Why the hoopla over pregnant workers?
Regarding “Marissa Mayer’s top 3 challenges as Yahoo CEO” (ajc.com, July 18), is it really 2012?
I cannot believe there is still so much hoopla over pregnant women in the workplace.
I assure you that Mayer is not the first woman to have a baby and then go back to work.
I had both of my kids in the mid-1980s. With both, I worked up to the day before they were born and went back in to the office, a day here and there, prior to my official six weeks of maternity leave being over.
Back then, we only got six weeks.
The phrase “work-life balance” had not been invented.
As moms who held full-time jobs, we just did what we needed to do to do a good job and provide for our families. Bonding and a continued relationship with my children have not suffered.
Everyone simply needs to do what they need to do to make their life work — both moms and dads.
If you are able to use the phrase “work-life balance,” you are already living with a privilege that most of the world cannot even imagine.
ROSEMARY ROUTMAN, DULUTH
Reducing mentally ill in prison laudable
Regarding “Decriminalizing mental illness” (Metro, July 15), as president of the Georgia Chapter, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and a correctional mental health professional, I am writing to applaud Brian Owens for his innovative actions to reduce the number of nonviolent persons with a serious mental illness within Georgia’s prison system.
Far too many citizens with a mental illness become embedded within the criminal justice system due to a lack of access to community-based services.
The commissioner has taken a position of leadership through the development of effective and efficient programs where nonviolent offenders with mental health and addiction issues can be held accountable while receiving treatment.
Georgia is fortunate to have a person with the skills and vision of Commissioner Owens.
WILLIAM P. KISSEL, PRESIDENT, GEORGIA CHAPTER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
Existing programs becoming insolvent
In “Brooks column not up to usual standard” (Readers write, Opinion, July 13), a letter writer compares Social Security and Medicare to Obamacare in support of the latter.
The writer forgot to mention that these existing programs are fast becoming insolvent, and will require massive taxes on the middle class (and particularly on young workers) to continue in existence.
And yet — he argues for more centralization, another entitlement, and more taxes.
GLENN M. WALL, SUWANEE
U.S. uniforms ‘made in China’? Where else?
Poor Ralph Lauren has been catching grief for the “made in China” Olympics uniforms.
Grow up, America.
Where do you think many competition uniforms are manufactured?
They are produced in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc.
IAN SHAW, CUMMING
