[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I'm not understanding this? men have the option as women do to give up work or go part-time upon having a child?

The paternity leave thing is a ****ing disgrace. I actually thought that had been changed now so that either than mother or the father could take the parental leave?

Well if women are mainly spending less time in work due to maternity then they take a pay cut for part of that time plus miss opportunities for promotion etc due to less time in work plus in commission based jobs they're missing out on alot of money.According to the statistics of what age this pay gap begins it is generally when women become mothers so it's undoubtedly having an effect.Men are'nt taking that time off work.Motherhood seems to effect womens careers in high paid jobs.If men were taking that time off in equal numbers then this gap would close massively.
Also don't forget that many women choose to become stay at home mums for 10,15,16 years.That is a massive loss of earnings.There's nothing wrong with that btw but women or men can't have everything.It's impossible for either sex to be a stay at home parent and have a lifelong career.

Not sure on paternity pay these days.