|
|
|
About MARIAL WORKING
MOMS STILL STRUGGLE Atlanta Journal-Constitution By Tammy Joyner - Staff "It's a real juggling act. You have to be very
adaptable," said the mother of three. But her schedule, she
said, "allows me the most time with my kids. Other jobs are
pretty structured." Lester may be among the lucky few in the vast ranks
of working mothers, based on the results of several studies out
this week, just in time for Mother's Day. The studies offer a glimpse of reality --- on and
off the job --- for working mothers and, more importantly, a reality
check for corporate America. Despite a greater push in recent years
for flex-time, time off and other work/family benefits, the studies
show that working women are toiling longer under rigid work schedules
(and irregular hours), juggling more personal matters and getting
paid less than male co-workers. Single mothers and minorities were the most penalized,
having little say-so in their work schedules, according to an Economic
Policy Institute study released Wednesday. "Although three-quarters of the mothers of school-age
children are now in the work force, most workplaces are doing a
poor job when it comes to enabling those mothers to meet the often
competing needs of work and family," the study said. Most disturbing were the disparities along racial
lines, said Vermont economist Elaine McCrate, author of the study.
"I have to do more work on this, but my hunch
is that employers have a fixed idea in their heads that blacks have
poor work ethics ... they just don't really trust them to have control
over their work lives." White men in professional or managerial jobs tended
to have the most freedom to decide when they arrive at and leave
work and when they take time off. Just as disturbing were the pay gaps, McCrate said.
Workers who had control over their work schedule earned nearly 17
percent more than those who had no control. Similarly, those who
had a choice over time off earned 9 percent more than those who
didn't. The problem boils down to the jobs, McCrate said.
"Women tend to be in jobs with little autonomy,"
she said. "Housekeepers, cashiers, clerical workers. These
are people who don't have control over their working lives."
The economic downturn is also taking a toll on working
women, according to the ''Ask a Working Woman'' survey by the AFL-CIO,
America's umbrella labor organization. A harsher economy has raised concerns among women
about retirement security, equal pay and equal opportunity. They
are less concerned about the so-called trendy issues in corporate
America, such as flex-time, continuing education, child care and
elder care, reports the survey of 20,000 working women. Creating a more realistic work life has crept back
into the spotlight in recent months with the recent departure from
the White House of top Bush aide Karen Hughes, who returned to Austin,
Texas, to spend more time with her family. President Bush's call
for marriage and 40-hour workweeks as the answer to ending welfare
have also sparked new conversations. So have recent magazine articles
asking, "Can women really have it all?" Wrong question, says Laurel
Parker West, a graduate fellow at Emory University's
Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life. All of
these events just feed ongoing "mommy wars," she said.
"It's interesting to me that work and family
issues are still seen as an either-or issue. It should be babies
and career and how [can companies] help families, not just babies
vs. career," Parker West said. "It's a huge challenge"
that can only be met with such remedies as affordable and accessible
day care and state-level child care tax credits, she said. Emory's MARIAL Center,
part of the nationally renowned Sloan Center of Working Families,
is holding a two-day conference on working families beginning today
. For Lester, an understanding boss and flexible work
hours have helped lessen the stress of an otherwise hectic job.
"I really have probably one of the best working
environments. A wonderful boss," she said. "They're very
understanding and very flexible. Unfortunately too many places aren't
like that. They're so rigid and willing to lose people. "If they would just meet moms halfway, they'd
have a more loyal, consistent and dedicated employee."
FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULES Findings from "Working Mothers in a Double Bind" comparing
groups of workers:
Source: Economic Policy Institute
< More MARIAL in the News |