Maternity Leave Around The World

Maternity Leave Around The World If youre a working mom in America, youve probably learned that maternity leave in this country largely sucks. Therbeies no federal law requiring employers to offer new parents paid time off, which means many employees have to sacrifice a paycheck in order to spend a substantial amount of time with their new child before returning to work.Moreover, many moms say they feel working mom guilt about taking leave and worry that when theydogo back to their office, theyll be mommy tracked or judged differently.Its elend like this everywhere, though. Weve spoken to women around the world to get a sense of how their maternity leave experiences compare to what weve heard from our friends in the U.S.Heres what we learnedNorwayCecilie L., who hails from Norway and has two kids, tells us thatNorway is a pioneer in this field, and it amazes me that the U.S. is so backwards when it comes to womens human rights in the workspace and maternity leave. In Norway, it is ex pected that women go back to work after maternity leave -- therefore it is facilitated by the government for women to go back to work without any trouble.If only the U.S. could be so practicalIn Norway, we get 100% pay for 40 weeks maternity leave and 80% for 52 weeks. Dads have to take their 12 weeks of paternity leave, or the parents lose this opportunity. Most dads take it, Cecilie says. There are also special facilities, rules and opportunities for single women with children. Ergo women need to go back into the work field, since we need everyone for a country to functionHow do they make it work in Norway? Kindergarten is available to all children age 9 months and older, although most begin when theyre a year old. Kindergartens in Norway all have governmental oversight and have to follow the same professional syllabus, says Cecilie. All personnel have to be specially trained educators. We believe that putting our children in kindergartens will make them good citizens and prepare them for life and school. It is a wonderful place for kids -- they all love it All kindergartens are open from 730 a.m. - 1730 530 p.m.. Kids can be there for up to 8 hours.Cecilie also points out that to better include fathers in the caretaking of kids, they tend to refer to these issues as family politics rather than womens politics. This works really well here, she says. Photo PixabayThe U.K.The UK has a Statutory Maternity Leave policy that allows eligible employees to take 52 weeks maternity leave expecting mothers can begin the leave 11 weeks before their due date. Employees are required to take at least two weeks off after the birth of their baby.Nancy C., who had both her sons in London while working for the Financial Times, tells us, I welches grateful to my employer and to the UK for giving me time to be home with the boys. It would have been incredibly difficult to cope with work had I needed to return 8 or 12 weeks into leave, which is the standard in the US. I am in awe of so many of my American friends who had to do it it is a physical, emotional and all-around labor-intensive time for parents during the first year of a childs life.At least at the Financial Times and among my peer set, it was the norm to take some number of months, she says. I didnt feel judged one way or the other. The UK also has Statutory Maternity Pay, which offers eligible employees some amount of payment for up to 39 weeks. Nancy says that some companies, like Pearson (which owned the Financial Times while she worked and had kids there), try to improve upon the basics offered by the government.For example, she says, with my older son I received full pay for 20 weeks, then Statutory Maternity Pay for 19 weeks, then was unpaid for the last 13 weeks. They also offered up to 10 Keeping In Touch days, which you could use during the last parte of leave - essentially it was a way to meet with colleagues/supervisors and catch up on what was going on and these days were paid. Furthe r, vacation accrued while on leave so I was able to reduce the number of unpaid days using vacation time.She adds that shes not koranvers what the norm is in the UK in terms of how many women choose to take a full year off vs. not women who come back after 6 months are offered the same job, while after 6 months they should be offered a comparable job, though not necessarily the same one they had.I cant generalize how all women make the decision about how much leave to take, says Nancy, but the way my husband and I thought about it was in financial terms - can we afford to be without a full, second salary for roughly 6 months? Taking the time to be with them as babies was something we both wanted me to do - it was whether we could do it financially. We determined we could.When Nancy returned to work, she came back 4 days a week for a period of time before going back to 5 days a week. She says this is not uncommon.Photo PixabayHong KongTracy Y., whos from America but was working in Ho ng Kong when she had a baby, tells us that in Hong Kong, women are required to leave work and begin maternity leave two weeks before their due date. Most companies offer a ten-week maternity leave.For those mothers who deliver two weeks past their estimated due date, this results in a truncated maternity leave. Tradition in the Chinese and Cantonese cultures is to sit the month after childbirth, staying inside, eating certain foods, and recovering privately - and a semblance of the tradition stays, she says. My husband and I surprised many locals by hiking with our two-week-old.Tracy adds that theres a strong support and service economy in Hong Kong to the tune of affordable live-in helpers and apartments with domestic help quarters abutting the kitchen. The helper structure allows for local mothers to populate the work force and return to work, while their children are cared for, laundry is done, and dinner is cooked, Tracy explains.She adds, Local mothers in Hong Kong have a stron g preference for formula. As an American Expat, I often visited the luxury hotel bathrooms in central Hong Kong to nurse my baby.Photo PixabayAustraliaMelita L., who worked at a relatively small private company in Sydney when she had kids, tells us her maternity leave experience in Australia was pretty positive in general, but that it was tough financially. She adds that womens experiences depend on the organization they work for and their standing in that organization. Melita took maternity leave for the first time 15 years ago and then again 12 years ago. There was no option for me at the time other than to take unpaid leave with the organization I worked for. There was no paid maternity option or benefit offered at that time. So it was pretty tough financially, as we had to live off my husbands wage, she tells us.There was no pressure on me to return to work early my employer completely supported me taking 12 months off (the maximum amount you can take in Australia). Nowadays, th ere are options for 6 months at half pay, or less. We also have some paternity leave in our leave allowances that we get outside of our normal annual 4 weeks leave.Melita also tells us that daycare in Australia is incredibly expensive. When I had my second child and went on another 12 months unpaid maternity leave, I took my daughter out of daycare. Its also difficult to return to work part time if you need daycare, as the costs for daycare almost eat all of your wages, so its a real juggling act and how people deal with it really depends on their debt at the time, and how much they get paid.Photo PixabayFranceIngrid P. works at an e-tourism company and tells us that maternity leave in France is well accepted and organized, especially if you work at a big company. Women can take 4 months off without taking a pay cut. She explains that generally, women leave work 6 weeks before their due date and are expected to return 10 weeks after their baby is born. The conditions are the same in all office jobs and for women working in shops. But that might be different in some specific industries / economic fields.She adds that while the 4 months is a basic rule, if your pregnancy is even minorly complicated, your doctor might grant you with a two-week bonus. This is called a cong pathologique, Ingrid says, and it allows you to keep your salary for an additional two weeks. If you need mora time due to health problems, she says its treated as a classical cong maladie, for which you have the same rights than anyone whos sick.If you want to spend more time with your kid, you can add some of your vacation time -- which you keep earning while youre on leave -- at the end of your leave. Some women negotiate 1 month of cong maladie with their doctor because they are too exhausted to get back to work, she says.Women are allowed to take additional unpaid time off in 6-month sessions that they officially renew with their employer. They can also negotiate for part-time or flexible s chedules when they return to work. Its not rare to see moms going back to work only 4 days a week, Ingird says. Ingrid, whos in her early 30s, says that when her parents had kids, it was common for women in France to stay home for a few years after maternity leave. I think the situation was reversed (at least in big cities) in the past years, and it was seen as being a modern mum to go back to work ASAP after maternity leave, Ingrid explains. But I feel pressure has been reduced, and you really have a choice its about you and what you want -- as long as your company is OK with it, of course.She clarifies that companies cant force women one way or another, but I still hear sometimes that women fear for their job by leaving for too long. Meaning that even though they will still have a job when back, they fear losing their team and responsibility.She says she personally had a positive experience in part because she has a great boss who made it easy. Ingrid was encouraged to reduce her time in the office to avoid exhaustion and she took six months off overall.--If your country isnt represented in this article and youd like to fill us in on your maternity leave experience, email samantha.samelfairygodboss.com.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

Whos Concerned About Logistics Resume and Why You Should Listen to Them

Whos Concerned About Logistics Resume and Why You Should Listen to Them Logistics preparedness is a critical part of any disaster reduction effort. Logistics preparedness has to be based on the vulnerability and resource assessment. The organization was aware of an issue with a single candidate. In the vorstellung that you or someone else you know is attempting to obtain an organization job, afterward our set of govt Resume Templates wouldbe a lot more appropriate. Anyone can get a security guard job. Some stability guard jobs require you have some form of instruction which could be enough to help you in receiving the foot at your doorway. Top Choices of Logistics Resume With any task accessible, a logistics manager should examine what resources the provider already has, what they will want to attain their targets. Marc Grandmaison Operations Director Marc is a very experienced, skilled, and talented hospitality professional that has been in the business for over 20 decad es. Ensuring you have a resume that showcases your abilities and experience is the initial step. When youre an executive, or any time youre aspiring to be an executive, you will need to compose a resume that makes you stand out. Therefore, logistics managers have lots of responsibilities on their plate. Men and women who are employed in the area of logistics coordinate the transportation, distribution, and purchase of goods and services for a number of business environments. After the first contracts are set up, you need to monitor your suppliers to make certain they are keeping up with the present demand. There are lots of logistics involved with constructing new houses. How to Get Started with Logistics Resume? Hiring managers prefer the reverse chronological format because its more organized and simple to follow. By studying the above mentioned information from the recruiter about the vacant logistics position, you are going to learn a fantastic deal about the job and t he sort of candidate the recruiter really wishes to hire for the function. A brilliant Resume is crucial together using all of the help of pros, especially in case you ought to be somewhat more healthy. Logistics Resume - Overview Also, when you have a resume without experience, now youve got some Therefore, youll want to draw attention to any previous managerial experience and high-level organizational skills. When youre looking for a new job, it will help to have a couple tricks up your sleeve. With the work ad at your side, youve got all you want to compose the ideal supply chain skills section. Each business and profession has specific key terms. Communication You have to be in a position to communicate with vendors and employees at every step of the procedure. Finally, you ought bedrngnis fret too much, as its expected that entry level resumes are likely to be a little lighter. Include any critical certifications or industry awards you might have received. The 30-S econd Trick for Logistics Resume Logistics is a wide field. A logistics manager accounts for handling the businesss physical resources. The logistics manager is only going to scan your resume for 6 seconds, the very first time around. A logistics manager just like you must be in a position to make sound decisions and do it FAST.

Top How to List Awards on Resume Tips!

Top How to List Awards on Resume Tips The Debate Over How to List Awards on Resume Its also beneficial in the event the correspondence is written by somebody whos known the defendant for some moment. In summary, the letter has to be well-thought and carefully composed. Therefore, its vital to comprehend how to compose an official letter efficiently. Composing an appropriate letter of absence addressed for your boss becomes much easier in the event that you have a leave letter template that you can refer to. You might also want to say only a couple of words about the organization that presented the awards, if this info isnt obvious. The fruchtwein important reason behind composing a consent letter is to locate somebodys acceptance for some task you must undertake. From time to time, the expression consent letter may also be used to symbolize a letter thats being written to permit somebody permission to carry out a pspeciesicular job, by means of example, picking a field excurs ion. The One Thing to Do for How to List Awards on Resume Any normal activity that doesnt include things like attainment of an award, scholarship, or other means of recognition shouldnt be listed as an accomplishment because your capacity to be extraordinary has not yet been measured by means of an organization. If you own a group of awards from an expert organization you belong to, then you are going to want to keep the expert lingo to a minimum. You just need to list accomplishments that pertain to the kind of work youre applying for. Dont hold back in the event you have various awards in a specific area or youve achieved something special in a previously-held position just like the vacancy. Evidently, if youre asking for a position in the computer technology field, you wouldnt list skills like underwater basket weaving or gardening. For those who have plenty of work experience, its wise to incorporate any skilled awards on your resume to underline the fact your work was recognized for its excellence in a particular field. You may add the overview of technical skills in your CV to present clear idea about your present skills. Writing a resume to find employment in the art market can be difficult. Have a look at the subsequent guide to learn where awards should go on a resume and the way to include them so they can positively influence your candidacy. You should have three or more awards or honors to justify developing a distinctive section to showcase them, but you could always add a single award or honor to a different section of your resume. An Honors and Awards section is only the means to do that. The honors and awards section isnt a necessity and should only be added in case you have enough specific honors or awards that are related to you and the job you are now seeking. Your objective is to truly feel comfortable resume that you answer smoothly as soon as the time comes. If youre a student or a recent graduate attempting to seek out work, you might not have a good deal of experience to list on your resume. Begin communicating with the individuals who can assist you in getting the job. If you arent a student and have more relevant work experience, you wont be trying hard to fill space and it might be more beneficial to concentrate on other regions of your resume. The more tangible results you may list, the more your salesperson resume will shine. If youre looking for a reversal of employment or just beginning in the workforce, typically, youll need to understand the way to make a resume. In case you have any queries, please dont hesitate to call me on the aforementioned telephone number. The How to List Awards on Resume Pitfall You also wish to include things like some of the main responsibilities you held at each job. Real Estate Administrative Assistant Resume Objective Inside the true estate business, administrative assistants are necessary to maintaining equilibrium at the office. They should be in a position to manage a number of jobs simultaneously and should be adept in commonly used office equipment and software. Ascertain the job which you want. Equally can let you find exceptional but merely one can enable you to land do the job. Before youre ready to find the job youd like, youve got to restrict your preferred organization. How to describe administrative expertise to get any job you would really like. The New Fuss About How to List Awards on Resume Utilizing an online resume builder is an easy and efficient direction of writing a winning resume which will get you through the interview stage. Once you discover yourself carried out locating the trial samples, its time and energy to help to make your own. Because most resumes feed a good deal of information to the reader its great practice to use a normal font so the resume is simple for the reader to absorb. Since you may see, there are lots of professional formats that display the required information in a very c lear and engaging way.

How to Get Sales Appointments

How to Get Sales AppointmentsHow to Get Sales AppointmentsPossibly the most common rookie salesperson mistake is trying to sell their product during the initialcold call. When you plattl up the phone and start cold calling, or walk into a neighborhood and start knocking on doors, the goal should be to get an appointment with the decision maker. Once youre at the actual appointment, you can start pitching the product... but in your first contact with your prospects, the only thing you should be pitching is an appointment at which you can do the real selling. Should you run into the rare situation where you happen to call a cold lead whos willing to buy on the spot, then congratulations For everyone else, try using the below approach. Do Your Research The mora information you have about the person youre calling, the more likely you are to close them on an appointment. Sometimes all you have to go on is a name and phone number. In that case, remember that Google is your friend. Soc ial media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn can also be great resources. You can even check with your network contacts to see if you know anyone who knows the prospect. Craft an Opener Once your prospect answers the phone, youve got about 10-20 seconds to catch their interest. Most people go into automatic rejection mode as soon as they realize youre trying to sell them something. If you can create an opener that surprises or intrigues them enough, you can break through that rejection filter and get them interested enough to agree to an appointment or at least hear you out. Pick a Benefit It is where your research pays off. The more information you have about the prospect, the better you can match your pitch to their needs. Pick whatever benefit you think will most interest your prospect and give a one or two sentence explanation of how your product provides that benefit. For example, if you have a list of leads whove suffered from identity theft, you might say, Our bill mana gement system gives you peace of mind. It protects you by securely managing your financial information and keeps you safe from identity theft. Assume the Appointment Heres where you close them on the appointment. There are varying schools of thought on how to close a cold call. Some experts say to give a choice of times Do you prefer to meet on Tuesday at 10 or Wednesday at 2? Others say to pick one specific time I can meet with you Monday at 1130. Does that work for you? Experiment and see which works best for you. If the prospect says no, you can then name another date and time rather than assuming hes turning you down entirely. Dont Give Up Many prospects will refuse to meet with you. Dont take this attitude to heart, as it could have nothing to do with you (for all you know, that person may just be having a really bad day or maybe in a hurry to get to an important meeting). Move the prospects name to another list and try them again in a few days or weeks, using a differe nt approach. Most sales experts say that you should keep trying until the prospect says no three times.

Could the Muppets Lead You To Your Next Job

Could the Muppets Lead You To Your Next JobCould the Muppets Lead You To Your Next JobAfter a long absence, the Muppets are soon to return to primetime television on ABC. The Muppets are, of course, the lovable gang of puppets with a sense of humor and gift for inspiration. While theyve had their ups and downs, theyve stuck around pop culture for 40-plus years. Their staying power suggests we all could learn something from them in our careers and otherwise. With that in mind, here are a few jobs perfect for Muppets.Dr. Bunsen Honeydew DoctorOn The Muppets hes some sort of mad scientist. But here in the real world he probably finds success in the healthcare industry. Continually the No. 1 hiring industry across the U.S., healthcare jobs offer competitive salaries and a chance to really make a difference.Swedish Chef ChefThis may seem a little obvious. Swedish Chef is a chef. Of course. But the available opportunities out there would definitely encourage him to stay in his current fiel d. Chefs are in demand and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, chef and restaurant jobs will grow for the foreseeable future, although at a somewhat slower pace than some other industries.Kermit the Frog CEOKermit has always been the leader of The Muppets. Hes a brave risk-taker who inspires the people around him to do their best. If there was a job for Kermit to snag here in the real world it has to be CEO. Seriously what business wouldnt want a level-headed frog like Kermit running the show?Statler and Waldorf Web Critic, BloggerThe old angry guys in the balcony. Are they everyones favorite Muppets? Theyre probably mine. Sarcastic, opinionated and hilarious, they might be curmudgeons, but theyre always there supporting the Muppet Show one way or another. If these two who never have anything nice to say had to work for a living theyd look no further than the Internet for the perfect job. They are ideal critics, whether on a website or their own blog. Although the field i snt growing exceptionally fast today, there are expected to be mora new jobs in online content creation.Scooter Event PlannerOn the Muppet Show Scooter is probably the most indispensable,forever backstage with clipboard in hand making sure the show runs smoothly. If Scooter needed a job hed be a great fit for event planning. Whether for an organization planning conferences or doing weddings and bar mitzvahs, Scooters ability to multitask is a perfect for the job. Also, good news for Scooter, event planning will continue to grow at a quick pace in the next 5 years.

Are you a job hopper Heres how to be good at it.

Are you a job hopper Heres how to be good at it.Are you a job hopper Heres how to be good at it.Changing jobs can improve your career. Heres how to do it right. Most employers strongly value loyalty in their workers, but that trait doesnt always pay off for the employees themselves. Staying with one company for an extended period of time might keep the boss smiling, but it could result in various kinds of stagnation for the employee. Besides the potential for professional boredom, theres also the danger of missing out on growth - both in terms of salary and responsibility - that could come from moving on.Whether youre a seasoned job-hopper or youre simply thinking about becoming more mobile in your career, there are a few important things to keep in mind so you dont come off as unreliable to potential employers. Keep ansicht things in mind to make job-hopping work for you.Dont Over-Hop.So weve established that job-hopping isnt necessarily negative. But theres still the danger of ov er-hopping. If youre switching jobs every few months, most recruiters will assume that you cant or wont stick around when the going gets tough. Its a good idea to stay at each job for at least two years to show that you are willing and able to commit a respectable amount of time to each position.Explain Yourself.Theres a good chance that recruiters will have some questions about shorter stints on your resume. Why did you only stay there for six months? Whyd you switch to that job? Its critical that you be prepared with an answer that will put their doubts about your suitability to rest. Stay positive when you talk about past employers - even if it was a nightmare experience - and explain your reasoning honestly and concisely. And concisely is key here an overly detailed explanation may come off as too defensive. Keep it short and sweet.Stay on a Steady Track.If your resume seems too scattered, potential employers may question your commitment to your career. If youve worked jobs in various unrelated fields or youve moved up, down, and back up again between levels, you wont come off as a worker with a clear sense of what you want. If, for whatever reason, you have jumped around in a questionable way, be prepared to explain why. For instance, you may have wanted to strengthen your skills in a particular area in order to further your career down the road, or you felt that understanding a parallel industry would make you stronger in your field.Dont Burn Bridges.When youre moving between various companies in the same field, its imperative that you maintain healthy relationships with past employers and colleagues. You will run into these people at some point or another, and you may even need their help in the future, whether through a reference or even consideration for a new position in a company where youve worked before. Give plenty of notice when you leave a company, keep things civil, and stay in touch. Past employers are an integral part of your professional network, so treat them as such.Whether you feel the itch after nine months, two years, or 20, only you can decide when its time to move on. Just be sure that your reasoning is sound enough that you can back up your decision when youre interviewing for future jobs.

Heres What Happened When I Stood Up to My Office Bully

Heres What Happened When I Stood Up to My Office BullyHeres What Happened When I Stood Up to My Office BullyWe all have memories of school bullies wed like to leave behind. But bullying doesnt end after graduation- in fact, its common in the workplace.According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, bullying is actually fur times mora common than sexual harassment in the workplace. Its also an issue that affects both women and men.The thing about it is that its not easy to spot, especially given our cultural norms. For example, when I received a series of passive-aggressive emails, I initially brushed them off because I welches told the sender welches difficult. At the time, I didnt recognize these messages were inappropriate.Too often women ignore or dismiss belittling behavior in the office. As women, were conditioned to be nice, to not make waves, to submit to authority. The tide is turning, however. With the rise of the MeToo movement and TimesUp campaign, women across the U.S. (an d the world) are speaking up about sexual harassment- and putting an end to it.We can speak out to stop bullying, too. Thats why Im sharing my story.The Starting PointWhen I experienced workplace bullying, I was starting a new job- one that required me to work directly with this colleague. Lets call him D. We werent in the same department, but D played a key role in the projects I managed. He was 20 years my senior I was in my twenties. His work was often late, which made my work late, too. This became a problem, so I started trying to hold D accountable for deadlines.Thats when the bullying began.Rather than own up to his tardiness, D belittled me via email. Once, he said hed told my office friend that it was a big mistake Id taken this job. Other times, hed find a way to twist a situation and blame me for his lateness. Most of the time, he was just rude, dealing out backhanded compliments with practiced ease. Communicating with him made me anxious. My confidence plummeted. I start ed thinking maybe what he told my friend was right- maybe I wasnt cut out for this position. Ds words had me wrapped up in a major case of imposter syndrome.The strangest thing of all? The harassment only happened over email. We rarely saw each other since we worked in different departments.Blame it on socialization or inexperience (or both), but I couldnt say for sure what was going on. I knew in my gut that something was wrong, and I dreaded our interactions. I think I endured Ds bad behavior for so long because Id come to believe some of the hurtful, condescending comments he made. Hed been actively intimidating me- and it had been working- but I was too naive to see it.How I Stood Up to HimOne day, I got an email from D that really made me mad. I went to my supervisor and told her everything. Then I asked for help. Youre not going to like this answer, she said. The only way to stop this is for you to confront him. Youve got to call him out. Surely Id misheard her. I figured shed step in or send me to HR. Instead, she wanted me to talk to him. I told her I couldnt confront him- it made me too uncomfortable. I sat at my desk, palms sweating, and thought. I thought through what I needed to say, how I would say it, and before I could back out, I picked up the phone and dialed Ds number. When my co-worker answered, he seemed startled. D, this has to stop, I said. Your emails are disrespectful and unprofessional. You cant speak to me that way.OK, he stammered. OK, I said abruptly. Then I hung up the phone. My hands were shaking, adrenaline pumping. I felt stunned. The person who spoke on the phone sounded strong, confident, and calm- nothing like the disorganized, in-over-her-head woman D made me out to be. I wasnt sure what the outcome of our conversation would be, but I was sure of one thing Id summoned the courage to confront my bully and in doing so, I rediscovered my voice.What Happened NextThe bullying stopped. The emails became polite. My working relation ship with D improved. Work became pleasant again, and I began to thrive. I thanked my boss for pushing me to be courageous and to take a stand for myself. The experience was a turning point in my career. After I spoke up to D, I wanted to speak up more. I became more assertive and engaged in meetings and conversations. My confidence grew and I embraced my new role.If you think youre being bullied at work, I urge you to take action. Start by talking with your supervisor or someone you can trust outside of the office. Document evidence of bullying for your records. Identify whats hurtful to you and how youd like to move forward. The next time an incident occurs, confront your bully immediately. If the bullying continues after that, its time to talk to HR. If your discomfort confronting the person goes beyond not wanting to have hard conversations and goes into I feel unsafe doing this, definitely go to HR. You should never feel like youre in danger at the office.My biggest takeaway? T heres nothing more powerful than standing up for yourself and summoning your voice.This article was originally published on Career Contessa. It has been republished here with permission.