Yesterday I heard this news on the radio and did not give credit. A company refuses to reduce an employee's day because taking care of children is a woman's business as is clear from his arguments, in a clear example of discrimination, of machismo and contempt for the law.
Reading a little more about the issue that has caused a stir, it seems that (according to the company) what the worker is denied is not the reduction but the shift change.
Let's analyze the available data in this regard, although, in any case, the company's attitude does not seem acceptable. It is a car rental company that has rejected in writing, according to CCOO, the request for a reduction of the day for the care of a child to one of its employees because it understands that these tasks should be performed by his wife.
According to a statement from CCOO, it is an employee of the Goldcar company assigned to the Alicante airport of El Altet, who has been asked by the company to provide evidence that his wife cannot care for the child.
Specifically, they ask you to provide your wife's work contract or company certificate stating the schedule she performs or, failing that, a valid accreditation as to why she cannot care for the child.
We remind you that work and family conciliation measures are valid for both men and women, and this denial, which we hope to obtain a legal response soon, seems to contravene the Gender Equality Law.
As we read in various media and heard yesterday in the local news, the father asked for the minimum reduction (one hour a day) but the company not only denied it, but it seems that, according to the Secretary of Equality of the Federation of Services to the Citizenship of CCOO Comarques del Sud, the employee "is changing work shifts, in split hours and without any justification" with the possible intention that "the worker himself leaves the company".
If so, we would be talking about a mobbing that not only mothers suffer. Many parents are pressured to not even enjoy paternity leave after the birth of their children, what will it be if they still want to obtain their subsequent rights in terms of conciliation.
Do they deny reduced working hours or changing shifts?
For its part, the car rental company has denied the facts, by ensuring that the worker enjoys the right to reduce working hours since last day 12.
In statements to EFE, a spokesman for the company explained that the employee requested a reduction in working hours to care for his little girl and that the company granted him the request, but the conflict has arisen because the employee also demanded a shift change to have the 7 to 14 hours.
The company has asked for information on the availability of women to the girl, in order to meet their demand without damaging the schedule of other workers at the airport, and they are still studying how to reorganize shifts.
In a statement, the company has added that it is currently studying new family conciliation applications, in addition to the 21 that have been granted since 2010 (100% of the lawsuits filed in this regard). We will be attentive in case there is any more statement about it, and what the law finally says about this case, about which some ambiguities are planned.
Reconciling is everyone's business
In any case, be it the reduction or the change of shift that has been denied, it seems embarrassing to me that they have done it asking for "reports" on what the mother does or what she stops doing. No doubt there is a long way to go in our society (and even more in others) regarding equality when it comes to caring for children, taking care of the house. Those who do, they, are usually seen as "calzonazos".
The majority presence of men in the positions of power makes it difficult to change the trend: it is known to reconcile more with female bosses, especially if they have children. But there is a lot of ballast from decades, centuries, that make taking care of the house and children a matter of women.
An aid to achieve equality would be compulsory parental leave, a permit that would be enjoyed, ideally, simultaneously or after the mother's permission (and not taking days away from her, since it is already a very scarce permit).
Unfortunately, not all the news is as good as that parents can also ask for a nursing license and from time to time we have cases contrary to the law against equality and workers' rights.
The worst part is that, I am convinced, there will be many other cases similar to this one that do not come to light. And not only from companies. Many men, many parents, workers, are still convinced that the responsibility of caring for children is a woman's business.. Many mothers think so too.
