Who would hire a woman worker - Maternity pay to Treble !

LilacPixie

SingleSue wrote: »

Blimey, wish it was like that for me! Eldest son, in hospital Friday morning had him Sunday morning...was not allowed out until the following weekend with instructions not to work/overdo things for at least 6 months due to complications.

Middle son, in on Wednesday morning, had him Thursday night (10 mins to midnight so almost Friday), out Saturday morning .....back in Saturday night, out again Sunday night with instructions to return Monday, back in again Monday and out again Tuesday(that was fun!)

Youngest, in on Monday, had him Wednesday morning and out Friday.

As to paternity leave, although we didn't have the allowances that are now usual, it was one of our most frequent moans at the time. The non availability of paid paternity leave (or even unpaid leave) caused a huge amount of stress, especially once we had more than one child.

The allowances now for paterntiy are, I feel, a great step forward and eases the transition of a new baby arriving into the family.

I think I was very lucky in terms of the actual births. I had pre eclampsia with both pregnancies and was induced at 38 weeks both times. Oldest was a 4 hour 15 labour, very quick and OH was actually out of the room making calls when they realised the head was crowning :eek: I had a bad bleed but was ok after a transfusion, very tired tho. Number 2 was also induction, lasted a little over and hour and she was here :eek: :eek: also had a bit of a bleed but recovery time was much better. I am dreading returning to work, I work opposing shifts to OH and from home 3 out of 5 days but :eek: :eek:

fedupfreda

ceridwen wrote: »

With that - there would not be the current unfairness of those who remain childless being made to subsidise those who choose to have children on the one hand - but those who choose to have children would have some time off from work allowed on the other hand.

Sabbatical leave is a great idea in theory - and I appreciate where you are coming from - but I can never see business leaders agreeing to this, for the same reasons they always try to argue against extending maternity/paternity leave.

Besides the whole point of maternity leave is so that the mother can recover from the process of pregnancy and birth, and so that the child (who never asked to be born, so it's not his/her choice) can bond with at least one, preferably both of the parents, so that the best foundations can be laid for the childs future.

After all, we were all children once - and all gained the benefit of a paid for education, free healthcare, family allowance etc. We received this regardless of our later adult decisions. We will also, God willing, become old eventually, too - and the care we gave other peoples children, and therefore society as a whole, should, hopefully, be reflected in the care we receive during our later years.

We are all more interconnected than we care to realise. To look over to other peoples situations and compare them to ours and feel 'I should get that too' is maybe an understandable reaction but, on reflection, selfish. Do I detect a hint of jealousy amongst some of the posters on this thread? 'You pays your money and you takes your choice' as the saying goes. We all have an equal right to make our own choices, as adults. You can choose to become a parent or not (or fate ultimately makes that decision for you). Maternity leave is not an extended holiday - but that fact does not hit you until you actually go through it.

treliac

What I would say on this subject (lest I get too angry) is that children are the future of any society. We're all inter-dependent. Those who think the next generation are not their business are deluded.

Women frequently are forced to work, regardless of whether they would choose to raise their own offspring (forgotten though it may be, a normal biological function).

If we as a society insist that the majority of mothers should work, then we should respect and support them for the short period of time they are caring for their small babies. The alternative is for them not to work and for us to pay for them and their children through the benefits system.

Some of the comments on this thread are both selfish and uncivilised.

Really2

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

I didn't think you would be able to answer the points I put forward.

Oh and it's not sexist as I am female and have had children, so i am well aware about the recovery time it takes after pregnancy and childbirth

The bottom line is that, being a good father is going to have to last a lot longer than the two weeks fathers have off for (m)paternity leave.

How funny you don't realize who you are being sexist about. It is men you are being sexist about.

You are saying "Whats is the point of paternity leave, women have the kids init."

I am glad I took two weeks of as it was a great time to bond with our child and help my wife to rest.

I agree with maternity and paternity leave but than again I actually believe in equality.

treliac

Really2 wrote: »

How funny you don't realize who you are being sexist about. It is men you are being sexist about.

You are saying "Whats is the point of paternity leave, women have the kids init."

I am glad I took two weeks of as it was a great time to bond with our child and help my wife to rest.

I agree with maternity and paternity leave but than again I actually believe in equality.

What a lovely husband and father. :T

leveller2911

Really2 wrote: »

How funny you don't realize who you are being sexist about. It is men you are being sexist about.

You are saying "Whats is the point of paternity leave, women have the kids init."

I am glad I took two weeks of as it was a great time to bond with our child and help my wife to rest.

I age with maternity and paternity leave but than again I actually believe in equality.

I agree with you there REALLY, if a couple want to take time off work following the birth of a child they should be free to do so, I just don't believe the taxpayer/employer should pay for what is in fact a "lifestyle choice".

Really2

treliac wrote: »

What a lovely husband and father. :T

Thanks:o

My proudest thing is when my son is upset he calls me "mommy-daddy"

I love the fact my child sees me as an equal and not some bread winner who as little interaction with him, and that it is OK for a man to show and feel love and affection and be comftable in showing it.

If we want to teach equality and tolerence of other you have to show people are equal I belive.

treliac

leveller2911 wrote: »

I agree with you there REALLY, if a couple want to take time off work following the birth of a child they should be free to do so, I just don't believe the taxpayer/employer should pay for what is in fact a "lifestyle choice".

It shouldn't be deemed a 'lifestyle choice.' It's about the successful continuation of the human race.

This is just one way in which we, the taxpayers, support each other for the betterment of humanity.

Really2

leveller2911 wrote: »

I agree with you there REALLY, if a couple want to take time off work following the birth of a child they should be free to do so, I just don't believe the taxpayer/employer should pay for what is in fact a "lifestyle choice".

What you mean like keeping a job open after a car/motorbike accident or smoking or consumption related time off work (all lifestyle).

It is easy to judge other but I do not see statutory maternity as a drain on resources.

It's like compassionate leave should we abolish that also:)

leveller2911

treliac wrote: »

It shouldn't be deemed a 'lifestyle choice.' It's about the successful continuation of the human race.

This is just one way in which we, the taxpayers, support each other for the betterment of humanity.

Does the taxpayer NOT support families anyway? Why is the state pension so low?,why will most of us have to work until we are 70?,why is there a shortage of funding for research into cancer,heart disease etc etc etc.
Its not a perfect world by any means I just think the money could be better spent.