Photo from Sarah Wilson Blog
The first time I heard about SPL is when my previous manager took me to an event in London Bridge in which David Bloomfield, Partner at Draper Lang LLP Solicitors, would discuss the pros and cons of this new legislation in which would come into effect April 2015 and how us - as employers, would need to prepare for such a change.
Sitting there in the front row with my notepad and pen scoffing the most scrumptious hand made sandwiches awaiting for the event to begin. As I sat there I listened closely to the group of HR professionals to my right; marketing their credentials and discussing their lives outside work in which consisted of having to collect their children from nursery, change diaper's and not being able to remember the last time they had sex with their husband who also works late and has not had a break since last summer.
Something dawned on me which was, what is the actual root, reason or benefit to such a new proposition? which, lets face it, would lead to 'a new way of life' for working parents. Does it benefit the parents more or the children? however I think Nick Clegg amongst his other governmental sayings, put it simply but precisely, "we need to challenge the old-fashioned assumption that women will always be the parent that stays at home". Well my only come back to that Mr Clegg without sounding like an old fart - why is the world, thanks to technology, trying to move away from every single old tradition? Now, don't get me wrong before I get trampled on by 21st century mothers, there are many pros and cons to such a change in which I recognise such as a shift towards more responsibility being shared, a chance for children to spend more time with their fathers, mum's to have more choices in life and to hold on to their independence but I suppose most importantly, to ensure there is not only equal opportunities for both women and men in the work place, but also within the family household. However that being said, could it lead to mothers wanting to return to work a lot sooner and spend less time at home? would you agree it is crucial for newborns to spend more time with their mothers in the beginning? Could it lead to mother's neglecting their children as they itch their way back into the workplace and become absorbed in their work? Maybe this is an evolution of the man being known as the 'wife' and the woman being seen as the 'breadwinner'?
Maybe there is no right or wrong answer to this and maybe, despite the downfalls especially concerning pay, it could actually lead to something good.
