gap hr services logo white
HR Services and Employment Law specialist: For Employers
Menu
gap hr services logo white
HR Services and Employment Law specialist: For Employers
Call Us: 01491 598 600 Email Us: cw@gaphr.co.uk

  • Home
  • Services
    • Architects HR
    • Golf HR
    • Hospitality HR
  • Quizzes
    • Quiz
    • Redundancy Quiz
    • Contract Quiz
    • Disciplinary Quiz
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Redundancy
    • Disciplinaries
    • FAQs
    • Contracts
    • Settlement Agreements
  • About us
    • HR Case Studies
  • Contact us

Pregnancy myths shattered with a rant.

Written by Carolyne Wahlen

I got an email from a business coach the other day, and halfway through it, I felt like I’d been slapped.

In the middle of a perfectly acceptable rant about poor service, the rant segued into saying how no business owner should ever employ a woman of childbearing age, as they “take a year off on maternity leave – again and again”!

Ignoring the gross over-simplification that all women always get pregnant, it was interesting that he thought pregnancy was the biggest thorn in an employer’s side.

We work at the “sharp end” with staff issues, and I can tell you straight away that it’s absolutely nonsense.

In fact, the reality is that 95% of the staff issues we deal with are to do with men over the age of 30.

Very occasionally we have had a “tricky” pregnancy situation to resolve (by occasionally, I mean two in the last 14 years!):

One was a lady who thought her company sick pay was going to go on forever, so took extreme amounts of non-pregnancy related sick leave.

The other was a lady who did go off on maternity leave and get pregnant again before she came back to work.

In that case it was annoying but as the maternity cover was brilliant, it wasn’t actually a problem.

Not according to this coach, who claimed that the real cost of maternity leave is “crippling” to small businesses and that the government need to “revisit the rules”.

We work with 115 small businesses and I can honestly say that none of them are crippled by maternity leave costs.

In fact, if your business ends up being crippled by maternity leave, you’re being negligent.

 You can claim back all the maternity leave you pay out at 103% if you are a small business, meaning that the government actually rewards you for being the conduit.

I would suggest that the costs of maternity leave are nothing compared to the cost of recruiting a sales person via an agency (thousands in fees) only for them to not deliver.

Or a greenkeeper on £30k who is refusing to work with his colleague because “he’s poisoning me”.

Or an employee who goes off long term sick, on full pay for 3 months, for “stress at work” because their new boss is not hanging on their every word.

Sure, you’ll need to find a replacement if one of your staff members go on maternity, but you usually get about 6 months’ notice to do so (unlike sick leave or resignation).

Sure, you have to pay them holiday, but surely that’s a given as an employer?

Plus, these are the ‘rules of the game’.  If you can’t keep to them, then maybe it’s better to find a game you’ll be better at?

Rant over!

If you know of a company that could do with our help, please let us know – we always reward referrals with chocolate! 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

golf hr book

Click here to download


ticks

Never worry about going to tribunal again!

BOOK NOW!

Do it, before it's too late!

carolyne wahlen

About Carolyne

Carolyne has run a successful business since 2003, is a well-respected speaker, and author of all things HR. There are many, many business owners across the country who have had their very stressful employee issues magically disappear because they’ve teamed up with Carolyne and Gap HR.

Why Gap HR?

We exist to help you stay legal, compliant and profitable, without shelling out for an in-house HR manager. Over 180 clients benefit from the experience and expertise of the Gap HR team.

 

Call us on 01491 598 600

Email me on cw@gaphr.co.uk

 

Click here to download

Ask a Question

  • If you are an employee and feel that you have been treated badly, then we strongly advise you to contact ACAS:

    Call the ACAS Helpline on 0300 123 1100 for free support and advice.

    Simply get in touch and they'll provide you with clear and confidential guidance about any kind of dispute or query that you have about relationship issues within the workplace.

    You may want to know about employment rights and rules, best practice or you may need advice about a dispute.

    Whatever it is, just give ACAS a call, their team are on hand to respond within the hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm and Saturday, 9am-1pm.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where our clients are:

View Gap clients in a full screen map

“We have been using Gap HR for several years now. Carolyne and her team are professional and efficient and we would not hesitate in recommending them for small businesses. It is a great relief to know we are supported by them for our HR advice and paperwork is kept up to date.”

Deb Green, Vermatech Pest Control

“I have been working with Carolyne and her team for 6 years now , when I first purchased 2Excel Logistics I found the HR scary as I wanted to do the right thing for my staff , with Gap HR on my side this all seemed easy and we have gone from 9 staff to 28 with no hassle what so ever , thank you to all at Gap HR”

Justin Wilkie, 2Excel Logistics

“So pleased to be working with Gap HR. They’ve straightened us out in no time. Their pricing is clear and they really know what they are talking about.”

Ashley Lewis, Wallingford Tiles and Bathrooms

“We are a growing company but do not have facilities in house yet for HR services in house. Gap HR is our go to service for all kinds of advice about HR for our business and we have found them very reliable, communicative and efficient. Would definitely recommend them”

Helen Gordon, Kitecreative

“Carolyne and team continue to provide great support to our business, with quick and accurate responses to help with our various HR needs.”

Gap HR Services Logo

“Gap HR have been at our side for a number of years now and are a great help in dealing with our HR needs”

Copyright © 2022 Name & Registered Office:

Gap HR Services Ltd.
Wallingford Road, Goring, Reading, RG8 0HN, UK
Phone: 01491 598 600

Company No. 08146299 | Contact us | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About this Website