On 8 February 2006, the Commissione Lavoro della Camera (the Italian Parliament's Labor Review Board) amended the federal law to provide for maternity leave coverage through INPS for dirigenti (dirigente is the highest contractual hiring level in Italy and generally refers to senior- or executive-level managers). This may sound like an innocuous change, but what does it really mean for women? For those of you who've never taken maternity leave under Italian law, let me give you some background. In general, Italian maternity law has been fairly protective of women employees - 5 months paid leave at 80% of the base pay was paid by INPS (and generally the company contributed the remaining 20%), with the guarantee of returning to the same position or one of equal level of responsibility. Not a bad deal over all, unless, of course, you were a dirigente...

Before February 8, any maternity leave time taken by a dirigente was fully paid by the employer. This meant that the company continued to pay at least 80% of the salary (many companies paid 100%) for the five months of maternity leave. Think about it - what do most companies do when a female employee goes on maternity leave? They hire a temporary replacement to fill in for that period. Where do they get the funding to pay for the temp? From the savings generated by the salary they're NOT paying to the woman on leave. But in the case of a dirigente, in order to bring in someone to cover a managerial role, a company would incur an incremental expense: they would pay the salary of both the dirigente on leave AND the salary of the temporary manager.

What was the result of this situation? One more reason NOT to hire/promote a woman, particularly a woman of child-bearing years, to a dirigente position in the first place.

When managers of human resources, hiring and finance look at a woman applying for a job, the first thing they see is cost, the second is lost work time, and last but not least, the skills that the woman will actually bring to the firm. Forgive my cynicism, but I've lived it myself. When I first arrived in Italy in 1999, I interviewed for a dirigente position for which the job description read like a photocopy of my CV. But the divisional director interviewing me wasn't really interested in my skills. He wanted to know more important things: how old was I? when was I getting married? how long did I plan to wait before having children? As an American who started her career under the protection of the US Equal Opportunities Act, I was outraged and insulted by these questions, which unfortunately are standard and completely legal under Italian law. Fortunately, the British hiring manager WAS interested in my skills, and so I was indeed offered the job.

Ironically, the Italian manager for whom I worked at that company and who saw me through 2 of my 3 pregnancies was also willing, without ever questioning my commitment or ability to perform, to hire me for a key position in his new company just this last September. This was after I'd spent a fruitless and very depressing year searching for a new dirigente position. The low point of that job search came when the human resources manager from a company that espouses "Employee Work/Life Balance" as part of its corporate image asked me "But don't you think a dirigente position would be too impegnativa for a woman with three children?". Needless to say, I was NOT offered that job.

I'm not the only one who's had this type of experience. Recently a friend of mine was promoted to dirigente after several years of performing the same work for which other MEN in her company already had the title. What took so long in her case? Well, she did take two maternity leaves in the course of three years. And, strangely enough, she was promoted to dirigente shortly after it became clear to her company that she was done having children. Coincidence? Possibly, but it might just have been part of an overall cost-saving plan.

Of course, each woman has her own perspective, and each company shapes that perspective through their human resources policies. One Italian dirigente and PWA member I spoke to told me that this law will have little impact on her company because that corporation already has true equal-opportunity hiring and promotion policies and that female dirigenti were supported and encouraged to return to full-time work because they already represented an "investment" on the part of the firm. Another saw this new law as a positive change for the next generation of female managers ready to take the step up to dirigente level.

Yes, we still need to work on convincing companies that women have the commitment to reach the highest levels of corporate management; however, this change in the law means that the Italian government recognizes the issue and is now working to eliminate the barriers that keep women from reaching those levels. That, in itself, is a very positive sign for women at all levels of business in Italy.

Lynn Chasson
PWA Board Member

Speaker Meeting

Speaker Meeting - All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Of all the decisions we make, none is more critical to our personal and professional success than that of how we choose to present ourselves to those around us. In the first 30 seconds of every encounter - before any words are exchanged - we have already made a lasting impression on those we interact with. Our choices of clothing, hairstyle, make-up and demeanour affect the way others react to us. The natural instinct for people to read visual cues can be used to our advantage, once we understand what image is and how to make it work effectively for us.

Giulia Rebora, professional image consultant and PWA member, will explain the power of image, what it is and why it matters. She will cover the following topics:

• The importance of appearance as one of our most powerful forms of communication
• How to maximize the benefits of nonverbal communication as a strategic marketing tool
• The hierarchy of colour and the statement your wardrobe makes
• Being in control of your body language and the messages that are conveyed without words

This presentation will help you to cultivate your image deliberately and strategically, so that who you are and what you represent are evident from the very start.

Giulia was born and raised in Milan and acquired her fashion and marketing finesse at institutions in Seattle and Florence. Having worked in various sectors in the fashion industry, she brings her creative experience and natural flair for observation to Style On You <www.styleonyou.com>, her image consulting and fashion styling agency in Milan.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
StarHotel Rosa, via Pattari 5 (MM Duomo)
Free for members; €20 for guests, payable by cash or cheque at the event

Members: please register your attendance in the calendar section of EuropeanPWN <www.europeanpwn.net>

For guest reservations, and for more information in general, please contact speakers@pwa-milan.org

Networking Event

Networking Dinner

Networking Dinner - All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Assertiveness is a trait that greatly enhances our success whether in our professional or personal life. How do we cultivate this tool and integrate it into our personal communication and style? Join us for the opportunity to learn the basics, share personal experiences and discover what it can do for you through interactive exercises throughout the meal.

This event will also provide a great opportunity to make new professional and social contacts, to renew existing ones, and to experience PWA networking at its best in a relaxed environment.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Dinner 8-10 p.m.
StarHotel Rosa, via Pattari 5 (MM Duomo)
€25 for members, €40 for guests

Reservations and prepayment are required. Space is limited to 65 participants

Members, please reserve and prepay online by credit card via the calendar section of EuropeanPWN <www.europeanpwn.net>. Alternatively, members as well as guests may prepay by bank transfer, or in person in cash or by cheque at any of the events preceding the Networking Dinner.

To request a vegetarian meal, to make a guest reservation and/or arrange advance payment, or for more information in general, please contact speakers@pwa-milan.org.

Deadline for reservations: 12 noon, Monday, 3 April 2006. Please note that reservation priority will be given to PWA members until 28 March 2006.

Decide Where Your Tax Money Goes

Are you aware of the new law that allows you to designate a percentage of your Italian federal income tax to a charity of your choice?

As an individual payer of Italian federal income tax (IRPEF), you are probably aware that you may opt, as in past years, to designate otto per mille - 0.08 percent - of your 2005 tax-year liability to the state or to one of the six religious organisations listed on your tax form, without incurring any additional amount due.

Starting this year, however, you may also designate an additional cinque per mille - 0.05 percent - to any of the non-profit groups on the "approved" list created by the Agenzie delle Entrate. The current list of non-profit groups awaiting approval can be found at <www.agenziaentrate.gov.it>. The final approved list will be posted there by 10 March 2006.

PWA encourages you to take this opportunity to financially assist a worthy cause without taking an additional centesimo out of your pocket. We are happy to see that Fondazione Risorsa Donna, the charity for which we raised funds at our Holiday Party, is among those listed and we look forward to seeing the confirmation of their eligibility within the next days.

Whichever deserving group you support, please don't let this opportunity slip away. Make a note of the name and codice fiscale of your chosen eligible beneficiary, add this information to the specified portion on your tax form with your signature, and by doing so, send your tax money to the people you believe will use it wisely and well.

Michel Rapazzini, Chartered Accountant
& Maria Lassila, PWA Vice President

How to Join

Individual membership
To join, simply fill in completely and submit the online application form at www.pwa-milan.org and pay the dues. Probably the best way to find out if PWA Milan is for you is to experience the association by coming to one of our events as a guest. Meet members, ask questions, speak to the members of the board and see whether joining would be beneficial for you.

Membership fees
January 2006-December 2006    €100

Corporate membership
Companies may join PWA Milan, enabling designated women employees to benefit from all that PWA has to offer. For further information, please refer to the website www.pwa-milan.org or email pwa@pwa-milan.org.