Is this sex discrimination?

skintchick

newcook wrote: »

Women who are pregnant could always consider temping and then when its time for baby to arrive there is the option of Statutory maternity pay.
Unfortunately a lot of women don’t think this is 'fair' as stat maternity pay doesn’t pay as much as a lot of company packages.

The company I work for only has what is stated in the legal requirements - 20 days holiday (although B/H's are on top) no sick days - if you are sick you have to claim SSP, stat maternity and paternity pay etc
The longer you are in employment with the company the more you get 'rewarded' with each year.

We are not entitled to SMP actually, just Maternity Allowance, which is the same as SMP but without the six weeks' extra money at the beginning.

To get SMP you have to be in the job for at least a week before falling PG.

yoni_one

Idiophreak wrote: »

...but since when has the system ever been fair in this country?

And there lies the crux of this debate, if you / your gender was on the receiving end of this particular area of unfairness your views might be rather different.

skintchick

Idiophreak wrote: »

And yet, as a woman, my pontificating would be acceptable?

If you have a problem with the way I'm expressing my opinion, that's one thing, but what it has to do with my gender is quite beyond me. Still, everyone knows positive discrimination's fine these days, eh. After all, positive means "good", doesn't it?

As for women wanting to work...I want a golden goose. Sadly, short of some pretty nifty genetic engineering, it ain't immediately forthcoming. "Want", sadly, falls squarely under the "hard cheese" category. Besides, they've already got the first of their "I wants" with the baby...

I said previously our welfare system ensured no pregnant women were starving. Are you, with your own home, and partner in a job, starving? If you didn't have these things, you'd be entitled to more help. Is this fair? Of course it isn't...but since when has the system ever been fair in this country?

I'm simply asking you to consider the other side of things, but your view appears to be 'you are pregnant, tough luck you lost your job, now shut up and sit on the sofa'.

I don;t think that a woman's view would take precedence over yours, I'm just saying that as a single man with no children who is also unwilling to consider the woman's position in this, you are not really debating.

I have never said, and will never say, that positive discrimination is good, but I do think that pregnant woman who lose their jobs are in a no win situation, and you seem to think that is all their fault.

And for what it's worth, I am not talking about me, I am talking about the issue as a whole. I just happen to be in the situation and therefore have an insight into it in a way that you don't.

But there's no point in us discussing it if you won;t even consider the other side. I've asked you quite a few questions in the course of this but you've not answered them, just attacked me.

newcook

yoni_one wrote: »

And there lies the crux of this debate, if you / your gender was on the receiving end of this particular area of unfairness your views might be rather different.

im a girl...

yoni_one

newcook wrote: »

im a girl...

and so am I :beer:

Idiophreak

skintchick wrote: »

I'm simply asking you to consider the other side of things, but your view appears to be 'you are pregnant, tough luck you lost your job, now shut up and sit on the sofa'.

I don;t think that a woman's view would take precedence over yours, I'm just saying that as a single man with no children who is also unwilling to consider the woman's position in this, you are not really debating.

I have never said, and will never say, that positive discrimination is good, but I do think that pregnant woman who lose their jobs are in a no win situation, and you seem to think that is all their fault.

And for what it's worth, I am not talking about me, I am talking about the issue as a whole. I just happen to be in the situation and therefore have an insight into it in a way that you don't.

But there's no point in us discussing it if you won;t even consider the other side. I've asked you quite a few questions in the course of this but you've not answered them, just attacked me.

How have I attacked you, exactly? If someone tells me, that because of my gender, my opinions of less value than anyone elses, I'm going to call them on it, obviously - that's kinda the point of the thread. Or is what's good for the goose not good for the gander?

I've actively said that I'd employ pregnant women and that I think others would do the same, merely pointing out that the "you can't ask" legislation simply alienates certain women from potential employers, more than openness and honesty would - where you're getting your perception of my viewpoint is quite beyond me (probably because I'm a man, I've no doubt :rolleyes: )

I'm also struggling to recall questions I've failed to answer.

I didn't answer whether I'm single, I remember - which I'm not. Wasn't sure it was too relevant. (oh, of course, single people probably can't have an opinion either, under this anti-discrimination regime...)

On the subject, though, when my gf does want babies, we'll sit down, work out the numbers and, sad to say it, the difficulty she'd have getting employed again if she lost work, would have to be thought about as a potential risk....

Ivrytwr3

Any updates from the OP?

any chance of getting back on topic? (when threads go off on tangents like this mods should split the topic in two. People who are interested in the OP can keep up to date and those interested in the debate can join that thread. Everyones a winner!!)

skintchick

Idiophreak - this one:

What ARE women who are pregnant and jobseeking supposed to do?

although I'm guessing from your subsequent responses that the answer is 'sit on the sofa and grow your baby as you're no use to any employer'.

tsstss7

skintchick wrote: »

Idiophreak - this one:

What ARE women who are pregnant and jobseeking supposed to do?

although I'm guessing from your subsequent responses that the answer is 'sit on the sofa and grow your baby as you're no use to any employer'.

Skint chick

I'd go with what you feel comfortable doing - if you prefer not to mention your pregnancy then don't you have every right not to and not to put to fine a point on it things do sometimes go wrong (sorry - not a nice thing to say when you've been there I imagine) and in that case you would have ruined your chances!

Having been in your situation I know it's hard and I chose to be honest as I'm a Crup liar but you know who's to say that you are wrong if you chose to do the opposite - I'm unemployed now as I didn't have a job to go back to...if I'd lied I might now be a slightly more productive member of society (than a toddler group mum) so it sort of goes both ways really...it's now going to be harder for me to go back to work as I have to find jobs with the right hours to apply for first - it seems to me you've got one such job there begging (can I have it please...;) )...

It's difficult to make descisions about your future when you don't know how it's going to pan out so in my opinion it's best to cover all bases.

My final point also is that you might not get the job regardless so needlessly worrying about it won't be doing yours or the babies stress levels any good....chill LOL - go do your best at the interview and make that decision when your are offered the job.....:T

skintchick

Thanks, but I'm trying to debate the wider issue, not talk about me!