Comments on: Aussie Sexism Gives Work/Life Balance No Chance

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:15:41 +0000

I’m not a mum or even female but your problem is not just one of babies it’s a bigger problem with the whole work force in Australia. Most companies do not value there workers in anyway, your just a piece of meat and only valuable until you aren’t making someone else rich while you get screwed over. The only way I can see to get any work/life balance is to start our own business. I would love to work for a google/microsoft or any number of companies that actually value there workers not see them as an expense that need to have. Most companies in Australia don’t get the fact they would be nothing with out there employees so why do they treat most of us so badly?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:51:13 +0000

Unbelieveable! Your boss doesn’t owe you a job of your choosing. You agreed to perform a certain job and now, a couple of months later, want to change the agreement unilaterally. I can almost see you stamping your foot and saying “it’s not fair”. Grow up. It’s not all about you, or your child. It’s also about your boss, who might be trying to support children of his or her own….

By: Tigerion

Tigerion — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:05:54 +0000

I find it very interesting that the essence of your article is that you are being discriminated against because you are a women. However the fact that your husband (the male) has even less flexibility and options than you is glossed over in a simple sentence.
The rest of the article basically then goes on about how astounded you are that you are not being treated better than he is. I fail to see how this is sexist.
If you were complaining about the lack of flexibility for working families that would be one thing but to try and make this a sexism argument is very flawed. to me you are coming across as somebody who thinks that women have more rights to raising children than men.
Exoteric also makes a valid point in that you took a position as a full time employee. If you want part time then you should have been looking for that. I could understand if you had been with the company for a couple of years and your situation has changed but you have been there a couple of months. Nothing has changed in your life you just bit off more than you could chew. If you are unable to perform the job you were hired to do 2 months ago then maybe you should resign. You could still be under probation in your contract and that is the reason that clause exists

By: exoteric

exoteric — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:31:21 +0000

If you want to work part time, look for a part time job! I can well understand an employer who has advertised a full time position and accepted an applicant on the belief that they would work full time in the office not being happy with the new hire wanting to go part-time all of a sudden or work from home instead. Your boss probably turned down a lot of applicants for the position you are in, some who were almost as well qualified for the position as you – have you proved yourself diligent enough in the office to trust working from home?

If the child-care is such a problem for you, why not look for a space closer to your workplace? If you find one, great, you can be with your child for longer each day and avoid late fees and the like.

Finally, thank your lucky stars that you don’t have to work the hours your husband is. I’m sure that he would care for a break too, so that he could see some more of his child.

By: mamamiya

mamamiya — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:28:02 +0000

I feel your every word.

Mothers do enjoy mothering, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the right to pursue a career in the corporate world right?

I’ve been job hunting for the past 3months. All interviews were ok, but I could sense their reservation after knowing that I’m a mom. WTF indeed…

I even got a friend who was on maternity leave for only 2months (with the intention to extend the leave for a few more months), later found out from a little bird that her job position is being advertised as a permanent position. So she decided to go back to work after hearing the news.

Law do protect us…but we mommies know the real truth.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:34:59 +0000

I think this is a common issue in Adelaide/SA. Because most of the Adelaide people live in dark. They never moved out from SA. They live 10yrs behind compare to other states.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:05:48 +0000

Thanks for posting about this. It’s a situation so many of us can (unfortunately) identify with. At my former workplace there were a few mums who had to do the “daycare dash” and, you know, it still didn’t make it any easier. I’d leave at 5pm and, yes, as you say, eyes would dart to the time on the computer as if I were the biggest slacker around. And to justify my leaving “early” I would mention that I was paid by the hour whenever the opportunity arose. What a shame it has to be this way.

By: j

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:38:37 +0000

I do empathise with your situation – it is a crappy one. It’s not just the bloke bosses who are like this… when I was pregnant with my first bub my boss told me I wasn’t getting the promotion I’d been promised (before I was pregnant) because “they didn’t know what I’d be like when I came back”. (And she has 2 kids herself!!!) In that conversation I was straight out told I wasn’t getting the promotion ‘because’ I was pregnant. I was pretty shocked to be hit in the face this response… And I work for one of the “Big 4″ banks, in a mid-level corporate position (not some tin-pot tiny company that can’t “afford” maternity pay). Anyway, back to the author – unfortunately, I reckon your situation is only going to get worse when you announce your pregnancy. Tribunals, anti-discrimination laws, HR depts etc mean jack-shit in the real world. It hurts but I’d figure out *somehow* how you can leave quietly and “gracefully”. Adelaide is a small town and you don’t want the reputation of having left your last workplace as a “troublemaker” following you and poisoning your future chances. (In the corporate world – the person making the complaint about someone else’s bad behaviour is the problem, not the bad behaver… sadly I’ve seen this many times). Given the timing of where you’re at, it’s going to be difficult. Sorry to be so negative – I totally agree with the whole premise of your article… I’ve just been bludgeoned into negativity by the corporate world treatment of people.