FabSwingers.com forum: Maternity Leave

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Interesting to see the TUC successfully sued by a woman who claimed her job disappeared while on maternity leave.

Lots of comments on it and clearly two very distinct sides, one saying if you choose to have a baby then you can't expect the world to stand still and for everything to be the same as and when you decide to return, and the other side saying of course your job should be there for you when you come back.

So what do the members of Fab think?

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

If a job is no longer avaliable which sometimes they are not due to funding then alternative job offers should be made. It is not right to judge on someone having a baby and the amount of time they have off.

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By *ere-for-my-convenienceWoman
over a year ago

Tenbury Wells

Which is more important

The job

The child

I chose my children over a blossoming career

I've never regretted it because they all have great careers themselves now

And I'm free to pursue a career I'd never have chosen 20 years ago

I think career women can often be very selfish

That's just my opinion

Other opinions are freely available in other supermarkets

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By *lttattoocoupleCouple
over a year ago

Worcester

I think you're job should be held open for you're return if you have been with a company say a year or so,

But I do think it's unfair the 'world says baby or career'

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By *oward1978Man
over a year ago

Rotherham

"Which is more important

The job

The child

I chose my children over a blossoming career

I've never regretted it because they all have great careers themselves now

And I'm free to pursue a career I'd never have chosen 20 years ago

I think career women can often be very selfish

That's just my opinion

Other opinions are freely available in other supermarkets

There's lots of ways to look at this but some women definitely do want to have their cake and eat it too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If a job is no longer avaliable which sometimes they are not due to funding then alternative job offers should be made. It is not right to judge on someone having a baby and the amount of time they have off. "

this

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By *igdodger13Man
over a year ago

sompting

It should be a choice either career or child, couples who don't want children or single people don't have option

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

Why did her job disappear? Would if have disappeared anyway?

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By *ere-for-my-convenienceWoman
over a year ago

Tenbury Wells

"It should be a choice either career or child, couples who don't want children or single people don't have option"

Agreed

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By *he devil wears pradaWoman
over a year ago

gosport ish

I chose a career and to have a child many years ago. At that time there was no maternity leave as it is now, I've never regretted it for one minute. My daughter has grown up and has a fantastic career of her own.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Why did her job disappear? Would if have disappeared anyway?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 10/03/15 12:19:17]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Although i do see the point in passing on your genetic material (to a degree), i don't see the point in having kids and working full time for someone else.

I think both parents should get time out to have a family, with a lot less working hours but no financial stress as it is more stressful when you have dependents than when it's just yourself.

I live in fantasy land though where everyone is happy...

Discrimination does still happen to pregnant women and parents who are presumed to be the main carer (because they have rights to take time of work or ask for something other than what the employer wanted to offer). So yeah workers rights fucked that up, but not because employers can't be flexible, just it isn't in their own self interest to do that.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

"Why did her job disappear? Would if have disappeared anyway?

Seems as though responsibilities were passed onto others in her absence and then there was a restructure ending in redundancy. I guess the issue for business is that a year is a very long time, lots can happen and it maybe impossible to guarantee someone the same job. But for a woman should she have to choose between a career and kids. I can see the argument from both sides."
I don't think anyone should have to chose, its perfectly acceptable and encouraged for a woman and man who chooses to take paternity leave to have a career and child, however, it should be fully discussed with the employer of reasonable expectations.

My friends daughter is 28 and getting married next year, she has been building her career with the same company since she was 17.

She's planning on starting a family in the next 3 to 4 years and the future has already been discussed with her employer.

It is a small company she works for and they have said they will work with her regarding maternity leave.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It should be a choice either career or child, couples who don't want children or single people don't have option"

I know quite a few childless and single people who have applied for a sabbatical and been granted it...my brother travelled for 8 months and his job was held open for him.

I think if it is a larger company there are less problems, but for smaller companies its more difficult to accommodate people having lengthy time off for any reason.

I think its very difficult to make a sweeping statement that every new mother should be entitled to their old job back....a lot could have changed within the business in that time!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It should be a choice either career or child, couples who don't want children or single people don't have option

I know quite a few childless and single people who have applied for a sabbatical and been granted it...my brother travelled for 8 months and his job was held open for him.

I think if it is a larger company there are less problems, but for smaller companies its more difficult to accommodate people having lengthy time off for any reason.

I think its very difficult to make a sweeping statement that every new mother should be entitled to their old job back....a lot could have changed within the business in that time!"

My old firm offered sabbaticals, but it was made very clear that a lot can change while you are away and that should I choose to take it, I may have found I had less opportunities on my return. I chose not to go. Ultimately does it not come down to choice?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Which is more important

The job

The child

I chose my children over a blossoming career

I've never regretted it because they all have great careers themselves now

And I'm free to pursue a career I'd never have chosen 20 years ago

I think career women can often be very selfish

That's just my opinion

Other opinions are freely available in other supermarkets

There's lots of ways to look at this but some women definitely do want to have their cake and eat it too."

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