Equality for women - has it gone too far?

[ColinEssex]

There is some discussion in the UK about equality for women.

What actually is equality for women? Equal pay? Ok maybe for an equal job done, but women get paid maternity leave too, plus ad-hoc time off if little chavvy has a sniffle, so does that mean equality? Or is lower pay compensatory for the " extras" that they enjoy. Also lower pay can help the employer pay a temp whilst they swan off for months on maternity leave.

How about etiquette? Do women stand up on a bus to let an older man sit? Do they hold open doors? If out to dinner, do women stand when a man joins them? I always stand if a woman joins us.

That'll do for starters.

Discuss

Col

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

There is some discussion in the UK about equality for women.

What actually is equality for women? Equal pay? Ok maybe for an equal job done, but women get paid maternity leave too, plus ad-hoc time off if little chavvy has a sniffle, so does that mean equality? Or is lower pay compensatory for the " extras" that they enjoy. Also lower pay can help the employer pay a temp whilst they swan off for months on maternity leave.

How about etiquette? Do women stand up on a bus to let an older man sit? Do they hold open doors? If out to dinner, do women stand when a man joins them? I always stand if a woman joins us.

That'll do for starters.

Discuss

Col

Theres cases now - of councils having to pay out cos say dinner ladies - who now are on the same band as say bin men - didnt used to get the same pay. So the ladies are to have their pay bumped up for years they were underpaid.

However - I feel thats a hard deal on teh men - who in those days had real back breaking work in all weathers , but got paid a little extra for that.

Doesnt really make sense to me.


On the door opening, standing etc - I do that for all - if i'm in polite comany. Which of course most of the time i'm not.

As for what women do - what they feel like most of the time! ;-)

 

[RainLover]

I don't believe in equal pay, but sometimes that is the only system that works. Mainly with manual tasks such as bus driving etc.

Then there are times when a woman is worth a lot more than a man. Take a woman who is the PA of the company CEO. She can be worth a lot of money by making him/her look good.

Equal pay for equal work. Who can argue with that.

Special consideration just because you are a woman is wrong. So is it at times sexual harassment. I don't mean a woman can be abused, but if she is sitting at the same table as men having lunch don't complain about the language used or the type of jokes passed around. If you are going to hunt with the hounds fit in or f... off.

Should we talk about Gay rights next.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Should we talk about Gay rights next.

I know - gay people want the same pay too! Pffft!

 

[Brianwarnock]

Nobody can argue against equal pay for equal work but who decides what's equal. How does Loading dish washing machines in a cosy building compare with walking miles collecting garbage in all weathers. I haven't noticed any female bin persons, although one does drive the lorry in her nice warm and dry cab.

As for the maternity leave issue the government are looking at legislation for couples to share that,

In the general case of manners eg door opening, etc the more able should help the less able in all circumstances , so if a man is carrying all of the parcels the woman should hold the door, however I have found that todays young women are more likely to let a door close in your face.

What is standing when a women enters/leaves a room all about??

Brian

 

[Brianwarnock]

I know - gay people want the same pay too! Pffft!

Why should being happy affect your pay?

Brian

 

[Fifty2One]

Equal pay for equal work, better pay for better work. Rather simple, dont apply for a job you are niether trained to perform or are not capable to handle the capacity.
No problem if someone wants to stay at home if someone in the household is ill, does not mean it has to be a female taking that time off, just dont expect to be paid for abscent time unless you have already negociated that as terms of employment. No problem in someone taking paternity leave rather then maternity leave if that is also placed in the contract.

As far as being compensated for the past inequities - sorry, if you want to see a bright future, stop looking in the rearview mirror. It might have been unfair, but people have the choice to make things better. And no one wants to hear the same whining of issues they harbor festering in their minds rather then being positive and progressive.

 

[Vassago]

At every company I have worked for, men had paternity leave.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

What is standing when a women enters/leaves a room all about??

Brian

Its so you can move to another room/shut the door behind her?

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

I was watching Rolf Harris's vets prorgam at Chester Zoo/Liverpool Uni last night - and they were neutering a horse.

The real delight the female students took in it - I cant imagine the male students delighting - or being allowed/accepted in delighting in a hysterectomy.


Seemed odd.

 

[Galaxiom]

In Australia the debate is about Paid Parental Leave.

 

[Brianwarnock]

I'm not against paternity leave, just wonder how two separate companies are going to keep track of the balancing act, maybe it's a plot to improve the employment figures with all the extra admin.

The plan appears to be that the couple will get x months to share between them but they cannot be off at the same time. My daughter was glad that her partner was there for the first 2 weeks as she could hardly walk.

Brian

 

[Vassago]

In Australia the debate is about Paid Parental Leave.

Paternity and Maternity leave at my company are both paid.

 

[Galaxiom]

I cant imagine the male students delighting - or being allowed/accepted in delighting in a hysterectomy.

Wouldn't that be a histerectomy?

 

[Brianwarnock]

In Australia the debate is about Paid Parental Leave.

You mean you don't already have it? I knew Australia was backward but didn't realise how far.

Brian

 

[Galaxiom]

Depends on the employer.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

I'm not against paternity leave, just wonder how two separate companies are going to keep track of the balancing act, maybe it's a plot to improve the employment figures with all the extra admin.

The plan appears to be that the couple will get x months to share between them but they cannot be off at the same time. My daughter was glad that her partner was there for the first 2 weeks as she could hardly walk.

Brian

I think you are correct there Brian - more time off - means more shared/part time employment. A diferant way of working / amssaging teh jobs figures - I think teh expansion of HE was a similar ruse.

Having said that Japan - has been reletivel flat in terms of growth for years and years - but unemploymenthas been low - cos they embraced teh idea - of job sharing, part time work and pay cuts - to maintain jobs.

We are too selfish as a sytem - which in teh end I dont think does any of us - except teh super rich any favours at all- as parts of socitey breaks down.

 

[Galaxiom]

BTW South Australia was the first place in the world where women could both vote and be member of parliament. We are innovators in some things.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

BTW South Australia was the first place in the world where women could both vote and be member of parliament. We are innovators in some things.

Didnt Julia Gillard come out of Adelaide. I knew no good would come of it.


(and tony blair!)

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

BTW South Australia was the first place in the world where women could both vote and be member of parliament. We are innovators in some things.

The UK introduced a lot of good stuff in its colonies?