‘Firms fear burden of hiring women of child-bearing age’

‘Firms fear burden of hiring women of child-bearing age’

Advocate Vicky Milner, whose firm Callington Chambers specialises in employment law, and Stuart Richford, partner at management consultants Catalyst, both told the 50-strong audience at the event this week that they knew of bosses who privately held such a view, although they would not publicly admit to it.

And Ms Milner used it as an example of why caution was needed when new employment legislation, including that relating to extending family-friendly policies, was considered because it could work to disincentivise employers from treating women equally.

‘If, for example, we decide as a society we want people to be able to share parental leave we need to look at where the financial burden is going to lie,’ she said.

‘We can’t put all the burden on employers. Business owners will say they don’t employ women of child-bearing age because of employment legislation.’

Ms Milner then called for a major research project to be carried out into what Islanders want for the future of Jersey’s society.

‘Some proper, open research would be a real investment in what we want our society to look like and how we might achieve it, rather than just saying we want more equality,’ she said.

The event, held at St Paul’s Centre, was organised by the Diversity and Change Forum, a group of men and women working in the change industry keen to promote diversity of all kinds within the profession. It was chaired by investment funds lawyer Sophie Reguengo.

Organiser Janet Hall opened the proceedings by saying that in the past four or five years there had been a ‘tail off’ of women applying for jobs in the change profession.

Deputy Louise Doublet, who is part of the Scrutiny Panel currently reviewing the question of whether Jersey has a gender pay gap, was also on the event panel.

She called for today’s women to act as role models for their peers and future generations across all sectors.

And the Deputy, a vocal proponent of family friendly rights, urged men to also act as role models when it comes to sharing the burdens of family life.

Ms Milner, meanwhile, said that that while more or less equal numbers of men and women train and begin careers in law, in the UK legal profession women account for one in three at partner level while in Jersey it is one in six.

She added that she knew of one large local law firm where of the 18 partners just one was a woman.

The Gender Pay Gap Review Panel is currently asking Islanders to contribute their thoughts, views and experiences by emailing scrutiny@gov.je or writing to The Scrutiny Office, Morier House, Halkett Place, St Helier, JE1 1DD.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –