I'm the supervisor of a small office. One of my biggest challenges is scheduling time off for the female employees. In my day, you didn't take a day off unless you were very sick or your child was sick. Now they seem to want time off for everything from school events, sporting events, getting their nails done, their faces waxed or tanning appointments. I am amazed at the decline in work ethic.Some could argue that there has also been a decline in loyalty to employees. Which came first?
As I read about the unemployment in our country, I would think people would be grateful to have a well-paying job with benefits -- but the recession hasn't slowed any of our female employees down one bit. What has happened to the old-fashioned work ethic that founded this country?The writer is female, by the way.
As far as school events – family should come before a job. However, it used to be that the parent "staying home" could attend those events, and the parent with the outside job could take time off for the really special events. As mothers have joined the professional workforce in greater numbers, they have expected the workplace culture to conform to them, rather than them conforming to the workplace culture. Plus, how many mothers have children, but not a husband? So they're the only parent that can attend these events.
But these life situations (being a mother in the workforce, not having a husband) are almost always entirely by the adult's choices, whether those choices were mostly made a long time ago or recently.
Keep this letter in mind the next time you read about a "wage gap" between men and women - especially about taking time off to tan.
Dear Abby responds:
If they choose to use the time the way you have described, it is their right to do so.It sure is, if it is time they were assigned under company policy.
However, if they are taking more than the company offers, that could be a problem. While I understand your point, please try to be less judgmental.She's running a business office, not a charity or social club. It's all well and good to take time off if you have it coming under company policy, but what about people who use up all of their time for playing around, then beg for leniency when they really do get sick?
One of the real problems with this situation is when hiring for positions next time. These women are making a bad impression in this managers eyes that that is going to be carried into any future interviews that may come along. More and more male managers are passing over qualified female applicants because they see what they percieve as bad behaviour from a few select women. Its interesting to see this attitude cropping up amoung the female management staff.
ReplyDeleteALready, some companies are trying to structure thier hiring and interview practices to weed out women that may take more advantage of these policies than others.
ITs all fun to watch from the outside