RogueAcademic
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What are your opinions on this issue? I am tending to agree with employers on this one. Why would they want to hire someone who is very likely to take (potentially paid) leave soon? The employer would then either have to go through the hiring process again to find a maternity leave replacement or find some other way to cope with the loss of one staff member.
In places where I've worked, post-maternity leave employees often either (i) decide do not come back after their period of leave, (ii) decide to extend the unpaid portion of their leave another number of months, (iii) when they do come back, they only want to come back on a part-time basis, or (iv) prefer a less demanding position.
One employee took a year off for maternity leave, then came back to work only 2-3 days a week for about 6 months, and then took another year off to have another baby, after which she decided not to come back to work at all.
I would have absolutely zero problems hiring women of any age but I can see why employers may have a problem hiring women who are already pregnant.
Anybody see a positive side to this issue?
In places where I've worked, post-maternity leave employees often either (i) decide do not come back after their period of leave, (ii) decide to extend the unpaid portion of their leave another number of months, (iii) when they do come back, they only want to come back on a part-time basis, or (iv) prefer a less demanding position.
One employee took a year off for maternity leave, then came back to work only 2-3 days a week for about 6 months, and then took another year off to have another baby, after which she decided not to come back to work at all.
I would have absolutely zero problems hiring women of any age but I can see why employers may have a problem hiring women who are already pregnant.
Anybody see a positive side to this issue?
Pregnant? Forget about a new job
By Sharri Markson
Article from: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24118534-462,00.html
August 03, 2008 12:01am
Australia's equal-opportunity laws say it shouldn't count against her, but she knows otherwise.
She has applied for six jobs in the past month and has been knocked back six times. Hard-nosed employers give all sorts of excuses but she says the truth is they can't see beyond her baby bump.
"I think it's important to be honest that you're pregnant," said Mrs Giblin, who lives on Sydney's north shore with her husband. "I'm not ashamed of it, but it's made finding a job very difficult.
"We're young and we need a double income to have the baby, pay off the mortgage and bills. It all adds up.
"I think some employers are insensitive. I don't think they have any understanding of pregnant employees. They need guidelines."
The 1977 Anti-Discrimination Act stipulates that a pregnant woman should not be treated differently in the provision of services or employment.
But the real world doesn't work that way. Businesses complain they cannot be expected to offer work to someone who may be unavailable after giving birth.
Employers First chief executive Garry Brack said small businesses in particular did not have the financial resources to waste time training a pregnant employee who would shortly take maternity leave.
"Small businesses have trouble just trying to cope with someone being off on maternity leave," he said. "(Hiring someone who is pregnant) brings additional complications for them.
"They look for who can do the job now. If the person is leaving on maternity leave in a couple of months and somebody else is there, rather than starting all over again they might say this new person has some advantages."
The latest Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission figures show 170 pregnant women across the country experienced discrimination in the last financial year, with some fired after taking time off to manage morning sickness.
In one case investigated by the Anti-Discrimination Board, a pregnant cook employed by a NSW club was told by her boss to decide between keeping her baby and keeping her job.
NSW Anti-Discrimination Board president Stepan Kerkyasharian said it was almost impossible for a pregnant woman to find a job, with employers making excuses to avoid hiring those who disclosed their pregnancy in an application.
"A lot of employers, regrettably, still look at this as something which is detrimental to their business," Mr Kerkyasharian said. "They don't like their employees to be pregnant.
"This mentality of employers is very damaging and belittling to women. It makes women feel that they've done something wrong by being pregnant."
Mrs Giblin, who is a qualified architect and also has a science degree, has applied for a range of positions in the design and retail industries.
"Even with qualifications behind you, businesses get nervous that you're going to leave them - when I would actually feel very grateful and would want to return to work part-time after the baby's born," she said.
"One business said they had too many pregnant women working there already."
By Sharri Markson
Article from: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24118534-462,00.html
August 03, 2008 12:01am
- Businesses reluctant to give pregnant women a job
- Laws exist to protect pregnant women
- But data shows discrimination across country
Australia's equal-opportunity laws say it shouldn't count against her, but she knows otherwise.
She has applied for six jobs in the past month and has been knocked back six times. Hard-nosed employers give all sorts of excuses but she says the truth is they can't see beyond her baby bump.
"I think it's important to be honest that you're pregnant," said Mrs Giblin, who lives on Sydney's north shore with her husband. "I'm not ashamed of it, but it's made finding a job very difficult.
"We're young and we need a double income to have the baby, pay off the mortgage and bills. It all adds up.
"I think some employers are insensitive. I don't think they have any understanding of pregnant employees. They need guidelines."
The 1977 Anti-Discrimination Act stipulates that a pregnant woman should not be treated differently in the provision of services or employment.
But the real world doesn't work that way. Businesses complain they cannot be expected to offer work to someone who may be unavailable after giving birth.
Employers First chief executive Garry Brack said small businesses in particular did not have the financial resources to waste time training a pregnant employee who would shortly take maternity leave.
"Small businesses have trouble just trying to cope with someone being off on maternity leave," he said. "(Hiring someone who is pregnant) brings additional complications for them.
"They look for who can do the job now. If the person is leaving on maternity leave in a couple of months and somebody else is there, rather than starting all over again they might say this new person has some advantages."
The latest Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission figures show 170 pregnant women across the country experienced discrimination in the last financial year, with some fired after taking time off to manage morning sickness.
In one case investigated by the Anti-Discrimination Board, a pregnant cook employed by a NSW club was told by her boss to decide between keeping her baby and keeping her job.
NSW Anti-Discrimination Board president Stepan Kerkyasharian said it was almost impossible for a pregnant woman to find a job, with employers making excuses to avoid hiring those who disclosed their pregnancy in an application.
"A lot of employers, regrettably, still look at this as something which is detrimental to their business," Mr Kerkyasharian said. "They don't like their employees to be pregnant.
"This mentality of employers is very damaging and belittling to women. It makes women feel that they've done something wrong by being pregnant."
Mrs Giblin, who is a qualified architect and also has a science degree, has applied for a range of positions in the design and retail industries.
"Even with qualifications behind you, businesses get nervous that you're going to leave them - when I would actually feel very grateful and would want to return to work part-time after the baby's born," she said.
"One business said they had too many pregnant women working there already."
