I read a post on LinkedIn from another resume writer.

Joanne Rosen

March 26,2022 at 4:35PM UTC

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I read a post on LinkedIn from another resume writer. She talked about how one of her clients got a job and, two days later, was fired because they found out she was pregnant.

Okay, first, that is illegal and I was so angry. But worse, this resume writer said that women should really disclose their pregnancy in the interview. That made me even angrier, especially since she is a woman. She said that it was the right thing to do. I totally disagreed.

Why are women still being punished for having babies? Men can't do it so we have to. It's also part of that whole wage gap thing.

I'd love to hear other opinions. I tell my clients that it's their personal information. It's a question that cannot be asked in an interview so why divulge it?

Cheers

Joanne

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AngieMarch 26,2022 at 5:15PM UTC
I am a career remote employee so I would personally lay it out as is. That's me being me. I prefer the direct approach. I would also mention my plans as far as maternity leave. The company's reaction and rejection say more about them than me. If an employer decides not to hire me because I am pregnant that is not someone I would want to work for anyway. I put that in the same bucket as work-life balance and working remotely. Both are important to me for family time and me time.
Here are two articles related to pregnancy and employment. In the second article, a former employee actually filed a lawsuit.
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-tell-potential-employers-i-am-pregnant.html
https://www.pcwlawfirm.com/firing-a-pregnant-woman-what-is-legal.html
JenniferMarch 26,2022 at 10:29PM UTC
I think she gave bad advice. Of course, I also think most of those posts are BS to begin with. This was just particularly egregious because she wasn't even smart enough to come up with a decent story to attempt to prove her idiotic point. "Oh, you should make sure to disclose pregnancy so they can quietly discriminate against you in the interview process. This way, you can avoid being explicitly discriminated against and terminated once hired!"
Years ago, I interviewed and was hired for a role while 3-4 months pregnant (not showing). At the end of the first week, I took a deep breath, went to my manager's cube, and just told him. I started with "I want to thank you for the opportunity," and told him that I was pregnant. At this point he visibly exhales (apparently he thought I was about to resign) and congratulated me. I let him know that I would absolutely returning after having the baby, and reiterated how appreciative and excited I was about the role. He DID do some mental math when I told him my due date, but it could not have gone any better.
That was an entry-level role where I wasn't the "only" person doing my job, and I returned after 6 weeks STD. No more babies for me, but I still think I would wait to disclose until after I was hired. That said, I wouldn't be comfortable accepting a position that presented a clear conflict with my maternity leave plans (e.g. leading a project that was going to launch 3 weeks after my due date while I intended to take 3 months of maternity leave).
Maggie StoneMarch 30,2022 at 1:17PM UTC
I think you make a good point about not taking a position that poses a conflict.
Also, I wouldn’t be comfortable taking a position if I knew complications would keep me from being able to meet the physical demands of the job, or if I was far enough along that I knew I would be taking leave during the training, onboarding, or probationary period.
Sophie JoernMarch 26,2022 at 11:57PM UTC
Ugh, it is so sad to hear that an organization would do that. Women in the workplace have come a long way, but there is still so much work to be done in regards to bias, compensation and opportunity. I think women have been traditionally suppressed for so long that even we start to believe it sometimes (like the other resume writer did). However, it is important that we stand strong together and lift each other up instead of encouraging conformity.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 12:33PM UTC
I had a female boss that not only wasn't supportive of my pregnancy but tried to tell me, after a miscarriage, that I needed to time getting pregnant next time so I wouldn't be out during the busy season. Well...I was out during busy season when my son was born. She was also annoyed that I took my full disability and family leave time (thank you California) so I was out for 4 months. She very blatantly took a promotion off the table because "I didn't figure you'd want it anymore since you have a baby" and made a lot of snide comments. I would have filed suit if I wasn't already actively on my way out of that job anyway.
Dcre1977March 30,2022 at 1:20PM UTC
Unfortunately women can be misogynistic as well
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 6:10PM UTC
It seems to be that some women are threatened by other women, especially if they are in a very male heavy company and they don't want the competition. Rather than lifting up other women and standing up for them they would rather not risk their Queen Bee status and will deliberately quash any other woman's ambitions.
Liz GMarch 30,2022 at 12:30PM UTC
Writing from Ontario Canada here so things would go quite differently. Firing someone because they are pregnant is against the Employment Standards Act. The employer would be fined and the employee could either return to work or be financially compensated. Maternity leave is typically 1 year with some opting for a shorter or longer leave. This is much improved over the 17 weeks allowed back in the 90s. Just because you are used to bad workplace policies does not mean they are acceptable.
KelleyMarch 30,2022 at 12:41PM UTC
This is infuriating to me. Nobody should have to disclose their pregnancy since it’s an illegal interview question anyway, and nobody should be fired because it is found out that they are pregnant. I wouldn’t want to work at that company but feel she should see if she can go at this from a legal perspective and get some kind of compensation since she likely has no job now.
Maggie StoneMarch 30,2022 at 12:43PM UTC
I am a fairly open and honest person, so I probably would disclose a pregnancy in an interview. I would rather know at the interview stage if the employer is going to be supportive or not and be able to ask openly about maternity leave policy and health benefits. I would want to know if the leave is unpaid or if there are no benefits or they don’t kick in for months. That way I could plan and make a good decision if an offer comes.
Kailyn JamesMarch 30,2022 at 12:49PM UTC
I do not have children so my opinion on this subject only goes so far, it may change if we choose to have children but here it is. I do think women should disclose that they are already pregnant in the interview and lay out their plans with a potential employer for leave. If they choose not to hire her for that fact alone, might not be a place you’d want to work anyway. But from a standpoint of, they need help, that’s why the position is open, it’s a little inconsiderate not to tell them beforehand that you’ll be out for atleast a couple months. I feel this way about disclosing already confirmed vacation plans. Are they the same thing? No but it gives everybody a heads up and I feel like everyone deserves planning time, moms and the employers.
Kristen ScanlonMarch 30,2022 at 12:49PM UTC
Legally she doesn’t have to disclose that information, nor should she. It should have zero bearing on the interview or hiring. Employers can’t ask about pregnancy or if a person even has a child. They can’t ask if she married either. Asking about maternity leave, etc, is a common question since that’s part of benefits and many people want to know. That doesn’t mean she’s pregnant. The employer should be sued.
Valerie RiegerMarch 30,2022 at 12:53PM UTC
I disclosed in the interview process with one employer that I was pregnant and their response was "Congratulations! That is awesome news!" And they hired me. 38 days after I started work, I went into pre-term labor and delivered my daughter at 24w, 5d gestational age. She lived for 109 days in 2 different NICU's. That same employer provided incredible support to not just me but to my entire family. They provided me the flexibility I needed to be there with my daughter and to care for my family. I worked for that employer for 6 years and saw over the course of that time how incredible this organization was. They were supportive of all of their employees and believed in doing the right thing by their employees.
The moral of my story: Not all employers are jerks who violate federal employment law and discriminate against pregnant women. I hope the mom to be retains counsel and takes her former employer to task.
As for the decision of when or when not to disclose pregnancy - that's up to the mom to be. Tell them when YOU feel like it and know that if the organization doesn't do the right thing, know that there are avenues of recourse.
Victoria LancasterMarch 30,2022 at 1:02PM UTC
It is ridiculous to think that anyone can predict or control the future. Pregnancy has a predictable outcome but even that can change. An employee can have an injury or something that requires medical leave, and pregnancy is a better situation because preplanning on can be done by the employer.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 1:16PM UTC
Maybe I am old - I have dealt with a lot of discrimination over my lifetime when interviewing for a job. I also have worked where some of the questions that are illegal today were not then or they were but there really wasn't a lot you could do about it.
I was hiring an young woman and my boss told me he didn't think I should because she was probably going to get pregnant in a few years and then where would I be. Let's just say I let him have it with both barrels , told him if and when the time came, I would deal with it . I hired her and had on of the best employees ever. Came to find out later she didn't want children - so my boss's mentality could have caused us to lose out on a great employee.
I was once told that I should always wear a wedding ring during an interview to show stability especially if I wasn't married. Would they ever say that to a man?
These questions are illegal and as women we should understand how they affect our ability to be the best we can be and allow us to succeed. If you want to volunteer the info, that is your choice but to tell people that they are being selfish because they choose not to share private and restricted info is wrong.
What happens if you hire someone and they develop cancer, have an accident, or a family member becomes ill and are out for an extended time, you will figure it out on how to cover that person's job no matter what. Life is not perfect, and we need to respect that laws as designed to protect and level the playing field for all. Let's face it women still aren't protected because people still have bias when it comes to hiring and developing them.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 1:53PM UTC
In Canada you absolutely cannot dismiss someone for being pregnant as it goes against human rights legislation.
I recently hired someone into a new position and she will go off on maternity leave in two months. She was the best candidate for the role, and so I will find a backfill when she is off. As someone who has experienced fertility issues, I'm always excited to hear when one of my staff is going on parental leave. Not only do employers need to follow the law, society needs to change its attitude and understand that if they want women to both work and have families, we need to make accommodations.
MzMoniqueJMarch 30,2022 at 1:56PM UTC
Firstly, It’s the applicants decision to disclose this personal detail (not encouraged though).
Secondly, applicants have disclosed such details and were hired regardless, me! If a employer decides to terminate someone or not hire based on this, I’m not sure it’s a company anyone wants to work for!
Overall, I wish that I could say “I’m shocked” at this resume writers comment or the employers decision. However, I know better. The employers decision (as irrational as it maybe) from my experience “mom and pop” companies typically do this. There are also some larger employers who are decentralized and each business unit handles HR functions independently. In both cases, there can be risk. This is certainly one example of why it’s important for hiring managers to be trained properly by HR. No, employers can not ask questions like “are you married?” or “do you plan to have children?”, but they do! Why? Because they sometimes do not have the proper training or they just decide to be non-compliant. As far as the actual termination of someone because they disclosed they were pregnant or the employer “found out”, I hope they are ready for a legal battle. Lastly, some employers will use the “at-will defense” and say “she /he/ them/they” were not a good fit. Some states are at-will and it is totally acceptable to terminate someone without cause. As long as, the employer did not violate laws in doing so (must prove), like Title 7 or ADA for example. So, were the employers actions wrong, yes (if that’s why they termed)? The former employee will have to prove that they terminated due to pregnancy.
Mitzi CarlettiMarch 30,2022 at 2:04PM UTC
Honesty, from both employee and employer, is essential in creating a healthy and happy work environment. Divulging the fact you are pregnant is honest and essential. A company that rejects an applicant because they are pregnant is not a company with which you want to associate. Consider it a warning flag and move on.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 2:07PM UTC
I don’t tell people I’m interviewing with that I’m pregnant. If I receive the role then yes I would let them know my situation especially since I am going on leave in June. A lot of companies will have your start day be after your maternity leave!
I actually signed the contract for my current job not knowing I was pregnant till I put my notice in at my previous company. I told my current boss when I was ready at my second trimester. It’s annoying for them I get it. But everyone is happy for me and if they weren’t supportive I would’ve quit… even though I am currently looking for a new role since this role isn’t right for me.
Zofia JaneczekMarch 30,2022 at 2:08PM UTC
My question is, since when have women not been punished for working, having families, AND competing with men for the same jobs! I've been to interviews before where the HR/owner would not hire a woman with children or a family! I know, extremely disgusting. Too many crap companies out there. Companies in the USA, simply don't offer maternity leave like other nations. We have a very bare bones support system for workers here and companies bottom line, dare you have kids, that it's going to cost them! Many want you to think they're family friendly, they're lying to save face. You probably don't want to work in a hostile environment anyway. Yes, there actually are some that are great places with lots of perks, you must dig and hunt for them. Your body and no one's business so you choose to disclose or not. You are not legally obligated to disclose anything but standard facts to a potential employer.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 2:25PM UTC
I think this is a personal decision and may be different depending on the role or how far along in the pregnancy someone is.
I don't think women are being punished, I think women are being shamed.
My personal story of having a child at 16, I was criticized and judged. But having a child at 36 at the height of my career, beginning of my Masters and when I chose to change industries was much more judgmental than anything I experienced at 16. Was this because I was more aware? Was this because I was more sensitive to the amount of changes and responsibility I chose to take on at the same time? I will never really know.
Where I think this aligns with wage gap, is the presumed notion that with so many responsibilities less time is dedicated to the job. ( I have actually been told this to my face when negotiating a salary for a job that I ultimately did not accept)
Where I see my responsibility as an executive is having the conversations about what is offered within the company for someone to stay. Change of hours, change of schedule, change of maybe everything that was before having a child. However, if I am not talking about it and just know that is what would be decided should the conversation ever make it to my desk then all I am doing is perpetuation the negative assumption of our company.
As female leaders we must make ourselves active participants in the conversation and ignite change. We also have to been open to listening to these mom's and their solutions.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 2:30PM UTC
I certainly wouldn't divulge that information in the interview process unless it was absolutely necessary. And especially in early stages, I wouldn't be divulging that information.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 2:33PM UTC
So happy to read this post.
I am job searching right now at 7 months pregnant, having suddenly lost my job when 5 months pregnant, and have been debating this with my friends and close former colleagues.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 2:49PM UTC
Definitely not appropriate on the resume. What if the mother miscarries? Medical information does not need to be disclosed. The interview process can often take a long time. One of the best colleagues I had was about 4 months pregnant by the time she actually started the job.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 3:03PM UTC
What this employer did was illegal! Although she was only with the company for two days, I hope she can take legal recourse since it was very clearly discrimination.
MANY years ago, at a Staffing Agency, the consultant asked if I was pregnant. I was but had just miscarried. I was honest with her and stated such bc at the time, the question took me aback. Looking back at that, and after working for employment and labor lawyers for 20 years, I would have answered differently.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 3:07PM UTC
Yep, that's illegal. The employer can choose whether they offer paid maternity leave benefits, beyond short term disability, or not (many places require 1 year tenure for paid maternity leave) but she may have grounds for a lawsuit on her hands. The resume writer clearly shouldn't be weighing in on employment law.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 3:09PM UTC
For my current role, I did not disclose that I was pregnant.
My second day on the job, I had a miscarriage. My new employer was incredibly supportive and understanding, allowing me to take time to recover. What that employer did was most likely illegal, but even if not, it’s highly lacking in basic humanity. Another reason why saying women can have it all is a myth.
aubreyMarch 30,2022 at 3:22PM UTC
I don’t think it’s necessary or relevant to disclose during the interview process, as you want to be seen as a candidate. I was pregnant when offered my current role, but I DID tell them when I was offered the job. I think it conveys trust and transparency to disclose that before officially starting
Rynn StrangeMarch 30,2022 at 3:34PM UTC
The question is, "Are you able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation?" That is the only thing any employer needs to know at the outset.
GirlBossanova934974March 30,2022 at 3:49PM UTC
Oh my heavens! I cannot believe this has happening in 2022. I cannot believe how some companies operate without proper HR input and review. Oh well. That is why employment lawyers make such a fine living. This one has been gift wrapped with the only thing left to debate being the punitive damages. Company owners...Please if you do not have funds to pay a full time HR manager, go out and contract with a reputable 3rd party HR company....
Krystal CooperMarch 30,2022 at 3:49PM UTC
You wouldn't tell them in an interview if you had any other disability, would you? I mean you could but it's not necessary. Very short sighted of that company, BTW - studies show that most women come back to work after having a baby and if the company treats them well during that time out, they typically stay longer than their male counterparts.
Cheryl WilburgMarch 30,2022 at 4:13PM UTC
Pregnancy is NOT a disability. The two are not related. It's illegal either way.
Joanne RosenMarch 30,2022 at 7:49PM UTC
Instead, let's call it a health condition. I have Lupus. I don't disclose it in an interview and yet, it could cause me to require time off. (Thankfully, so far it never has.) Do men have to disclose that they are prone to kidney stones? Or that they require Viagra?
Silly . . . all of it.
Krystin MorganMarch 30,2022 at 4:21PM UTC
Ooh I definitely disagree with that resume writer.
Yes, in a perfect world, people could celebrate their pregnancies without fear, but...we aren't in a perfect world. When someone discloses their pregnancy is entirely up to them, and it definitely doesn't need to be during the interview. It's not a piece of info a company should use to make a decision (that's illegal) and therefore doesn't need to be shared.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 6:09PM UTC
Completely illegal to fire someone because they are pregnant. That woman should just find herself an attorney to take the case, either pro bono, or on contingency and sit back and wait for her settlement. She could also contact the EEOC and/or her state labor department.
Barb HansenMarch 30,2022 at 6:12PM UTC
Its amazing to me how many intersections there are between being a non cis-white-man and the law.
-- employment law, housing, medical care, reproduction, domestic and physical abuse --
Actually it's not amazing at all to me, it's sad that we need to be legal experts.
AnonymousMarch 31,2022 at 6:20PM UTC
bahahahahahaha... yep the white man did it all. blame them.
AnonymousMarch 30,2022 at 7:03PM UTC
Being terminated for pregnancy is still a very real occurring event in this decade…
Joanne RosenMarch 30,2022 at 7:46PM UTC
An entirely illegal one unless you are in one of those "at-will" states . . . which is ridiculous. That shouldn't exist either.
Cheryl WilburgApril 6,2022 at 2:35PM UTC
Even in an at-will states, where they don't need a reason to fire you, firing someone for being pregnant IS STILL illegal
Doris AppelbaumMarch 31,2022 at 2:02AM UTC
Fight it!!!
It is 60+ years since it happened to me.
When I lost a job many years later because I was 60, I fought the case and won for Age Discrimination. Laws are useless if WE DON'T USE THEM!!! It took six years, but I WON!!
Dr. Jessica Parker, PMPMarch 30,2022 at 9:27PM UTC
I had a candidate that asked me (the hiring manager) whether or not she should disclose something health-related to me during the hiring process. I told her that she could share with HR if it might impact her work or if she needed an accommodation for the interview process and I didn't need to know about it. I appreciated that she was trying to be upfront about her condition but also knew it was in her best interest (and legal right) to keep it to herself. I hired her and she later shared she was pregnant. So I congratulated her and connected her with HR to ensure she knew what the leave process was. She was a great employee (I've moved on and so has she) and I had zero regrets.
Shelby CMarch 30,2022 at 9:38PM UTC
The rule I follow for ALL health conditions is that you should only disclose if you would need an accommodation.
For example, when I was in university I was asked to interview for a job developing photographs in a classified facility, so it wasn't like they could just relocate me to another job easily. At first it was very off putting, but they asked me if I was pregnant. Then, they explained the chemicals would hurt the developing fetus.
You have to put everything in context and take it on a case by case basis.
Joanne RosenApril 6,2022 at 7:00PM UTC
That makes perfect sense.
Arlene Frances Gottardo (Bryak)March 31,2022 at 12:58AM UTC
She should have said she was pregnant because at some point, she will need time off to have the child. That’s what I would have done.
Joanne RosenApril 6,2022 at 6:59PM UTC
So, should she also say: I drive a car. I might get into an accident and, at some point, need to take time off? What about a woman who is planning to adopt? Should she AND her partner have to declare that?
Or, should men be required to give a description of their physical health? I was born with a heart murmur. I might need surgery one day.
Have you had your prostate checked? How is your cholesterol? Are you married? If your wife gets sick, will you want time off the take care of her?
No, this is all a double standard.
By the way, when I taught in Saudi Arabia, one of my students had a baby. They were allowed 3 days away from university. She was back in class on the 4th day.
Considering the US doesn't have statutory maternity leave, why would any woman actually say it? Don't buy into the patriarchal junk and penalize a woman for having a family.
Doris AppelbaumMarch 31,2022 at 1:59AM UTC
In 1958, I was fired from a teaching position 3 weeks before the end of the term. I wasn't even due till late October. Now that we have laws about that - let's use them.
Millie MardahayMarch 31,2022 at 6:17AM UTC
Let's rephrase this argument. If pregnant women knew they wouldn't have to work for, say 12 months, because the government was protecting their maternal rights , would they still apply for jobs?
I honestly feel for both the pregnant women and the companies that hire them. It's not cheap to train someone for a few months only for them to leave and stay on payroll while the company has to hire and train a replacement. If I was a small business and struggling , this would probably tip me over.
So. Our inability to elect politicians who champion true family values ends up costing women and the companies that hire them a lot of money
AnonymousApril 1,2022 at 6:08PM UTC
So I'm coming from the perspective that this is a protected ground in Canada and you can't not hire someone because they are pregnant. However, I think this speaks to the larger issue that society has to stop placing women in a difficult position of needing them to work and needing them to have babies. What supports could be put in place for businesses if this happens? How can we not hamper a women's career because she's having children? We need broader thinking above and beyond a patriarchal lens so that this issue can be resolved rather than expecting women/employers to deal with it on their own. It's a major reason why women make 2/3rds of what men do. We need to appropriately value the contributions of women in the workforce and make sure both employers and women can be supported. This would actually benefit the economy in the long run.
Liz GApril 5,2022 at 6:42PM UTC
Small companies don’t always pay for the mom on leave. Often partial or full weekly pay is part of the country’s unemployment insurance plan. Please look around. There are other countries already doing this.
Joanne RosenApril 6,2022 at 7:05PM UTC
Exactly! I'm Canadian. All Canadian employers understand that women can choose to take a year off. They build that into their business plan because, hey, they are going to need customers down the road. You only get new customers if women have babies.
I'm sad that the US is one of the last patriarchal bastions of keeping women down. The men want families but . . .
Then again, Canada and other countries like it, choose to put the needs of the family at the top. Education is better. Parental leave (for either/both parents) is the norm, and daycares are being built and subsidized.
The US needs to catch up.
Doris AppelbaumMarch 31,2022 at 9:04PM UTC
Never disclose anything that might hinder your chances of being hired.
Andi RosenbergerMarch 31,2022 at 10:37PM UTC
Forgive me for playing the devil's advocate here but I think you should disclose a pregnancy during the interview process. Show your hiring manager you're serious about the job by informing them - right there! - how you plan to schedule your appointments, when your baby is due, and when you plan to take your LOA. It's a positive opportunity to show them you're an organized, responsible person who is willing to work within the organization's needs.
If they still discriminate against you after that, they are not the kind of people you want to work for, anyway!
Arlene Frances Gottardo (Bryak)April 2,2022 at 8:10PM UTC
Well-said.
AnonymousApril 1,2022 at 4:22PM UTC
This is giving resume writers a bad look with this one ??‍♀️
Karen GongawareApril 1,2022 at 8:24PM UTC
None of their business unless the pregnancy will interfere with the job duties. Grounds for suing if pregnant and they fire or let you go after hired. Look up illegal questions and then don't answer those!
Doris AppelbaumApril 2,2022 at 12:29AM UTC
I've been a professional resume writer since the 1970's. Never volunteer information that might hurt you.
Liz MilneApril 3,2022 at 10:55PM UTC
This one always gets me: from the employee's point of view, they want the job and they shouldn't be punished for being pregnant.
But from the employer's point of view, they want a new hire to be all about the job for at least the first year, and a pregnant woman can have so many issues during pregnancy, time off for the birth (which should really be paid maternity, imo, of at least 6 months) and then after that there are often childcare issues/ illnesses etc - I can understand why someone who perhaps avoided having children might be annoyed at their new hire's child being 'foisted' on them...
Whatever happens, pregnancy changes a woman's life, usually more than a man's and I think it's unreasonable for the law to not recognise that in some way.
However, I don't have a better solution (I don't have any solution!), so... meh, dunno... We'd have to change society completely from the ground up...
Joanne RosenApril 4,2022 at 6:12PM UTC
I hear you. I was promoted and transferred to a new city at my employer's expense. In the first 3 weeks I was there, I got sick and a doctor told me I needed to go off birth control pills. My previous doctor had told me it would probably take a couple years for me to get pregnant so I went off and BOOM. Pregnant.
I felt so bad for the company. That had NOT been my plan. However, I dedicated myself to being the best while I was pregnant. Then I got transferred to another branch in the same city. I hated it.
Anyway, long story, I took my Mat Leave (16 weeks in Canada back then) and returned. It had gotten worse and, after 2 months, I gave notice. They ended up hiring 2 people to replace me.
Anyway, it's a rock and a hard place. Thankfully, Canada has great laws about pregnancy, Mat Leave, etc.
Liz MilneApril 4,2022 at 10:37PM UTC
Legislation supporting parents is so great! It just eases the whole burden! In Zimbabwe we got three to six months maternity leave, it was great not to have to worry about income. I think it was full pay for three months, then 3/4 pay for up to a year following, something like that (my last baby turns 20 in July, I've forgotten all the details, I just know they were quite generous! :P )
Dcre1977April 4,2022 at 6:22PM UTC
It is a self fulfilling prophecy, the company doesn't support the parents, assumes mom will do the majority of the work, so dad thinks he can't take off, and mom being not supported by dad is pushed into doing more of the hands on work, even if she doesn't realize. Then, because she is one average lower paying, the couple acts like daycare comes out of her pay check, rather than is a joint expense, or comes out of the higher income.
We do need to make some changes.
Wanda ShawApril 5,2022 at 4:33PM UTC
I feel the same way. It's the proverbial catch 22.
Liz GApril 5,2022 at 6:39PM UTC
Many countries have already made the change. Longer maternity leaves, tax breaks for child care and guaranteed return to work policies for new moms. Not sure what my American cousins are waiting for. ..