Forum: Normalise career detours, work on changing attitudes towards parenthood

I refer to the report “Women taking career ‘detours’ as a norm will be one indicator of work group’s success: Indranee” (April 29).

I agree with the importance of normalising such career “detours”, while bearing in mind these additional considerations.

First, there should be space for men to take career detours as well.

When my first child was born, I stepped back from my legal career and took on a role within a non-profit organisation which granted greater flexibility. This enabled me to be physically present and provide care.

Second, if a parent wishes to temporarily step back from one’s career after a child’s birth, this must be a genuine choice. I know of women whose employment was terminated after the end of maternity leave, some of whom were faced with significant pressures from employers during pregnancy.

Such attitudes from employers not only send negative signals to parents, but also signal to other employees that career and family life are incompatible, and one is forced to choose between the two.

Third, a career detour need not mean changing employers or entirely stopping work. There should be room for employers of parents to explore other options to create greater flexibility if they wish, such as part-time work, project-based work, or various forms of flexible work arrangements.

Singapore’s falling and record-low fertility rates are a symptom that something is amiss within our wider culture.

This includes our values and priorities, and attitudes towards the roles of men and women, marriage, family and children.

For a nation whose only natural resource is its people, a national “reset” on marriage and parenthood is very much needed and long overdue.

Darius Lee