May 19, 2010

Ober-Letten. We are impatiently waiting for the summer to come so that Letten will be full of happy people again.

Feminism and standing up for women rights is very unfashionable nowadays and often give people bad associations and classifying women who strive for equality as man-haters. However, this doesn't mean that we are anywhere close to a reasonable level of equality. The biggest lawsuit ever against the discrimination of women in the U.S. was won this week against the huge Swiss pharma company Novartis. Twelve female ex-employees will receive 3.3 million dollars in compensation damages for having been denied promotions, having lower pay and unjust treatment during pregnancy. In addition to that Novartis also received a 250 million dollar fine, this high amount is computed on the basis of the revenue of the company so that it will be a sufficient discouragement. This will hopefully send out a clear message to all large companies to impose strict policies on fair treatment of their employees.

As Novartis is Swiss this will hopefully also have an impact in this country. The laws in Switzerland are good in protecting women but it is really important to make sure that they are followed and to take legal action when they are not. Personally, I have been very fortunate in my own situation but I would like to transmit my strong encouragement to the wife of a friend who is now in a legal battle here in Switzerland after having been mobbed by her boss (female boss!) from the first day of her announced pregnancy and then being fired one day before giving birth. Even though it is always difficult to prove mobbing it is clearly against Swiss law to fire women during their pregnancy and maternity leave so she will definitely win this. However, it is not difficult to imagine the mental pain and distress she must have gone through in the process. We should all be grateful that there are women standing up and taking these difficult battles, the benefits of their struggle will come back to all of us.