Propaganda of the Equal Opportunities Service – daily news for Kaunians

The Equal Opportunities Office issued the following press release on the occasion of Mother’s Day (celebrated on the first Sunday of May).

“May 5 Mother’s Day is celebrated in Lithuania. In Lithuania, where 80 percent work. The juxtaposition of women, work and motherhood is nothing new. On the other hand, women still face harmful stereotypes in the workplace and a greater burden of housework at home. How employers can help solve these problems and take care of the greater well-being of both mothers and fathers, as well as their offspring, are told by experts in equal opportunities and personnel management.

A work environment that ensures equal opportunities for working parents is important for several reasons, says Marius Morkevičius, Adviser of the Discrimination Prevention and Communication Group of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Controller.

“When working in such an environment, the tension that often arises, how to balance workloads and personal life challenges, practically disappears or is reduced to a minimum. In such an environment, employees, regardless of gender or marital status, can use their potential and creativity, increase productivity, improve, and reach career heights. It is also directly related to greater loyalty to one’s workplace, and more importantly, better mental health,” says M. Morkevičius.

Unfortunately, according to M. Morkevičius, many working women still experience difficulties balancing work and family.

“For example, a survey commissioned by us a few years ago showed that even 65 percent women feel constant guilt, tension, stress, self-loathing, combining professional and family obligations. There are reasons for this. According to the research of the latest European Gender Equality Index, 65% of Lithuanians spend daily time on housework and cooking. women and only 29 percent. men”, says the expert.

Compared to 2016, the involvement of men in the care of children and other relatives in the country not only did not increase, but also fell, says M. Morkevičius, and the average income of men is still almost 14 percent. larger than women.

It is important to take multifaceted measures

M. Morkevičius says that employers can contribute to a positive change by creating a work culture that does not support gender stereotypes.

“In other words, they can promote awareness that both moms and dads and their needs can be different.” Foster a respectful environment, support initiatives that involve fathers in parental leave. Also, pay attention to gender equality topics: reducing the wage gap, preventing sexual violence,” says the expert.

According to M. Morkevičius, extremely effective measures to ensure the inclusion of working parents and equal opportunities for quality work can be a flexible work schedule, additional days off and financial incentives for raising children.

“It is also useful to advise team members before and after career breaks, to promote non-formal education of employees’ children and various benefits for family leisure and education. An increasingly popular initiative in companies and institutions – child care or breastfeeding rooms, kindergartens, children’s camps during school holidays. Most parents really need such an opportunity, because it reduces the stress of rushing to pick up their children at an educational institution after work,” says M. Morkevičius.

Has a special “Happy Parents” program

Sandra Daukšienė, head of people and culture at Philip Morris Baltic, says that ensuring a favorable environment for working parents is an investment in the long-term success of the organization and fostering an inclusive culture.

“We have combined all our measures for working parents into the “Happy Parents” program. We aim to ensure equal opportunities both for employees with children and for gender in general. Through various means, we help to successfully combine work with family needs, maintain contact with employees during childcare leave, reduce financial and career inequality, promote open communication and mutual assistance in the team,” says S. Daukšienė.

Employees of “Philip Morris Baltic” and “Philip Morris Lietuva” operating in Lithuania after paternity leave can work half-time for the first month, but receive full salary. In addition, working parents are helped by remote work opportunities provided by the company, flexible working hours and recommendations to avoid scheduling meetings at certain times of the day. Also, for the first months of parental leave, employees of Philip Morris companies are compensated for the difference between their former salary and the benefit received by the state.

“Also, during parental leave, our employees are reached by internal company communications and remain involved in the talent and compensation review processes.” This helps to protect employees from the so-called “motherhood penalty”, when parents who have returned from childcare leave receive less remuneration than former employees or lag behind in climbing the career ladder”, says S. Daukšienė.

She continues that it is very important to take care of the comfort of the employees who are expecting a child. As a result, at Philip Morris companies, they and their teams and managers are encouraged to communicate openly to find the optimal workload or schedule.

“Of course, the employer must take care that all employees – whether they have children or not – are evaluated objectively in the company, based only on their professional activities. As a result, we constantly educate managers and employees on how to recognize stereotypes in our thinking and decision-making process and eliminate them,” emphasizes S. Daukšienė.

Cases of discrimination in the Lithuanian labor market

According to M. Morkevičius, one of the topics that people consult with the Office of the Equal Opportunities Controller is difficulties in returning to work after maternity/paternity leave.

“For example, if a woman stays on childcare leave for a long time, her work skills are often affected, her qualifications are reduced. It becomes more difficult to return to the labor market, to please the employer, there may be pressure to leave the workplace. There is fear about finding a new job with a small child, about the future, loans, etc.,” says an expert from the Office of the Equal Opportunities Controller.

Another topic is incorrect questions during a job interview. Candidates are asked about their marital status, children they have, whether children will prevent them from going on business trips, whether responsibilities are shared in the family.

“However, we must note that the inquiries we receive do not reflect the real situation. In rare cases, people tend not to complain, especially in public, because they are afraid of receiving negative consequences, this is also very relevant in smaller towns,” the expert notes.

When faced with possible discrimination, M. Morkevičius urges you to always be active and not to be afraid to consult with the Office of the Equal Opportunities Controller, the State Labor Inspectorate or other responsible institutions.”

The editors congratulate mothers in advance and wish not to fall into “old stereotypes”, but also into the snares of bureaucratic propaganda. Be happy, moms.