How Does Woking View Steve Hilton's Strategy on Maternity Rights?
David Cameron adviser Steve Hilton proposes to scrap maternity rights and consumer protection legislation in a bid to save money- anyone got any views on that?
I asked people this question on facebook and these are the responses I got from people living in Woking:
Leanne: Every woman is entitled to have children and have the right to continue working when they have had time with their child! What do we pay tax for.... Maternity pay is terrible as it is!!!!! I'd like to spk to him face to face! Stupid man!
Madeline:I agree but small business can not afford the current system which may result in discrimination at the point of recruitment. Also people on mat leave tend to be untouchable when it comes to redundancies which is unfair to other workers. I reckon mat leave should be shorter but better paid, at least then we would all know where we stand. Or how about a cash settlement if they are not returning/ a retainer if they are...the hard bit is knowing if people REALLY intend to return to work afterwards.
Leanne:Business don't pay SMP, its all claimed back through they government. And women are only entitled to it if they have paid enough tax and worked long enough anyway so I think that's very fair. We should get something back from the tax we pay. Companies shouldn't make it so hard for mums to return to work and then maybe more would... I went back after my mat leave and that was hard enough due to childcare, which u don't get any help with which is also down to our government. And why not still acrue holiday whilst on mat leave, we r still classed as working, just taking time out for a while, and not take away the one good right we have which is being able to have our children and a career!
So, what do you think? an illegal step back in rights for families, failing to recognise the needs of families in the economic climate and a false saving or a well thought through plan?