Reply to NYT: professional moms who opted out of work after kids are now opting back in

Forum Index » Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers

Reply to "NYT: professional moms who opted out of work after kids are now opting back in"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
[quote]I agree that i would have a hard time getting an equivalent job at a new firm but I've been assured by the leadership at my firm that I could have my job back whenever I want it, so I am not concerned about that.  My issue was more the assumption made by the mothers who never took time off that I don't deserve my job back.  To me that just sounds like bitterness and I don't understand it.  As I said, I don't want to be promoted to where I would be because I haven't earned that.  But I did earn the job I had and still am qualified for it.[/quote]

I took 3 months off and when I came back they had given my job to somebody else. They gave me an "equivalent" job which means I made the same money with the same job title. But I had a different boss, locations, job duties, career track...

[b]They could not just let my job sit for 3 months. They also could not just take away the job from the the person that was doing my job for 3 months. 
[/b]
While this never happens to the man that has the stroke or heart attack I do understand it is a balancing act.

I think it would have been arrogant just to expect to walk into my old position as if the world had stopped for 3 months.[/quote]

It is a shame that this isn't possible, because it is exactly what is successfully practiced in other countries, such as Germany, where women can take up to 2 years off and have their job guaranteed. In the meantime, someone else is hired with a contract limited to that time to fill in for her. That way, mothers (and maybe fathers, too) can stay home without tolling the death knell for their career.[/quote]
I'd be interested to know more about these contract workers.  What kinds of benefits do they get (i.e., up to 2 years off)?  What about pay?  Are they desperately trying to get one of these permanent guaranteed jobs?  Why would someone choose to work on the contracts vs holding a permanent guaranteed job?  [/quote]

Not the original PP, but my understanding is that often people take these jobs as a way of proving themselves in a more high-level job than they could secure as a permanent employee.  In European countries with good benefits, like national health care and parental leave policies, employers do not need to provide the same level of benefits that professional workers in the U.S. look for.

I'm in a similar situation in Canada, which has decent maternity leave policy (though not nearly as good as Germany's) and I've found that lots of great opportunities open up for me when people go on mat leave or a sick leave for a year.  I can develop new skills and contacts without the employer having to hire me permanently, and it has allowed me to negotiate a 4-day work week for the past 2 years, which works well for my family.  I actually turned down a permanent position to do more interesting work on a 1-year contract because it will position me better in the job market.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics