A topic about pregnant women.

[awesomeClaw]

So, me and my friend "Mcgrubber" were just chilling out and watching the news, when we suddently saw something that drew our brains from our curent subject matter.(I.E Boobs.)

On the news some dude was saying that over 25% of all employers/Bosses asked women (on the hirement interview) if they are planning on getting pregnant within the year. Apparently, this was a bad thing.
But i couldn´t understand why. All the bosses are doing is planning ahead. Now, don´t qoute me on this, because i´m a little rusty, but when a women get´s a baby, she automatically get´s 1 year of PAID child um...vacation?(I´m sure you smarty pants can come up with a better word)

It seems weird that it´s bad for bosses to ask if a women plans to get pregnant. If she get´s pregnant, they lose a large amount of money that they haveto pour into practically nothing.(For the company)
Now, FIRING women because they get pregnant is horrible, don´t get me wrong, but still, why can´t they ask?

Discuss your opinion! Should bosses be allowed to ask or not?

Also, please don´t be a women-hater. Cuz that´s not cool.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

PAID child um...vacation?(I´m sure you smarty pants can come up with a better word)

Its called maternity leave =P

And its perfectly understandable. The shareholders would want to protect their investments. Expecting to have an entire year off after JUST joining the company is idiotic. You have to WORK for it dammit.

On an off note, women want to be treated equally, but at the same time, want to be given exceptions because they're women... logic fail?

 

[Shapeshift]

I don't really have a stance on this at all, but I can maybe give you a little insight.

Like you would have read, they ask if they plan on getting pregnant within the "next year". Now, I imagine it would be a heck of a sneaky trick to get the job, wait past the 3 month probation or maybe go for 5 months? Then get pregnant, and have a nice, steady paycheck for the next year without really having to do anything.

It probably was a fairly overly used scam at one time. Especially since then the employee could.. Well.. Quit after that.


Hmm.. But as to why they can't ask. I'm going to go for a simple explanation. It's probably something the feminist groups complain about, saying it's sexist and doesn't go for equal rights and something like that. I have no real idea. Though it doesn't seem that way to me. It's not a men are bigger, stronger, smarter and therefore should get paid more type of deal. I mean, it's for the first year. I imagine that once the woman has been an employee for the year, paid pregnancy leave is likely fine with the employers and company.

I have no idea why it's such a big deal. Don't have an opinion, but anyways,

 

[AvsJoe]

PAID child um...vacation?(I´m sure you smarty pants can come up with a better word)

Its called maternity leave =P

And its perfectly understandable. The shareholders would want to protect their investments. Expecting to have an entire year off after JUST joining the company is idiotic. You have to WORK for it dammit.

On an off note, women want to be treated equally, but at the same time, want to be given exceptions because they're women... logic fail?

Actually, this one's been worked out. In the US and Canada (and most likely elsewhere), men are legally eligible for as much paternity leave as women get for their maternity leave. There are still a lot of double standards to iron out but this one has been fixed.

 

[arcticspoon]

Also, please don´t be a women-hater. Cuz that´s not cool.

Fine! I'll take my really, really sexist comment and go elsewhere. Somewhere it's appreciated, like my Grandpa's bridge night.

 

[Tallim]

PAID child um...vacation?(I´m sure you smarty pants can come up with a better word)

Its called maternity leave =P

And its perfectly understandable. The shareholders would want to protect their investments. Expecting to have an entire year off after JUST joining the company is idiotic. You have to WORK for it dammit.

On an off note, women want to be treated equally, but at the same time, want to be given exceptions because they're women... logic fail?

Actually, this one's been worked out. In the US and Canada (and most likely elsewhere), men are legally eligible for as much paternity leave as women get for their maternity leave. There are still a lot of double standards to iron out but this one has been fixed.

Wish that was the case here in the UK. Paternity is 2 weeks only. You are allowed to take further time off when required for the child until they reach a certain age but that isn't required to be paid by the company they just can't bring it up as an attendance problem.

 

[manic_depressive13]

On an off note, women want to be treated equally, but at the same time, want to be given exceptions because they're women... logic fail?

No, they want to be treated equally in terms of respect and opportunities. They also want to be able to click on a thread and not see huge generalisations insulting their intelligence.

Yes, I think it's reasonable that the employers ask because it's relevant to them. However, this thread reeks of sexism.

 

[Snork Maiden]

Actually, this one's been worked out. In the US and Canada (and most likely elsewhere),

Fairly sure men still get less here, but their was a fairly major debate on it a few years ago and the situation either improved dramatically or actually was done properly.

And actually, given that guys get the same leave, it does make the question unfair, because your just as likely to lose a male worker for x amount of time if they decide to have a kid.

 

[Kevonovitch]

eh, sounds fair to me.

it's 6-12 months paid maternaty leave, and 3-6 months paid paternity leave if you have a wife/gf/common law and it's YOURS. if it's not yours, well no leave for u. sucks to be the dad eh?

 

[RicoADF]

PAID child um...vacation?(I´m sure you smarty pants can come up with a better word)

Its called maternity leave =P

And its perfectly understandable. The shareholders would want to protect their investments. Expecting to have an entire year off after JUST joining the company is idiotic. You have to WORK for it dammit.

On an off note, women want to be treated equally, but at the same time, want to be given exceptions because they're women... logic fail?

Actually, this one's been worked out. In the US and Canada (and most likely elsewhere), men are legally eligible for as much paternity leave as women get for their maternity leave. There are still a lot of double standards to iron out but this one has been fixed.

Australia is also sorting that out, which is good since fathers should have the same rights as mothers.

 

[awesomeClaw]

Because it is stupid to ask. Even if the chick plans to get knocked up she is just gonna lie about it anyway so no matter what when they say "no" it is a waste of time.
Personally I would just not hire a woman in the first place. Sorry ladies but unless you are willing to get fixed I would not risk the money when I can hire a dude and never have to worry about that sorta crap.

Dude, i said "No women-hating" That comment is definetly women-hating.

 

[Serenegoose]

Well, since we are aiming to be equal in our treatment of genders, as a society, it's generally not cool to tell a woman she can either have the option to have children or work, but not both - and then not really put that same question to a man. Men and women ought to have the same access to leave as each other - but it's not just an uncool thing to do to a woman - it's an uncool thing to do to society in general, because if society adopted the approach that women can either have children or work, but not both... Well, care to take a speculation on the effects that'll have on population sustainability?

 

[somonels]

Maternity leaves should be payed by the government, in who's interest good growth rate is. For employers a maternity leave is a freaking parasite for a year or so, even if they come back to work they will need additional training and readjustment time which burdens the company even more.
Employers should offer to pay for abortions. I'm not anti-women, I'm anti-kids.

 

[tharglet]

Imo, they should even out paternity leave and maternity leave, at least to some extent, in places where it isn't.

Not sure if you're allowed to ask the question in the UK. Never been asked it myself, as far as I remember.

Besides, asking probably isn't going to weed out too many candidates. If they know you're expecting a no, a no is what you'll get.

How would you feel if you were told you can't have a job, just because you want a family? And if you want a family, you tend to need the job so you can afford to have a family.
I can understand why employers don't want to pay out for maternity leave, but to allow employers to discriminate on it won't lead to anywhere good.

I'm sure some women would work through their pregnancy if they could (and some do stick it out until the bitter end), but it's a time when the woman needs a rest from working for a bit, and the ability to come back to a job when ready.

Imo not hiring and firing a woman for being pregnant is pretty equal to me - both are a loss of a job.