Paternity leave - how did your employer react?

Okydoky25

Gigglepig wrote: »

We are very interested in how management may react. Right or wrong, they are the ones who will make future decisions regarding promotions and pay rises so their attitudes will matter.

I don't know anyone who went on extended paternity leave, perhaps people only get positive feedback and no impact on their career prospects at all... one can hope.

Your never going to know what their reactions will be unless you ask you cant make a comarision with others but honestly if you are that worried I'd say this is more important long term to you than the actual Mat/Pat leave is or you wouldn't care what effects it may have. Wait till little one arrives and you will realise nothing is more important honestly wait and see.

Lovelyjoolz

Person_one wrote: »

Why don't you pay him a bit more than the bare legal minimum then? That would be nice of you, rather than 'grinning' at their financial misfortune!

I'd love to, because I generally pay my staff extremely well, but it's just not viable.

Do you not realise how much it costs us as a small business when employees take parental leave? Its a huge cost to all businesses. I minimise it by choosing not to employ women, and I know lots of companies who do the same.

These guys are highly skilled and qualified people and they are blumming expensive to run. Loosing one guy for two weeks literally costs us thousands of pounds in lost man-hours. And you want us to pay him extra on top of that for not being there? Small businesses unfortunately cannot operate that way.

Many larger business cannot afford it either. Even the largest employer (private) here in south Wales doesn't pay enhanced maternity/paternity.

Person_one

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

I minimise it by choosing not to employ women, and I know lots of companies who do the same.

You're breaking the law.

You're also a sexist *********

Lara44

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Do you not realise how much it costs us as a small business when employees take parental leave? Its a huge cost to all businesses. I minimise it by choosing not to employ women, and I know lots of companies who do the same.

SHAMEFUL. It's not your 'choice' as you so disgracefully put it - sex discrimination is against the law.

Gordon_Hose

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

I'd love to, because I generally pay my staff extremely well, but it's just not viable.

Do you not realise how much it costs us as a small business when employees take parental leave? Its a huge cost to all businesses. I minimise it by choosing not to employ women, and I know lots of companies who do the same.

These guys are highly skilled and qualified people and they are blumming expensive to run. Loosing one guy for two weeks literally costs us thousands of pounds in lost man-hours. And you want us to pay him extra on top of that for not being there? Small businesses unfortunately cannot operate that way.

Many larger business cannot afford it either. Even the largest employer (private) here in south Wales doesn't pay enhanced maternity/paternity.

Wow. I'm glad I don't work for you lol!!

Disgraceful attitude to both your staff and women in general.

FatVonD

kettlefish wrote: »

A friend of ours who is quite high up in management says when this law was brought in it caused a massive pain in the bum for the men's employers as traditionally it has never been something they have taken into consideration when hiring male staff, but she did say that most companies are keen to be family-friendly and wouldn't want to "punish" a bloke for taking the leave, as settled family men for want of a better phrase are an asset to most businesses as they put down roots in the area and are less likely to move to a different employer.

It should never have been something they were traditionally taking into consideration when hiring female staff either!

Lovelyjoolz

Person_one wrote: »

You're breaking the law.

You're also a sexist *********

Lara44 wrote: »

SHAMEFUL. It's not your 'choice' as you so disgracefully put it - sex discrimination is against the law.

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

Wow. I'm glad I don't work for you lol!!

Disgraceful attitude to both your staff and women in general.

Interesting how many assumptions are made here. If I treat my staff so poorly why have 99% of them been with the company more than 20 years? I must be doing something right, or we wouldn't all be the good friends we are.

Can a female discriminate against her own sex? Well, I suppose its possible, and you're naive if you think it doesn't go on in some form in most businesses. If it didn't, there wouldn't be a pay gap.

99% of applicants for any vacancy I advertise are male, so it would be difficult to employ a woman even if I wanted to, which I don't. It's a sad fact that most small business employers considering two candidates, one female of child bearing age and one male, is likely to choose the male because maternity leave etc costs a business a great deal of money. I'm not saying its right, or even that its fair. Just that it happens. A lot.

My primary responsibility is to my loyal, hardworking, greatly appreciated staff. I have a duty to them to keep the business going so that I can pay their wages. That means being responsible with money and making the most practical and cost efficient business decisions. I'm not going to apologise for that. I have 17 lovely families relying on the income my business generates for them.

Gordon_Hose

By not employing women because they present a maternity risk to your business is discrimination. Doesn't matter that you're a women.

Person_one

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Can a female discriminate against her own sex? Well, I suppose its possible, and you're naive if you think it doesn't go on in some form in most businesses. If it didn't, there wouldn't be a pay gap.

Of course, many do, I take it you are?

Surely you aren't arguing that the mere fact that sexist business practice exist means they are acceptable?

Please imagine the shoe on the other foot just for a minute or two. Imagine if you weren't able to run your own business for whatever reason and NOBODY wanted to employ you just because you had possession of a couple of ovaries. Pretty !!!!!!, right?

Lovelyjoolz

Person_one wrote: »

Of course, many do, I take it you are?

Yes.

Person_one wrote: »

Surely you aren't arguing that the mere fact that sexist business practice exist means they are acceptable?

No, I'm not saying that its acceptable, just that it does happen and sometimes its necessary for businesses to make those decisions.

Person_one wrote: »

Please imagine the shoe on the other foot just for a minute or two. Imagine if you weren't able to run your own business for whatever reason and NOBODY wanted to employ you just because you had possession of a couple of ovaries. Pretty !!!!!!, right?

I don't need to imagine, I've been in the position, in my 20's, where I lost out on opportunities for exactly that reason. I've even sat in an interview where the interviewer (male) TOLD me that even though I was the better candidate he couldnt employ me in case I "sodded off and had babbies (sic)" at some point. Yes, it is VERY !!!!!!, and made me want to get INFERTILE tattooed on my forehead to prevent it happening! LOL

Decided against that though, and set up my own company to beat them at their own game. It was then I discovered just how damaging maternity leave can be to a business's finances.