9781422281321

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What Are Equal Opportunities? N eil Walkingshaw is a car mechanic. He is 46 years old and lives in Scotland with his wife and young son, Sean. In November 2001, he won a landmark case at an employment tribunal —a special court in the United Kingdom (UK) that investigates serious disputes between employers and their employees. Neil had worked full-time for the same employer for over eight years before his son was born. His wife, Tracy, also had a job. Like other women working in the UK, she was entitled to maternity leave—in her case, for six months. And, like many women, Tracy wanted to go back to work after her maternity leave was over. Neil and Tracy planned to share the responsibility for look- ing after baby Sean, so Neil asked his employers if he could

Many people find it difficult to combine family life with a career.

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