Forcing Mothers to Work?

A new survey reports that two-thirds of mothers are being 'forced' to work to make ends meet.

1000 adults (were they all mothers?) were surveyed for the poll by The Daily Telegraph newspaper and reportedly only 7% of mothers go back to work to maintain their career.

It is also reported that a similar percentage of Mums go back 'because they want a break from the family'.

The rest (ie around 66%) work because of financial reasons. Well isn't this why most men work anyway? And what of the single mother scenario - of course they have to work.

What do you think of this survey?

http://news.smh.com.au/national/many-working-mums-would-rather-be-home-20080826-429g.html

Cost of being a stay-at-home mum: $1 million

Well it seems like we're damned if we do work - or damned more if we don't.

This review of Ann Crittendon's book 'The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued' documents in painstaking and depressing detail all the ways in wihich government policy, the tax code and corporate culture penalise mothers who work and the parents who stay at home.

When women decide to leave the workforce, they not only forfeit their income, but also super savings, pensions and other benefits. The financial tradeoffs she lists are a stunning indictment of a mother's financial vulnerability. An economics writer herself, Crittendon recommends several smart policy changes for government that would reduce the financial penalty of having kids, especially for SAHMs (Stay at Home Mums). But the goverment acting on our behalf may take decades - so here's some practical ways to bolster your financial and emotional security now -

1. Reconsider the prenup ( or if in Australia, consider doing one so that your agreement takes into account the career time given away and lost earnings if you're a SATM)
2. Figure out, if you can personally afford this (including sometimes the hit in self-esteem and sense of identity but the 'cost of work' ie travel, wardrobe, eating out etc can be reduced)
3. Be honest about what you need if you're going to be the SAHM - time at the gym, extra help, etc.
4. Keep planning for your retirement - maybe the working partner invests for the SAHM's future.
5. Don't assume you're leaving the workforce - consider sequencing or home-based work
6. Find out if your company is more family-friendly than you think - ASK for what you need!

Maybe our Corporate Mother's Forum could help you and other Working Mums at your organisation? See http://www.howdoyoudoit.com.au/

Full article at http://tinyurl.com/3dafy9 or buy the book at http://tinyurl.com/3k2dc2

Professional Women Working Part-Time Don't Achieve Balance They Want

A recent report from Beaton Consulting Group has found that professional women do NOT achieve the balance in work/family life they are looking for when they elect to work part-time, as well as taking a financial hit at the same time.

The 2008 Executive Summary to the Report 'Work Life Balance in Australia in the New Millenium: Rhetoric vs Reality' reports the findings of a study of over 11,000 knowledge workers across Australia. Respondents were both male and female, with dependants and without. Childcare and eldercare issues are examined.

Some other interesting findings were:

• 25% respondents worked more than 50 hrs/week + 6 hrs/week unpaid overtime
• 23% think of leaving their current organisation at least once a week or more
• 42% report high levels of work overload
• respondents are 3.6x more likely to prioritise work over family

The report calls for governments to pay attention to the work/life issues to address the falling birth rate and to change the tradition of focus on hours at work as a measure of productivity, contribution, loyalty and engagement.

Organisations are encouraged to increase their

• perceived flexibility
• number of genuinely supportive managers of flexibile work practices
• employees' sense of control over their work situations

and to decrease their employees' workloads. It is proposed that professional women do face a glass ceiling with respect to career opportunities and advanacement. Women with child or eldercare responsibilities, in particular, appear to be disadvantaged.

It's great to see that such a large scale study being undertaken - let's hope governments and organisations take note so that the next generation of working mothers don't have to struggle as much!!

Full report at : http://www.beaton.com.au/pdfs/BC_WorkLifeBal_summary.pdf

Next Australian Governor-General to be Working Mum and Grandmother

The new Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has struck another victory for working mothers everywhere!

He's appointed Quentin Bryce, mother of 5 and grandmother of 5 as our next Australian Governor-General. Quentin has been a tireless advocate for working mothers, having been a lawyer, Sex Discrimination Commissioner and more recently, Governor-General of Queensland.

Quentin Bryce has always maintained that women need to have their economic independence to enable them to have choices. And she's proud to call herself a feminist!

This appointment surely can only help to encourage more women into high profile roles.

Go Quentin - go GG! Photo and full article courtesy of The Age http://tinyurl.com/5jkows

EOWA's New Criteria for Working Mums

THE Australian Commonwealth Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) has new criteria for its Employer of Choice for Women award. This includes a pay equity gap of less than 17 per cent, a minimum of six weeks paid maternity leave, and at least 27 per cent of the managers being women.

We're getting closer gals - still not equal pay, but closing the gap!

EOWA has for the fifth year running, given the University of Western Sydney its Employer of Choice for Women award. UWS was one of only 99 organisations that met the agency's new criteria.

Go you Universities - no wonder so many working mothers remain in Academia when it's such a supportive environment for women, families and work/life balance!

See full article at
http://penrith.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/women-at-uws/1213706.html

A Day in the Life of a Mother ...Click here for YouTube link

You have to watch this - it's hilarious - and so true! This is one woman's take on some of the typical interactions she has with her children in a typical day. Somehow we think you'll recognise some of the sayings - we certainly did!

All sung to the William Tell Overture in 2.5 mins. She's now called the 'William Tell Mom' due to her YouTube success. Quite an achievement - she must be a working mum! Enjoy..... the lyrics are there too so you can read along...

Major Australian Retailer offers Six weeks Paid Maternity Leave

Australian retail giant, Myer, today announced they were offering six weeks paid maternity leave for fulltime and part-time staff who had been with them for 18 months or longer.

Hooray! Finally a major employer of women has seen the value of offering this benefit to their highly valuable working mothers.

Myer spokesman Greg Travers, says "[It] is an additional benefit that we also think will enhance the return rates of women to employment," he said. "We have a growth portfolio going forward into the future that's going to mean we'll need more people."

This kind of benefit makes it easier to convince working mothers to return and encourages existing staff to stay.

The Federal Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek, has supported the Myer initiative. "It's got a very high proportion of female staff and I hope that businesses that haven't already got paid parental leave will think about following suit."

Well done Myer - and we both hope that many more businesses do the same!

Full article see http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/27/2200286.htm?section=australia