In today’s modern world, men and women should be treated equally. However, small or medium-sized businesses often struggle to pay energetic women on maternity leave. I agree with the idea that such companies should avoid hiring young women for demanding roles if they cannot afford maternity benefits. In this essay, I will explain the reasons for this.
Firstly, small businesses already face many challenges, such as inflation, limited funds, and job insecurity. These companies often struggle to provide basic benefits like health insurance and provident funds. They rely on a small number of employees to get the work done. For example, a small departmental store may only require a couple of employees to manage daily tasks. If a young woman is hired and later takes maternity leave for several months to care for her child, the business may face financial pressure to pay her during this time. In extreme cases, the owner may find it difficult to keep the business running and might even have to shut it down.
Additionally, micro-businesses often require employees who can handle multiple tasks. Such roles can be challenging for women, especially during maternity leave. For example, in a small fencing company, employees may need to operate heavy machinery, lift metal materials, and install fences. Losing an employee for maternity leave in such a situation can add extra pressure on the remaining workers. I believe the government could step in to support such businesses by offering tax benefits. This would allow small companies to hire at least a small percentage of young women and create a balanced work environment.
To conclude, having energetic and skilled young women in the workforce is beneficial for society and businesses. However, small businesses face many challenges that make it hard to support maternity leave. With proper support from the government, these issues can be addressed to create a fair working culture for all.