What to do....

I've been slacking in recent days. I keep sitting down to write, but end up playing, reading and generally NOT getting it done.

I had a few topic ideas. I even had a couple of suggestions from my wife. I just haven't felt especially insipired though...

Now I'm sitting at work (on some downtime) typing away and I still don't really have a focus yet. Since the name of my blog is UN-Randomness, I can't just blather on, now can I?

So I'll pose a question to you. First, some background. I read an article in a newpaper that raised some interesting questions. (In my mind, at least.)
http://www.medindia.net/news/Career-Prospects-Adversely-Hit-by-Lengthy-Maternity-Leave-61608-1.htm

The gist of the article is that longer maternity leaves seem to damage a woman's career possibilites. Now, I know that maternity leave is a touchy subject to begin with and this revelation(?) cetainly adds to the discussion.

Is it fair that if a woman chooses to have kids that her career should be tainted? I know that one side will have you believe that it should be an either/or scenario. Either work, or have kids. "You can't have both." Then there's the "Why should I pay for you to go off and have kids?" (They're against the whole Mat Leave thing in general.)

Listen, most women (and couples, for that matter) understand that their lives will get tossed upsidedown when they decide to add kids to the mix. (At least I HOPE most people realize this.) But why should other people (Bosses, co-workers, law-makers...) get to make it even more difficult? Why should someone else get to decide what you can handle and be able to take-on? Everyone, whether at work or in life, should get the opportunity to succeed or fail. I certainly wouldn't be allowed to tell my wife that she can't go back to work. That I expect her to stay home with the kids, clean house, cook meals and look pretty while doing it. That's inappropriate in today's society. (Western culture society, anyways.)

So how do workplaces get afforded the ability to do it? How come a woman's boss gets to say, "Well, I know you're up for promotion/training or that you're interested in...(Fill in you're extra activity here), but you've got kids at home now. I can't let you do it"? What the...?

It happens because people let it happen. But what else can you do? Sue your boss? Yeah, you'll win, but at what cost? Who wants to work for the person/company that they just sued the pants off of? I can see it now..."OK. You win. We can't hold you back anymore. Here's 900hours of work to take home. Here's your "new" desk next to the toilet/janitor's closet. By the way, we're imposing a dress code on the entire office...(So that everyone hates you.)" It's a win/lose scenario. But why can't more companies just do the right thing off the top? Bad corporate policy? Bad management? Bad management "training"? (Have you seen some of these "courses" for managers? Brutal!)

Why can't the West, after 30+ years of trying, find the work/life balance? Is it truly a myth? Or can balance only come in certain careers?

Let me know what you think.

J