
These are the phrases working mums want to stop hearing – survey
More than half (55%) of working mums want to change workplace lingo, as insensitive or ill-thought comments from colleagues can add to their challenges, new research has found. Remarks by co-workers made towards working mums ranged from ‘she’s only part-time’ and ‘I forgot you leave early’, to ‘I wish I could have Fridays off’ and ‘I bet it feels like a break coming into the office’ – according to the survey of 1,000 working mothers commissioned by Maltesers, which has just launched its #MotherLover campaign to help lighten the load and encourage support for working mums. The poll found 63% of working mums feel they need to work harder to prove themselves, and 46% say they need to convince co-workers that their change in hours doesn’t impact their output. Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe colleagues mean no harm when they make insensitive comments however, and 26% admit a co-worker has corrected themselves midway through saying something ill-informed to working parents. “It’s no surprise many of these comments are about part-time work. There is a pervasive stigma that working part-time means a lack of commitment and ambition in the workplace,” said Catherine Gregory, head of marketing and communications at the Working Families charity. “To change the often-negative narrative around women – especially mothers – working part-time and flexibly, we need a radical shift in workplace culture. Not only could this curb negative comments about mothers at work, but it could also support mothers’ career progression.” Maltesers has teamed up with women’s online community Peanut to create the Work & Motherhood content hub, providing advice about the challenges working mothers face. “Every day on Peanut, women talk about the harmful phrases that have become so normalised in reference to mothers and motherhood – making change in this area is long overdue,” said Peanut founder and CEO, Michelle Kennedy. “As a mother of two myself, I understand the impact these phrases can have. When I attend networking events I’m often asked, ‘Who’s taking care of the kids?’ or ‘How do you balance it all?’ and I’m pretty sure male founders aren’t asked the same questions.” Kennedy points out that working mums are constantly juggling. “Harmful phrases and assumptions can really feed into feelings of guilt and perpetuate this idea that women should take on the bulk of responsibilities,” she adds. “The reality is, words matter. Juggling parenting alongside work can be a struggle, and we need to shift the focus in attitudes, empathy and terminology.” These are the comments the survey found working mums want to stop hearing… ‘You look tired’Kennedy says it’s OK to acknowledge you’re tired at work, but points out: “Colleagues might be forgetting quite how much you’re juggling every day. Sharing some insight with your colleague or employer might help them understand.” ‘She’s only part-time’Part-time work is undertaken by 38% of women, compared to 11% of men, says Kennedy, who stresses women often work part-time so they can manage looking after their family. “Challenging assumptions about part-time work can break down the stigma that part-time work is a reflection of commitment, rather than a way to manage responsibilities,” she says. ‘I forgot you leave early’It can work well if mothers map out their availability in their calendar to help alleviate comments like this, Kennedy suggests. “It’s a good reminder for colleagues. Also, don’t be afraid to remind colleagues ahead of time when you’ll be leaving for commitments – even a quick reminder at the start of a meeting that you need to round up on time can be really effective.” ‘Wish I could have Friday off’ Kennedy says the Peanut community advises other mums to respond to these types of comments positively. “It’s likely your colleague means well, but remind them why you have Fridays off and what this allows you to do in terms of childcare,” she says. ‘I bet it feels like a break coming into the office’“Reply honestly – for many, having space away from home can be a much-needed distraction,” Kennedy points out. “Mothers who care for their children full-time are doing an unbelievable amount of work as well!” ‘I could never do that’Kennedy says it can sometimes seem impossible to avoid motherhood shame, but she stresses: “There are no winners in the debate of work-life balance and professional choices. Do what’s best for you and your family – never allow the negative narratives to deter you from doing what’s best for you.” ‘Enjoy the rest of the week off!’ The rest of your ‘week off’ is likely to involve changing nappies, juggling schedules, and trying to maintain some semblance of self-care – and Kennedy points out that research suggests motherhood is equivalent to 2.5 full-time jobs. “Motherhood is no joke!” she says. “While comments like this may mean well, many women on Peanut have used this opportunity to have frank conversations about the challenges motherhood can bring.” ‘Must be nice to get a lie-in’ If you’re part-time or on flexi hours, Kennedy suggests mums have an open conversation with your colleague or employer around comments like this – “to shine a light on the realities of being a working mum. For many mothers, lie-ins are a thing of the past,” she adds. ‘Can your partner do any of the childcare?’Again, Kennedy stresses it’s best to be open and honest about your circumstances. “For example, some mothers on Peanut have shared how their partner’s organisations don’t offer progressive policies for parents.” ‘It must be busy having the children home during the school holidays’If you’re working from home, school holidays can impact your response time or working hours, Kennedy points out. “It’s important to communicate that you will be busy and have a few more balls to juggle – between meets, sports clubs and lunches. Remember it’s ok to foster discussions about your needs.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Get up and glow with this energising morning workout Support with mental health issues and finances should be linked – Martin Lewis Why does my washing machine smell so bad?
1970-01-01 08:00

Trump says he has been notified he's a target of the US probe into efforts to overturn 2020 election
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Tom Cruise didn't know porn was on the internet until Seth Rogen told him
Actor Tom Cruise didn’t know there was pornography on the internet until Seth Rogen told him and people’s minds are blown. As the star of the Mission Impossible movie franchise, it would seem Cruise’s time is far too preoccupied to use the internet as he was allegedly completely oblivious to the fact adult films exist there. The stunning revelation was made by fellow actor Rogen who said in an interview that he introduced his co-star to internet porn. In an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Rogen explained: “He [Cruise] didn't know internet pornography existed.” Rogen explained he discovered it when he visited Cruise while filming the 2007 film Knocked Up. As they hung out, the topic of internet porn came up in conversation and Rogen was surprised by Cruise’s lack of knowledge. He said: “I think it just came up organically, like how it does you know. And then ‘oh my friends were looking at internet porn’, and he was like ‘whoa whoa whoa, what’?” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Meyers questioned Rogen as to whether Cruise might have been joking, but according to the actor, his reaction was completely serious. Rogen explained: “I 100 per cent believed he had no idea that there was pornography on the World Wide Web. Which, the first thing I knew about the World Wide Web was that there was pornography on it. That's the only reason I know it exists!” And it wasn’t the only eye-opening tidbit Rogen revealed. He also explained that the first time he ever met Cruise, he was bursting for the toilet, but didn’t want to ask him if he could use his bathroom. He said: “The first time I met him I had to pee so badly as we were pulling into his house. I was so uncomfortable, I didn't want the first thing to be ‘Hi I'm Seth Rogan nice to meet you, I have to pee, can I pee in your house?’ “Halfway up the driveway I got a Snapple bottle and I peed in the bottle. Looking back there's no way he does not have cameras covering that driveway.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00

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Jesse Watters chided by his own mother for ‘tumbling into conspiracy rabbit holes’ in his Fox primetime debut
Fox News host Jesse Watters received a lot of advice from his mother on air on the very first night of his show on the network in which he replaced a primetime slot previously hosted by Tucker Carlson. Watters’ mother has sent critical text messages to her son since 2017, when he became co-host of The Five. Later, producers introduced a segment called “Mom Texts” in which he regularly read aloud his mother’s texts to him. On his first night as Carlson’s replacement on the 8pm ET slot on 17 July, his mother started by congratulating him. “Congratulations, honeybun. We are so proud of you and your accomplishments ... Now let’s aim to have you keep your job. And to that end, I do have some suggestions,” she told her son on his Jesse Watters Primetime. “Do not tumble into any conspiracy rabbit holes. We do not want to lose you and we want no lawsuits, OK?” she said. Carlson, the previous regular 8pm Fox host, was fired by Fox News earlier this year after the network agreed to a $787.5m legal settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. The lawsuit filed by the company alleged Carlson and other Fox News personalities and their guests amplified bogus statemenets and conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. “I want you to seek solutions, versus fanning the flames,” Ms Watters told her son. She told him to “use your voice responsibly, to promote conversation that maintains a narrative thread.” “There really has been enough Biden bashing. And the laptop [Hunter Biden’s laptop controversy] is old,” she added. “Perhaps you could suggest that your people take less interest, for example, in other people’s bodies, and talk about that,” she said, a likely reference to his ongoing segments ridiculing transgender people and his commentary on abortion. (Last year, Watters called a very real story about a 10-year-old girl who needed abortion care a ”hoax” and “politically timed disinformation”, then tried to take credit for putting “pressure” on the investigation after a suspect was arrested.) She also mocked Donald Trump by referring to him as “that Bedminster friend” of her son’s. “You could encourage that Bedminster friend of yours to return to his earlier career on television. Everyone in his audience could wear a red hat and I’m sure the ratings would soar, although never as high, my darling, as yours,” she said. Ms Watters also urged her son to take cognisance of the Hippocratic Oath – “do no harm” – and to “be kind and respectful”, even though she acknowledged that her son mentioned the idea of him being “humble” might be “a stretch”. Watters’ honed his reputation on the network with brash, offensive man-on-the-street interview segments and deliberately provacative commentary that has drawn widespread criticism and accusations of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and election denialism, including incendiary statements aired days before the attack on the US Capitol. Unlike Carlson, who arrived at Fox after on-air roles at competing networks, Watters is something of a Fox company man, moving up in the ranks over more than 20 years while adopting the hostile posture and talking points of some of its biggest stars, with a self-satisfied grin. Read More Far-right pundits and lawmakers evangelise and crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Point’s Florida conference US support for Ukraine emerges as key dividing line between GOP 2024 hopefuls in Tucker Carlson-hosted forum Tucker Carlson and Mike Pence clash in heated exchange over Ukraine at GOP 2024 forum Meet Jesse Watters, the Fox News host helming Tucker Carlson’s primetime slot He was a loyal Fox News viewer before he starred in a conspiracy theory. Now Ray Epps is suing
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Jesse Watters' Mother Gently Roasts Him During First 8 p.m. Show
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Andrew Tate and Tucker Carlson engage in daring narrative twist, label Romania as real human trafficker: 'You’re brainwashed'
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Marilyn Manson to plead no contest to blowing his nose on videographer
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