Parenthood and the Workplace

If you were recruiting someone for your company, who would you prefer; someone with children, or without? Or would you not mind? Instead, would you be focused on their skills and experience? Or maybe you’d be worrying that a parent would need more flexibility for the school-run. Or perhaps that a non-parent may turn up late due to too many late nights out, free of responsibility. Whilst it is unlawful to discriminate against someone for having children, I do wonder if there is an unconscious bias amongst us which makes us think that people with without children are more able to get the job done.

It is an incredible shame that women feel the need to hide their marital status or the fact that they have a family when applying for new roles. Whilst it is illegal for employers to discriminate on such grounds, I question how much unconscious bias takes place during the recruitment process. On the other hand, I also wonder whether women who have taken such actions to hide their marital or family status would have been offered employment regardless.

What remains clear is that the fear of prejudice experienced by women is real and is a fear that highlights the need for changes in the attitudes and beliefs within the modern workplace. These changes may not necessarily take place from the top-down, which means that it’s up to everyone, no matter their seniority level, to take action. Talk to your colleagues, your boss, even your neighbours. And don’t put it off. If not now, when?

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