Does America want Moms to stay at home?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2005
Does America want Moms to stay at home?
987
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 11:28am
It was actually dh that suggested that America (gov't I suppose) wants Moms to stay at home. From what I have learned from these boards daycare is hideously expensive and maternity leave is very short. Many have said they couldn't afford to work because of daycare costs. Compare this to Canada where we have $7 a day daycare and Quebec is increasing maternity leave to 2 years at 55% pay or 1 year at 75% pay in January. With the $7 a day daycare Moms can easily afford to work, and with the paid maternity leave Moms can easily afford to stay home. It seems that in the states you're 'forced' into situations because it's your only option. Can't afford daycare? Stay at home. Maternity leave too short or have to work to support the family? Go back to work. Would any of you prefer if it would be easier financially to make either decision like it seems to be in Canada or are you fine with how it is?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 7:55am
Thanks, I was going to post something like that, but I got too tired.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 7:56am
True, but Meldi brought up the farm work.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 7:58am

If you really don't understand, go take an Economics course. I was an Econ minor.

How can you not see that raising wages/salaries across the board would have an affect on prices?

Let's look at a small company. If all the employees were given a 10-20% incrase in wages, where does the company get the money to pay those wages? From the sales to their customers. So, if a company's costs (wages) increase, and they don't increase prices, how do they pay their employees? Usually companies plan salary increases to go with their profit increases. However, if the govt comes in and says to them, "you have to increase wages by 10%" and the company hasn't seen an increase in profits, where are they gonna get the money to pay those increases? That's right ... their customers; through the form of higher prices.

It is basic business: when a company's expenses increase, they have to either cut expenses elsewhere or increase revenues. So, they either lay off, or they raise prices.

Not hard to understand.




Edited 12/16/2005 8:13 am ET by okiegirl71
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 7:59am

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Spending the wages doesn't incrase the prices; paying the wages does. Where does ABC Company get the money to increase wages?????

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 8:01am

Because 1) no employee would take the job and 2) they'd get crappy productivity.

Free-market economies ... the market will find its own balance. Supply and demand at is simplest and finest.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 8:02am
You're trying to say, in essence, that companies should be "family friendly" and I disagree. Companies should be "employee friendly". And implmenting policies that cost the company thousands (or tens of thousands or millions) of dollars a year isn't employee friendly when they ahve to cut wages or lay people off.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 8:04am

So, there is no wage and benefits exploitation in the US? All workers get a square deal because nobody forces them to work? "The market" takes care of it?

What market would that be? The market that brings us the Federal Reserve so we can have "monetary policy"? Or is it the market that determines that homeowners get to write off their mortgage interest while renters get to write off zip? Or could it be the market that governs the health care industry? In a free market, wouldn't you think some way could be found to sell something to the millions without coverage? I know - it's the market that pays farmers *not* to grow soybeans lest the commodities pricing system goes haywire... Let's understand, please, there is no free market. It is a managed economy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 8:13am
There is no such thing as a free market economy in the USA. Think about it. Child labor laws, required lunch breaks, the Federal Reserve, prevailing wage laws, affirmative action, mandatory retirement...
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 8:16am
Companies have a variety of ways of increasing revenues. Sometimes they sell more through price reductions. The profit margin isn't written in stone, either.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 8:18am
Yes, spending the wages will increase demand and thus prices. Basic economics.

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