Stephen Morgan MP supports the Government announcement that paid family leave, flexible working, and tougher action on workplace harassment for women working in research will be introduced.
Alongside this, the Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has argued that research organisations should sign up to firmly demonstrate that women should not have to choose between a family or a career.
More than 50 universities and research organisations have signed up, including the University of Portsmouth.
Currently, girls make up 48% of GCSE STEM students, and women account for 53% of science undergraduates. Whilst these percentages are a massive improvement, the number falls sharply going into the professional world. For example, women hold only 31% of professorships and men are nearly three times more likely to have a career in R&D.
Not having paid maternity leave is a barrier that holds back female PhD researchers and prevents them from pursuing or developing their careers. This is why the new Women in Research Charter is being unveiled with a key commitment to strengthen family leave for doctoral researchers.
Mr Morgan, through the engagement and events with constituents, has heard that local women have raised concerns regarding a lack of flexible work options, difficulty returning to work after a career break, or a lack of support for young women wanting to pursue science and tech in Portsmouth.
Each signatory must match at least the support UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) already provides to the PhD students they fund. Including support during pregnancy-related illness, adoption, neonatal care and loss of a baby, this will mean a minimum of 52 weeks maternity leave, with a full stipend for the first 26 weeks, and at least 2 weeks of paid leave for partners.
By signing up to the new charter, you will support the women who already make up around 40% of the UK’s research workforce.
This brings UK research into line with the vast majority of workplaces, and shows that the scandalous situation where women are forced to abandon their hard work, or fall behind while juggling family life, will end.
The Charter also commits to funding schemes being genuinely deliverable on a part-time basisー including adjusted timelines, applications and assessmentsー so researchers can continue to lead their pioneering work however it best fits with their home lives. Researchers must also be able to work flexibly so that key opportunities are not closed off due to caring responsibilities or career breaks.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“Through these measures, this Government is taking major steps to transform the lives of working women, including making work more flexible and creating a safer environment.
“Portsmouth has so many brilliant leading women working in research, but too often there are barriers which halt their career progression and achievement.
“Labour knows our work does not stop here, and will continue to take action to ensure women can succeed in the workplace across the country including here in Portsmouth.”
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:
“From Mary Somerville to Dorothy Hodgkin and Rosalind Franklin, British women are responsible for some of the most extraordinary contributions to global research. For far too long, though, pioneering women have been forced to choose between their careers and their family lifeー holding them back while starving our country of amazing talent.
“Better family leave, fair assessments, safer workplaces: these are not radical proposals, they’re hard-won rights that women in research should absolutely expect.
“Now is the time for research institutions to step up and level the playing field for women. That is why I am calling on Britain’s renowned research organisations to back our new Charter and send a clear signal that no woman should ever be held back from a fair shot at fulfilling their potential.”
