I have always believed that it is important to support new mothers, but Kemi Badenoch's comments on maternity pay are worrying. As a small business owner myself, I have felt the strain of having to cope with regulations. I had to let go of a very important employee last year for lack of funds to keep her position open during maternity.
"Has maternity pay gone too far?" echoes with a real ringing.
While I completely want to support my employees, it really takes a toll on small businesses financially. I have seen friends shut down shop because they cannot withstand that kind of stress.
That said- there is no going back to where maternity pay was not a concern. That would be a massive step back for women's rights and family support. In fact, I remember my mom telling me she had to go back to work a few weeks after she gave birth to me because they couldn't afford for her to stay home.
What we need is a balanced approach.
Maybe we could explore mechanisms to alleviate the burden on businesses while at the same time supplying fundamental support for new mothers. Tax lending for companies giving good maternity benefits could be the start.
Also, I worry about how this is going to affect birth rates. If women feel they cannot possibly afford to have babies with all the support now available, we really might see a further decline in population growth.
Badenoch's remarks have shed light on a very important conversation.
While I disagree with much of what she has to say, it would be nice for us to have a serious look at how we can better support both businesses and new parents. This is a complex issue that needs addressing for the future of our society and economy.