Shoud SAHMs be paid?

snoozer

Gabriel-Ernest wrote:

Exactly. Of course the payoff is that my employers have always known I am reliable and won't need to take time off to look after any children for whatever reason, so it's probably benefitted my career in the long run.

That opens a whole new can of worms which just shows that parents (usually mothers) can't win, whether they choose to stay at home or to work!

Gabriel-Ernest

snoozer wrote:

That opens a whole new can of worms which just shows that parents (usually mothers) can't win, whether they choose to stay at home or to work!

It is indeed a difficult situation. I sometimes have to recruit for our department, and one of the considerations is how reliable someone is likely to be - will they be there unless really sick, do they have to juggle parental responsibilities with work responsibilities. The knock-on effect on the rest of the team also has to be considered; will there be resentment that the parents hog the school holiday times for annual leave ... My boss disappears off for sports days, school concerts, kids' sickness etc but I don't have that claim on my time not being a parent so I'm expected to be here. I don't resent that, but I can understand how some people would. As it turns out, all the people I've interviewed have not been parents (most are recent graduates), but I must say it is a consideration (and my company is pretty family-friendly at ground level).

Alleycat

Maybe I've been fortunate, but it doesn't seem to have hampered my career too much. I am sure I may have been turned down for jobs in the past because I was female and in about the right age category to start having kids, but overall I've done okay.

I took 6 months maternity, came back as a job sharer and within 6 months was promoted (still jobshare position). I think I'm doing pretty well and have been told by managers that I actually am doing more work than some of the full timers (I definately have more cases than they do), but am not run ragged by it.

ftbworried

Nooooo nooooo - can you imagine the hordes of unscrupulous people who would breed children FOR the salary? Yes I agree that its quite a hard job, but being a SAHM should be a lifestyle choice not a career choice (i.e. done to generate remuneration!). There ARE some people (minority) who have children purely to get CB and a council house, imagine how much worse this would get if the government were giving out a SALARY too!!

In my opinion, the current government policy on providing assistance for childcare costs and WTC to encourage parents to work is done to benefit the economy. I can see how it must be bewildering that the government encourages parents to work and pay someone else to look after your child but look at it this way....

Both parents work
Parents: 2 x National insurance, Income Tax contribution to government
Government give small amount back as WTC/childcare help
Childminder/nurserynurse: 1x National insurance, income Tax etc

So there are 3 people contributing to the economy because the mother has gone back to work (not just by tax but their work helps the economic growth and productivity of the country)

SAHM

Only 1 parents income tax & national insurance contribution

Obviously the government will try to encourage the first scenario as it's better for the country's economy (I am not commenting on the morality of this). So its one thing to lose the contributions of 2 people to the economy by one parent opting to SAHM, but its another to ask them to ALSO fork out a wage on top of the decreased tax contributions!!! The maths just wouldnt add up.

chika

SAHms should not be paid Its been said before but I'll add my 2p! People choose to have kids and if they cannot afford them they shouldn't have them.

I hate it when you see people who think that because they have chosen to bring children into the world, they are automatically entitled to a house, free money and then they expect to be paid to look after their own offspring.

I think having children should be regarded as a priveledge not a right. If people cannot afford to support themselves and look after their children then they should not have them.

lebly

If you can explain how I am supposed to find a job that fits around two children (one with ASD) and a husband who works shifts on a rota system, has a boss that doesn't care how many days I have to take off when the school decides to close for whatever reason or when my children are sick and will also mean that my family are better off financially then yes I will get off my backside and go to work.

by Moggins

I have three children of my plus every other weekend my stepdaughter, If you read my post you will see that I work two part time jobs both at weekends, one of these iscleaning cottages on a Saturday, the other is all day on a Sunday. There are pl;aces like ASDA, Morrisons etc that will let you rota your hours to suit and I think you will also find there is a flexible working scheme in the majority of places now!

I work hard looking after my children in the week and have worked just as hard finding a job that fits in. It is out there if you try!

And yes perhaps you are right I am not sorry if it offends. Theres is that old saying "if the Cap fits!".

There are alot of people out there who have manged to find a little bit of work to help pay and they all have young children and there are many more who will do the same.

Penelope_Penguin

Interesting thread. 3 points to make:

1. the Government (whichever of them's in, not just the current one) want as many people to be *fiscally active* as possible. Therefore, they give incentives to both parents to work.

2. it make economic sense for children to be in day care. One childminder can look after several children, allowing for more people to be in the workplace.

3. it's an economic fact that as there are more people at work, there's more disposable income, a lot of which is spent on houses, so prices rise.

I was a SAHM for more than 10 years, loved most of it, and am now convinced that my children were far better for it. They didn't want for anything, but that's not to say they were given everything they asked for.

Edit - sorry didn't answer the question. No, didn't want to be paid, but would like to be have been able to pass my tax allowances to my DH while I wasn't working.

Penny. x

lebly

Moggins it was not a dig at you.

I have had PND, some mothers go down that route so they dont have to look after their children for a bit (laziness not PND), some really need the help, get every free bit of childcare going, because I helpd my6self got nothing There are those who are perfectly capable of working but dont and being given more money not to work - how would that help. I pay taxes etc like everyone else, why should I pay for someone to sit on their backside instead of going out to work for even a few hours a week to help make end meat and stop the rest of us funding their lifestyle. They sit there in their council houses etc not working with all the lates gizmos, the expensive cars and expensive clothes. My husband and I between us work our butts off looking after children and earing money (mine not alot but it also gives me some pride to know that what little it is helps!), to stuggle to buy the necessities in life!

This government helps the lazy but does stuff all to help those who are trying their best!

twink

i am old to enough to have brought up my children when being a mum at work was an exception, there was only one mum in our street that worked, none of us had much money and we were all in the same boat, but the children played in front of the houses, marbles, housies, toy cars etc and seemed content and healthy, food was cooked from scratch and gardens provided veg, everyone seemed more together as a family, now money and goods seem to be the important thing in life and i cant think that is right, we have the children just a short but very important time, maybe society would be the better of more mums being at home or dads

Penelope_Penguin

twink wrote:

now money and goods seem to be the important thing in life and i cant think that is right, we have the children just a short but very important time, maybe society would be the better of more mums being at home or dads

Well said, Honorary Mum!! :T :A

The best things in life aren't things :j

Penny. x