Lots of people are writing about Rachida Dati and how she only took a weeks maternity leave!
The thought of this makes me cringe and I've been through it once. I took seven months off and was dying to get back into the saddle although not full time. I think that even after three months (leaky breasts permitting) I would have jumped at a couple of days a week work!
Check out this lady's views: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23615597-details/Dati+is+a+model+for+the+power+mums/article.do
She makes a fantastic point at the end which is that mums make great employees as they are so enthusiastic and eager to please!
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Mummy bullying in the workplace
One of the things that really MAKES ME MAD is discrimination towards working mums.
I have been bullied out of a job because of my family situation (I was working an agreed three days a week when I joined the company and did not once let anything get in the way of my job or duties). I had to leave the job I was in when I originally fell pregnant because the management (husband and wife team with two girls of school age!) would not entertain flexible or part time working. It makes me so angry because my career has now come to a a bit of a stand-still due to valuable time lost and now I am just happy remaining at PR account manager level as I am just so happy to have a very nice and reasonable boss (go freelance I hear you cry)! After a messy year temping and scrimping, I managed to find a fantastically supportive employer (again, thanks Smith & Smith PR, as recommended by a fellow working mummy) for whom my family situation has never been an issue. They embrace flexible and part time working as they are completely ethical and recognise that different people have different personal circumstances. The funny thing is that the directors don't have any little ones of their own and yet they still back me 100%. Its very refreshing and I think very rare to find employers or employees that are sympathetic towards family situations. I have been subjected to various degrees of intimidation and bullying in my last few places of work because of pregnancy and/or having a young child. It makes me MAD because I am the lease intrusive person and I don't inflict myself on others or even chat about my personal life! People cannot just help but judge you and make inappropriate comments. My
little boy has never been off nursery ill (touch wood) and there has been no other related dramas. Please get in touch if you are being bullied or ever have felt the sharp side of your fellow employees or employer to do with family issues.
I have been bullied out of a job because of my family situation (I was working an agreed three days a week when I joined the company and did not once let anything get in the way of my job or duties). I had to leave the job I was in when I originally fell pregnant because the management (husband and wife team with two girls of school age!) would not entertain flexible or part time working. It makes me so angry because my career has now come to a a bit of a stand-still due to valuable time lost and now I am just happy remaining at PR account manager level as I am just so happy to have a very nice and reasonable boss (go freelance I hear you cry)! After a messy year temping and scrimping, I managed to find a fantastically supportive employer (again, thanks Smith & Smith PR, as recommended by a fellow working mummy) for whom my family situation has never been an issue. They embrace flexible and part time working as they are completely ethical and recognise that different people have different personal circumstances. The funny thing is that the directors don't have any little ones of their own and yet they still back me 100%. Its very refreshing and I think very rare to find employers or employees that are sympathetic towards family situations. I have been subjected to various degrees of intimidation and bullying in my last few places of work because of pregnancy and/or having a young child. It makes me MAD because I am the lease intrusive person and I don't inflict myself on others or even chat about my personal life! People cannot just help but judge you and make inappropriate comments. My
little boy has never been off nursery ill (touch wood) and there has been no other related dramas. Please get in touch if you are being bullied or ever have felt the sharp side of your fellow employees or employer to do with family issues.
Inspirations...
I find it so inspirational and encouraging when I see things written about the plight of working mums. I've just been trawling the web and found this fab article by Julia Hobsbawn who reveals her tips for finding a good work life balance. PRs have to be very good at time management especially those working in an agency environment. Why is it then that the things that I need to do for myself and my family are always last on this list?!
My blogging debut
This is my mummyonthemove blog.
Its all about me and my life as a busy (pregnant) mummy of a two-year old working at a PR agency. I know that my life is similar to millions of other mums all around the world. Ladies that manage lots of things in their lives including their jobs, kids, other halves, finances, mother-in-laws and politics!
Its taken ages for me to blog as I always think 'Who on earth would want to listen to me'?! Well I am using this blog as a little diary to which I can offload my thoughts, experiences and stresses. In the process I'd love to make friends with similar folks from around the world.
Its all about me and my life as a busy (pregnant) mummy of a two-year old working at a PR agency. I know that my life is similar to millions of other mums all around the world. Ladies that manage lots of things in their lives including their jobs, kids, other halves, finances, mother-in-laws and politics!
Its taken ages for me to blog as I always think 'Who on earth would want to listen to me'?! Well I am using this blog as a little diary to which I can offload my thoughts, experiences and stresses. In the process I'd love to make friends with similar folks from around the world.
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