News stories we've found interesting
Feature articles
Research studies
This information is intended as a pointer on some key legal issues. Managing Maternity is not in business as a legal advisor and readers are encouraged always to seek independent legal advice.
What are the current trends in the workplace? These three recent articles provide a good overview of maternity leave and return to work strategies:
A helpful piece from HR Zone, exploring strategies for managing maternity as a crucial element of female talent retention and development.
www.hrzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=187209&d=1063
A very useful and practical piece for managers, including an interview with Director, Jennifer Liston-Smith. Details of some of our client work including our group and individual maternity coaching.
This article was published in the July 2008 issue of Professional Manager, published by the Chartered Management Institute, www.managers.org.uk
Including an interview with Managing Maternity Director, Anna Hayward. This article was published in the May 2008 issue of Edge, the magazine of the Institute of Leadership & Management, www.i-l-m.com
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is urging bosses to implement flexible working to steer through the economic uncertainty, reports HR Zone.
www.hrzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=183815&d=1064
Almost 70% of mothers believe men are just as good at looking after children as they are, a think tank has said.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7175673.stm
A "lifestyle divide", in which women take on the burden of domestic duties, creates a vicious circle as they are then less able to work the long hours needed to win top jobs. They then earn less and are reinforced as responsible for household tasks, says Europe-wide research conducted at Cambridge University.
education.guardian.co.uk/gendergap/story/0,,2222774,00.html
Jenny Watson, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission says: "Understanding what is required when a pregnant woman returns to work is important for women themselves, but also for their employers who may otherwise face the risk of expensive and time-consuming tribunal claims - and lose out on the talents of mothers who want to return to work..."
newsweaver.co.uk/thepeoplebulletin/e_article000907003.cfm
Intelligent comment piece by Madeleine Bunting on cultural and workplace perceptions of having children and how having children seems to go against the grain of what we value as a society. She turns the debate about mothers and work on its head and rather than women being seen as not ‘cutting it’ in the workplace, points to their successes. She also highlights motherhood as a time when women are forced to reassess some of the personal qualities that have got them through education and career, only to find that our culture places a low value on their role as mothers.
www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1725350,00.html
Figures highlighting take-up of home-working and childcare provision
www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2006/03/01/34199/
Flexible+benefits+offerings+on+the+increase.htm
Summary of Institute of Public Policy report on women delaying having children, including summary of recommendations relating to enhanced paid paternity leave and improved provision of paid for childcare
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4728950.stm
Impact on middle-income families of starting a family
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2058517,00.html
a review and analysis of a book about life as a working mother in Paris and Washington D.C. and the parallels for working women in this country
www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=P8
&xml=/health/2006/02/21/hmum18.xml
Leader piece in The Guardian on the role of employers, parents and the government.
politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9115,1598286,00.html
A mother who worked part-time after having a baby has won a key legal ruling against one of the City’s top law firms over her right to flexible hours. Reported in The Times on-line.
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8159-1841248,00.html
New mothers are returning to work early, because they cannot afford to take their full maternity leave, a shop workers' union has said. Reported on BBC website.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4332857.stm
A public relations consultant and mother-of-three has quit two jobs because of the treatment she received after becoming pregnant. Reported on BBC website.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4229495.stm