SAD READING THAT MUMS STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION

RE Mums returning to work, but there’s still work to do ( GA, 9/7), I’ve read with interest, and sadness, the report on women returning to the workforce after maternity leave. It’s fantastic to see that numbers are up, however, the 77 per cent staying in the same role and 65 per cent return- ing to the same responsibilities, frankly shock me as our law clearly requires women return to the same role or that of similar responsibility.

It means a high number of women are still facing some sort of reduction to role or responsibilities that they wouldn’t have had they not had a baby.

It takes a huge toll on your confidence when you’re told that because you are a mother you are not capable of the work you did previously.

Many are pushed or managed out by inflexibility of employers, or simply find it too hard to juggle it all because of a lack of support.

We should be valued in our return to work, encouraged and nurtured. Instead there is so much pressure to “do it all” yet still the stigma of guilt surrounding us that we are neglecting our children because we’re working.

I truly believe this is why we’re seeing the rise of “mumpreneurs” in Australia.

Many women find the struggle all too real. In a bid to set their own hours, earn an income and have something for themselves (so we are not simply defined by motherhood), they are embarking into the world of business alone.

There are years of valuable experience to the workforce sitting at home because, in 2018, employers have still not worked out how to accommodate mothers, abide by the laws that are meant to be there to protect us and encourage our skills, ability and need to work. Annette McIntosh, East Geelong