive equal pay or conditions in the work place until fathers are granted equal entitlements to maternity leave. This seems like a no brainer to me.

These two things seem unconnected to me.

Dravokivich · 24-02-2015 12:19PM

Elyse Billions Barometer wrote: »

It is already possible for a man to take the "maternity" leave and the woman to go back to work.

Since when? The only things I saw mentioning a father getting this sort of leave was due to the death of the mother.

pwurple · 24-02-2015 12:21PM

Elyse Billions Barometer wrote: »

It is already possible for a man to take the "maternity" leave.

Only if she's dead.

jimgoose · 24-02-2015 12:22PM

Elyse Billions Barometer wrote: »

It is already possible for a man to take the "maternity" leave and the woman to go back to work.

Sort of. Under the Parental Leave Act of 1998 fathers are entitled to 18 weeks unpaid leave per-child under 8 years of age.

spurious · 24-02-2015 12:22PM

Of course there should be paid paternity leave, feminists (oh God no!) have been looking for it for years.

I want to know what Lolek Ltd., sometimes calling themselves the Iona Institute have to say about it, since they have such concern for children.

efb · 24-02-2015 12:23PM

They are entitled to parental leave

Dravokivich · 24-02-2015 12:24PM

efb wrote: »

They are entitled to parental leave

Both parents are. It's not the same as maternity leave in the slightest.

efb · 24-02-2015 12:29PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

Both parents are. It's not the same as maternity leave in the slightest.

Men don't get pregnant

whatdoicare · 24-02-2015 12:34PM

Isn't there new research showing that women need nearly a full year to recover fully from childbirth and that the six week ideal before is totally unrealistic?

I'm all for parental leave but not if it means the mother has to return to work earlier or is under pressure to return to work before she has properly recovered mentally and physically.

I'd be more in favour of the dad being allowed his own leave to spend with the mother not instead of.

I had a csection and I wasn't fully recovered by the six months, I found most of the issues I had both mentally and physically presented themselves around the 4 month mark, before that I thought I was superwoman, I was 100% back to normal as far as I was concerned. Racing around, baba under my arm. Got a huge reality check soon after.

I'm only feeling normal now, more than a year on. I know alot of new mams think they are flying it around the six week mark and probably would agree to going back to work thinking they were back to normal but would regret it soon after that. You have to be so careful and new mums have no idea what to expect!

I think parental leave needs to be thought out very carefully so as to benefit everyone.

Dravokivich · 24-02-2015 12:35PM

efb wrote: »

Men don't get pregnant

Women do be rather exhausted for some time after giving birth, so saddling'em with childcare without a chance to recover isn't ideal. The reason for the need of paternity leave is for the father to be available to share support for the child and allow the mother to recover.

For the first 2 months after our son was born, I was coming home from work and taking care of him while herself was trying to catch up on sleep. It ain't good for the head to be constantly on the go like that for either of us.

awec · 24-02-2015 12:35PM

efb wrote: »

Men don't get pregnant

I presume he means that if the woman decides she wants to go back to work 6 weeks after giving birth or whatever that the man should be able to take the paternity leave with the same pay and conditions as the mother traditionally gets.

Lovely Bloke · 24-02-2015 12:35PM

efb wrote: »

Men don't get pregnant

So?

Maternity/Paternity Leave is a different concept to Parental Leave. Which I'm sure you already know, but are choosing to pretend not to.

There should absolutely be a different "recovery" leave for the woman after giving birth, but currently there is absolutely no statutory paid Paternity Leave.

It is absolutely essential for a child's emotional development that they get to bond with the father as well as the mother. I suspect a lot of people never got that initial bonding with a father-figure.

kylith · 24-02-2015 12:36PM

Bendihorse wrote: »

Women won't receive equal pay or conditions in the work place until fathers are granted equal entitlements to maternity leave. This seems like a no brainer to me. I definitely am an advocate for breast feeding, but I think that there should be say 10 months granted and parents should be allowed to decide between them how it is divided out based on what suits their needs.

Floor open for discussion...

I'm all for implementing the maternity/paternity leave suggestion you suggest.

However your remark about how women won't get equal pay or conditions because of maternity leave makes it sound like you think maternity leave is like a holiday rather than one of the most stressful and hectic times in a person's life.

efb · 24-02-2015 12:37PM

awec wrote: »

I presume he means that if the woman decides she wants to go back to work 6 weeks after giving birth or whatever that the man should be able to take the paternity leave with the same pay and conditions as the mother traditionally gets.

Yes
Property said it's not maternity leave- but biologically it can't be!

anncoates · 24-02-2015 12:37PM

"Dravokivich wrote: »

There is parental leave here. Upto the equivalent of 16 weeks before the child is 8. The issue is a lack of "Paternity" leave that functions somewhat similarly to Maternity Leave.

The parental leave here is a nice thought but like most people, I can't see myself being able to take off 4 months without pay anytime soon.

I do know some people that were able to use it to go to a four day week, that said, but you still pay for it in the end.

I'd fully agree with paid paternity leave being split equally, or not if they elect not to, obviously, between both parents though.

Lovely Bloke · 24-02-2015 12:39PM

yep, it's unpaid. I doubt many couples with a new baby can really afford to go taking 18 weeks off, with no pay.

It's stupid.

efb · 24-02-2015 12:40PM

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

So?

Maternity/Paternity Leave is a different concept to Parental Leave. Which I'm sure you already know, but are choosing to pretend not to.

There should absolutely be a different "recovery" leave for the woman after giving birth, but currently there is absolutely no statutory paid Paternity Leave.

It is absolutely essential for a child's emotional development that they get to bond with the father as well as the mother. I suspect a lot of people never got that initial bonding with a father-figure.

I agree with statutory parental leave for the parent(s) of the child after the birth 100%

awec · 24-02-2015 12:40PM

efb wrote: »

Yes
Property said it's not maternity leave- but biologically it can't be!

Not talking about biology here though, the discussion is about the conditions.

I think there needs to be more flexibility for each individual mother and father to decide what works best. Maybe the mother has a career and the father doesn't. Maybe the mother earns more money and it would make more sense for her to be the main earner.

efb · 24-02-2015 12:41PM

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

So?

Maternity/Paternity Leave is a different concept to Parental Leave. Which I'm sure you already know, but are choosing to pretend not to.

There should absolutely be a different "recovery" leave for the woman after giving birth, but currently there is absolutely no statutory paid Paternity Leave.

It is absolutely essential for a child's emotional development that they get to bond with the father as well as the mother. I suspect a lot of people never got that initial bonding with a father-figure.

Saying it's not maternity leave - biologically it can't be. Parental leave I support

Lovely Bloke · 24-02-2015 12:42PM

efb wrote: »

I agree with statutory parental leave for the parent(s) of the child after the birth 100%

So what the hell are you doing making nonsensical statements like "Men don't get pregnant" as if it has any bearing on that belief.

Weird.

Maternity Leave - equal rights

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