Basing my opinion on my own life experience includes experiencing sexual discrimination.
During my 30 year career I worked in a male dominated, customer facing industry where you worked mainly 4 days out of 7, on a rota you devised yourself, ensuring you delivered the needs of the business. We worked shifts of anything from 8 hrs (which was counted as a half day) and 12-15 hrs (being a full day).
When I started we used to begin work around 10.30 a.m. and finish a full day around
11.30 p.m. As time moved on and more and more money spinning activities were added into the working environment, mornings could sometimes start as early at 8 a.m. and evenings could drag past midnight.
It was tough but enjoyable and you became absorbed into this way of life.
We were all autonomous Business Managers, with no one looking over our shoulders. We dealt with all facets of Management from recruitment and training to devising and delivering promotional campaigns worth £1000’s whilst coming face to face with up to 6000 customers a week and also complying with numerous Government legalities. Our customers were of every nationality and came from all walks of life as did our staff.
I was really focused and dedicated to my career, climbing the ladder through hard work involving numerous moves around the country but I was in the minority as a female.
Despite the sexual revolution of the late 60’s women were still fighting for independence, much less equality at work and there were certainly very few role models for us to look up to.
This was summed up nicely back in 1994. I’d been with the company for 9 years, at this point, when I had a visit from my male Operations Director and the current male MD of the company. With no regard for my feelings, the Ops Director introduced me not by name but with ” This is our first female Manager to go and get herself pregnant!”
From this point on, the path that lay ahead of me was one of continual struggle. Instead of enjoying my first pregnancy, I had to fight to keep my company car, pension contributions and to know what my entitlements were. I received no assistance, support or help and was taken out of my role as Manager as I was seen to be a HASAW risk!
On my return from this pregnancy, when my son was 4 months old (financially I couldn’t afford to stay off work any longer on my £52.35 a week SMP) there was no job for me.
I, therefore, had to work as a Regional Relief Manager until something became available.
It was a nightmare trying to juggle child care with no daily base. I was travelling all over London (by car due to the late finishing hours) working 4 full days (about 48 hours a week).
Eventually I was given a Managerial post but at Level 3, when prior to my maternity I had worked as a Level 2 Manager for 3 years in Liverpool, Kingston upon Thames and Leyton.
My male Regional Manager had the audacity to say to me” Be happy at least we are allowing you to keep your current salary and car!” As if that should make me happy when it felt as if my whole career, thus far, that I had worked hard for was about to implode. None of my male colleagues would ever have been treated in this way unless they had received a disciplinary demotion.
Despite my despondency I had enough sense to ensure I had a letter stating that this “temporary placement” wouldn’t affect my on going career and then I joined a union which was totally unheard of in my working sector particularly at my level.
After the birth of my daughter, 2 years later, the letter came to the fore when on returning from my second maternity leave, I worked in a Level 3 business for about 6 months and then applied for a promotion to a Level 1 business. My application was turned down based upon the fact that I had no Level 2 experience. Time to call the Union rep!
So yes, I’ve experienced sexual discrimination which ultimately resulted in taking action despite possibly alienating myself in the process, winning an out of court settlement and I’d like to believe paving the way for other female managers that followed my career path.
A Midlife Adventure 