Hi Kelly
Thanks so much for helping me with this story. As I mentioned, it's
about how many women feel quite anxious about telling the boss they're
pregnant/taking maternity leave/ returning to work part-time. Despite
rigorous anti-discrimination laws, there still seems to be a fair bit
of (often subtle) prejudice, with pregnant women not feeling they are
treated the same way as before.
I am interested in talking to Melbourne and Sydney-based corporate and
professional women about their experiences. Ideally, they will be
named (and possibly photographed), but if they're still at their work,
or planning to return there, then obviously it will have to be
anonymous. My questions are:
1. Describe your experience of telling the boss you were pregnant -
how many weeks did you wait, what was the reaction initially, what's
it been like since? Do you think you're treated exactly as before?
Examples.
2. For those who have gone on maternity leave - how has that been re
the workplace, do they stay in touch, do you feel pressure to get back
quickly, do you feel like you've missed out on a promotion/training/
trip etc because you're not there? Examples.
3. For those who've returned from mat leave - have you changed your
hours, how is it different to before you had a baby, has the workplace
been supportive, do you feel like it's affected your career? Examples.
4. For those who are bosses - has being pregnant yourself changed your
attitude re how you react to staff telling you they're pregnant? Would
you hire a pregnant woman? Can you honestly say the prospect of
pregnancy has no influence on your hiring/promoting decisions?
5. For everyone - are you more nervous in the current economic
climate, feeling that your pregnancy/mat leave/part-time work puts you
in the firing line for redundancy?
I have to file by this Friday, March 6. I can be contacted on 0419 007
806 or
lschmidt@netspace.net.au.
Thanks Kelly.
Lucinda
