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| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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What clicks for working mums in the new millennium? by Dr. Rohini Jayaratne In the 21st century, where flexibility is the keyword in businesses all over the world, in Europe and America, is it possible for our 'new mums' who are businesswomen to keep a foothold on their careers? 'Management and babies do not click' is the cliche, but is it really so? There are new mothers who are managers established in their careers and valued for their skills by their employers. What choices do they have in Sri Lanka to balance work and family commitments? A day in the life of a working mother which starts at dawn is a combination or blend of organisation, co-ordination and compromise. What have policy makers and employers done to make things easier for the women who want to return to work after motherhood? Mala, a manager in a firm, feels that she could not stay at home after having her baby. She was keen to go back to her career which was important to her. At the same time, she felt she had to spend time with the baby. She has got a place at a nursery for her child. The cost is prohibitive, but the place is one where they will be well cared for "This is a private one, but like in other developed countries, if we could have nurseries which are part of a government initiative to offer tax relief for nursery care, then my employer too can join that scheme. But do we have such nurseries?" Tamara is another business executive who wanted to go back to work on a part-time basis. "We decided to have a baby-sitter or child minder. She seems capable and caring. My husband and I share the other tasks. I shop for food during my lunch break and feed the baby early in the morning. My husband gives me a helping hand in the cleaning and washing up" she said. Sulekka, a public relations manager said: "I went to work four days of the week after Sanduni was born. My mother lives close by and she looked after the baby and it worked very well for sometime. But when the child fell ill, it became a bit complicated. It took some juggling and switching shifts. I work with understanding people and saying 'I have got a problem' is not correct. For, at the end of the day, I think its up to me to sort it out. These home life crises are bound to happen from time to time. Something must be done to ease out the problems." If companies want women to come to work, there has to be flexibility and understanding on both sides. The governments of developing countries have stepped in to encourage and support working mothers. We in Sri Lanka should also follow suit, if we have not done it already or not done enough yet. The period of paid maternity leave can be lengthened to six months and unpaid maternity leave could be lengthened to one year. There could be paternity leave of two weeks for fathers. In Sri Lanka, a move to this effect was recently made by a woman minister, but has it become effective? The flat rate of maternity pay too could be increased. In the developed world, there are proposals on flexible working which could be implemented either through legislation or incentives to business. May be Sri Lanka could follow suit. Working women who return early from leave can work reduced hours for the remaining time. Allowing both parents to work reduced hours until the maternity leave period ends could also help. Employers too can refuse requests to work reduced hours if it would harm the business in anyway. At the same time, a company committing to a code for flexible working may encourage new working mums after maternity leave to maintain a foothold on the career ladder. |
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