| In the past, women had been expected to stay at | | | | someone and finding a replacement for her can be |
| home and take care of the children while the man of | | | | troublesome. Furthermore, while it may be true that |
| the house would go forth and earn money so that | | | | women can be inefficient at work because of their |
| they can all live as happily and as comfortably as | | | | private concerns, they are also known to be diligent, |
| possible. Now, I'm no radical feminist - I simply try to | | | | dedicated hard workers who are quite dependable |
| see it as it was. Back then, households could afford to | | | | and a credit to their establishment. Evidently, this |
| have a single salary earner supporting their family, and | | | | means that some measures must be put into place in |
| it is only practical that someone would stay behind in | | | | order to ensure that employees who are otherwise |
| order to make sure that the house doesn't fall apart. | | | | excellent would not leave or lag behind because of |
| But, with the shift in the economy, it became | | | | concerns regarding their dependents. |
| increasingly clearer that the average household could | | | | So this is one possible reason why certain employers |
| no longer survive under the single income system and | | | | have decided that they would offer dependent care |
| the women had to work as well. | | | | programs and packages in order to sweeten the deal |
| Of course, before then, there were other reasons for | | | | with employees and possible employees. Dependent |
| women wanting to work - the feminist movement | | | | care credit, after all, is a reimbursement for any |
| being one of them - but in my experience, most | | | | service - daycare, nanny services, and home-based |
| women in the work place work because they have | | | | medical care in particular - or items that an individual |
| people who depend on them, and they need money to | | | | under their employ may spend on so that they could |
| support said people. Whether they are widowed or | | | | work full time, without worrying about looking after their |
| divorced (because divorce is becoming more and | | | | dependents. By adding dependent care credit as a |
| more common lately) with their young children left | | | | perk for their employees and potential employees, |
| behind for her to take care of, or single but supporting | | | | companies have a greater chance of retaining good |
| a young sister or elderly, disabled parents, a good | | | | employees who work at their full potential because |
| number of women I have worked with admit to | | | | they are secure at the thought that their dependents |
| wishing that if they had the chance, they would have | | | | are being well taken care of. |
| wanted to just stay at home caring for the people | | | | Most of the women that I have worked with who |
| they love instead of staying at work and worrying | | | | have children or are taking care of a very sickly |
| about their welfare. | | | | relative have once confided in me that what had |
| That being said, one of the things that supposedly | | | | allowed them to jump for their jobs and stay were the |
| make women inefficient in the workplace is the | | | | dependent care benefits and packages that were |
| common concern that her kids or the disabled persons | | | | offered by their employers. According to them, the |
| in her care are not being looked after properly while | | | | benefits that not only included reimbursements but also |
| she is at work. While it is fairly normal for her to feel | | | | care service options made them feel as if they no |
| this way, the insecure feelings often affect her | | | | longer have to worry too much about their dependents |
| performance. Even attendance is affected, as there | | | | while they are at work. This would allow them to work |
| would be occasional emergencies that would force | | | | better, have an improved chance at promotions, and |
| her to absent herself from her job or even leave in the | | | | earn more money to keep properly caring for their |
| middle of her shift. Eventually, even though she may | | | | children or disabled relatives. |
| need the money, she would either be let go or resign | | | | It has become imperative, especially now that the rate |
| from her job herself in favor of staying home and | | | | of divorce or separation has increased, that women |
| looking after her loved ones - some others even end | | | | left with young children to take care of are given due |
| up choosing to have jobs that allow them to work | | | | consideration in the workplace. It has been proven that |
| from home. | | | | women can be just as hard-working as the men - |
| This shouldn't be much of a problem for employers, as | | | | they just need someone to help them care for the |
| they can hire someone else to replace the employee | | | | young and sick ones. |
| that they have lost. But sometimes, having to let go of | | | | |