Baby Boom May Leave Companies Short-Handed

2007/04/03

“There are six people in this section, and two are pregnant and expecting to give birth in July,” said Zhang Jin, a human resources manager of a Beijing Web site company as he scratched his head. “And summer is always our busiest time of year.”

According to an AC Neilson report, more Chinese people tied the knot in 2006 than in any other year over the last two decades. A baby boom in this Year of the Golden Pig is sure to follow. Another survey by the Web site “China Talent” shows that 66 percent Chinese companies are not prepared for a sudden loss of employees.

The Web survey said that more than half of the women of child-bearing age would prefer to have a baby in 2007, as Chinese astrology says people born during the Year of the Pig are polite, honest, hardworking, loyal and lucky.

“According to Chinese law, a new mother is entitled to at least 90 days maternity leave, plus hospital visits before the birth, breast-feeding leave and other days off. A new mother may be away from her job for more than half a year, which will put our company under great pressure,” Zhang said.

Around 43 percent of the human resources managers surveyed said the baby boom will be their biggest challenge in 2007. To make matter worse, about 10 percent of new mothers say they have considered quitting their jobs after giving birth.



	Article featured in Beijing This Month, April 2007 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism