Brides Helping Brides ™ - Woman in the work force (edited: former title Shamma were you watching good day NY)

WithThisRing Posted: Apr 24, 2003 02:29 PM

Woman in the work force (edited: former title Shamma were you watching good day NY)

I am editing the title to make this a group discussion.

I was posting about women in the workforce and something I saw this morning on TV.

SonicStef and Shamma have brought up such wonderful points.

I figure we could all make this a group discussion and share our views and thoughts on this.

(Please no drama. I am posting this as a friendly conversation where we can all discuss our jobs if you are working, your company, is it woman and or mommy friendly, etc...)

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 02:43 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

I left before that segment came on, they are such tease with the good stuff, they tell you about it all morning and never brings it on by 7:30 I saw the coupon lady tho' Those companies have been on the list for years, the funny thing is, they make it seem as if every location that you work in for these companies off the same great perks.

WithThisRing Posted: Apr 24, 2003 02:46 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

That is true, they do tease about the good stuff.

It is definatly true about the companies and the perks. Not every location offers the same great perks

I am thinking the next time I go to barnes and noble i'll buy the book. It seems interesting.

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 02:50 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

What is the title and who is the author??? Please post it here. thanks

WithThisRing Posted: Apr 24, 2003 02:52 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Women for Hire: The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Job
Author: Tory Johnson, Robyn Freedman Spizman, Lindsey Pollak

Sonicstef Posted: Apr 24, 2003 02:57 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

There is a list called 'the best companies to work for' if you are a women and its pretty much BS b/c my old company was on it every year and there was nothing special about working there.

It all depends on your particular location as well as your particular department and your particular manager.

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 03:00 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Stef, I agree with you about the list, that is why if you go to these companies you ask them questions, just like they ask you questions.

WithThisRing Posted: Apr 24, 2003 03:00 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

I can agree on that. My old company was a great company but depending on the department or even the location is what made you either love your job or hate it. I hated my group, but their was another group that is in Arizona that is so wonderful.

I agree it definatly depends on location and department.

WithThisRing Posted: Apr 24, 2003 03:04 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

One of the questions I ask (which I got this off Monster.com boards) is 'what makes this company so great' 'what makes this group so great'

I usually get the same response of oh its the people you work with.

I will honestly say I worked for American Express and they treat their NY employees like dirt. I was in 3 different groups and each group was worse then the group prior. But their was a group in another state that was so nice and the people truely went above and beyond for you. The NY people all they care about is climbing up the ladder and not giving a rats @ss who they hurt along the way.

A woman I used to work with had a baby, had her 3 months maternity leave and wanted 1 more month off because of adjusting to going back to work and things with the baby. The company told her its impossible and if she choose to do it anyway her job wont be their when she comes back. She went to HR and fought this. It turned into a mess so she got up and quit. The aggrivation wasnt worth her mental health.

Sonicstef Posted: Apr 24, 2003 03:25 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

The reality right now is that its a buyers market when it comes to employement. Companies dont have to give you anything special because there is a line of unemployed people outside waiting to take your place. Just like you wouldnt pay the supermarket more than you have to for an apple, companies are not going to give you anything they dont have to for their employees. Sad but true.

When/if the market goes into another boom season, then we will see a change. Until then, we are stuck with whats available.

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 03:29 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Stef, its a shame that this is the mindset of these companies, b/c if a company wants to retain good employees they should show them that in good times and in bad times they still take care of you, it is a darn shame, but I guess its the reality in which we live.

Chippa, that's how company lose good women in the workforce, they don't make it an environment that is mommy friendly for these women to want to come back to, ie private pumping room, day care, flex time etc.

Sonicstef Posted: Apr 24, 2003 03:48 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Agree totally but not much we can do unless we open our own firms and change the standards.

IMO, just as bad as having anti-women workplaces are women who completely take advantage of women friendly perks giving the hardworking women a bad name. (i.e. like the women who call in sick once every two weeks citing 'female' trouble or the women who are constantly leaving early for 'child related' functions - which make some men think all women are like this.)

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 04:18 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

I know there are some of them out there that just want a day off and use their kids or AF as an excuse, yes it makes us look bad, but I wonder if that too makes these companies not want to make the place more mommy friendly, maybe they think we will be less productive. I guess they won't know unless they try

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 04:19 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Are there any women owned and run companies out there that are setting the standard??

Sonicstef Posted: Apr 24, 2003 04:24 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Women who own sucessful companies dont tend to be the types that work flex hours and stuff...they are totally into work and expect everyone else to be. Case in point - Martha Stewart is supposed to be one crazy beyotch to work for.

shamma Posted: Apr 24, 2003 04:27 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

I guess you are right, I guess its the same with the lawyers They are into their careers there is no thought of family in their agenda. See they know who to make have money. I guess I can still dream...nothing wrong with that

WithThisRing Posted: Apr 24, 2003 05:14 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Stef very very good point. Being unemployed and in the job market its the absolute truth. I cant tell you how low I've been going on my salary requirements. I am as low as I can possibly go and companies are offering me a lot less and I just cant take it. As much as I want a job, the salaries they are telling me how could I possibly live???

Companies know that their are so many people out of work and those who have been out for a long time and will take anything they get offered. Unfortunatly I will take anything, but I also want compensation for my experience. I feel like I am getting insulted when they make offers. I tell them look again at my background, I am sorry for the skills I have and can bring to the table I want to be compensated. And they tell me well we know people with the same skills and will take it.

I dont mean to be picky, but how can one live and plan a wedding on the salary they are offering???

karen32 Posted: Apr 24, 2003 05:26 PM

Re: Woman in the work force (edited: former title Shamma were you watching good day NY)

what a cool discussion. today is 'bring your child to work day' here and we were talking. (mind you - my firm is ALWAYS in the top companies for working mothers, i believe they have been in the top 10 for the past couple of years).

it is so hard - if you want to be a mommy, you essentially stop your career track. there are no such things as 'part-time' partners or even '9-5' parnters. it doesn't happen. all the female partners were partners before they became mommies (not likely for me since i'm already 30 and a good 5-6 years away from making partner).

you need to make some serious life decisions. for me, it's hard - i make about $35k more than FI does. for me to be a SAHM would be a major lifestyle change and i'm not even sure if financially it is possible. however, for me to stay here leaves me with little options: 1) have FI be a SAHD, or 2) halt my career track and try to cut back, but even that doesn't guarantee a 'normal' exit time.

one of the women in my group just had a child, she's due back anyday - working 3 days a week and HAS to leave by 5:30 to pick up her son at daycare. there are already bets going to see how long that lasts!!! since she's only working 3 days a week, she's only getting 60% of her pay - the firm is looking at her working 3 8 hour days as opposed to 5 8 hour days. HELLO - when was the last time I worked a 40 hour week??? Ummm, NEVER!!!! if we're not at least 50 hours a week billable, it's all over.

alrighty - i have vented enough!!

Sassyz75 Posted: Apr 24, 2003 05:27 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

Chipp-

I totally understand- but I am of firm believer that it is better to be making less (as long as more than unemployment) and working than nothing- shows that you stay in work market and your 'skills' stay fresh. I make $17k less in base salary a year then I did in 2002. Forget about commission- That's at least another $30-40k!!!! But what can you do? I have to make money some how- and I am making more than the $408 a week I was getting on unemployment. The situation totally blows- but I'd rather be paying into social security for my future. Every other job I see is paying just about the same- who knows if there are any jobs that are paying the way I was used to anymore.

alina Posted: Apr 24, 2003 05:27 PM

Re: Shamma were you watching good day NY this morning

I think the problem lies with the fact that you can't really make a company parent friendly without it costing the company $$$. For example, I do know of companies offering PT positions, but they are reserved for highly paid or temp. jobs, b/c supposedly the cost of FT benefits for the companies is huge and they have to offer FT benefit for everyone, including PT employees.

I hears somewhere that the annual headcount cost per employee is $100,000 or so, including the cost of the equipment and services and benefits...