Based on statistics alone, the Czech Republic employs more women than most other European Union countries — 44 percent of Czech women hold down jobs. Many working women complain about the low salaries they receive in comparison with their male counterparts and the discrimination they face once they become mothers. Jarmila El Haddad, senior events manager at Via Perfecta, an event planning company, talked with The Prague Post about how women across the nation are facing unique challenges when they decide to start families. She also offers suggestions for mothers with young children who wish to get back into the work force.

1. Via Perfecta is a unique company in that a majority of its employees are women. What made the company implement such a strategy?

It was not a strategy in any way but rather a coincidence. Via Perfecta was established by two women, Lucie Pilipová and Johana Ru?zicková, and they just hired women in the company's early days. Still, there were also men who joined us as the business developed, but most of them were contractors. We do not in any way attempt to avoid cooperation with men. We actually welcome it very much! Most of our clients are men, and so communication works quite well.

2. How does the everyday atmosphere in your company differ from companies with coed staffs?

In terms of efficiency, there's no difference between an all-female staff and a mixed one. Maybe we pay more attention to certain details that women typically tend to emphasize, such as friendly atmosphere, office design and thoroughness. When organizing events, we focus on every detail. As the company name Via Perfecta suggests, we aspire to perfectionism and excellence.

3. Do men stand a chance of being hired by your company? What are your requirements for a male applicant?

As I've already said, it's apparent that we've got nothing against employing men. Our requirements for male job applicants are the same as they are for women: education, communication skills, language skills, cultivation.

4. Your company organizes events. How different is the male and female approach toward such projects?

It's impossible to say for certain whether men or women are better organizers. This is an individual ability regardless of sex, and therefore it's impossible to generalize. Some people are simply practical and organizing things does not pose a problem to them. And then there are those people who cannot even organize their own lives. Women tend to pay more attention to details; they are more receptive, precise and put an emphasis on bringing things to a conclusion. On the other hand, men have good vision and are logical thinkers.

5. Although there are more women employed in the Czech Republic than in most EU countries, a lot of women still complain about being paid less than men. Why do you think this is still an issue in this country, even after the arrival of so many foreign companies?

It's not only the Czech Republic where women are generally paid less for their work. It seems that foreign companies [upon entering the Czech market] merely adopt the system that they are used to. However, I don't have any experience [with being discriminated against at work], so I can only speculate.

6. Some companies hesitate to employ women with small children. Would adding child-care facilities resolve some of those problems?

I know from my own experience how difficult it is to perform when you have young children. Every employee at Via Perfecta has a home office as well as regular offices, so that they can work from home if needed. I think child-care facilities are a good idea. If there were many [young] mothers, and each of them needed to pay for baby-sitting, it would be quite expensive. It would be a friendly employer move to establish child-care facilities. Still, attendance would still be a problem when children get sick.

7. Via Perfecta itself planned to establish a similar child-care facility in the past. How did it go?

Yes, we did plan to launch a child-care facility after seven employees became mothers, but it never materialized because the women were flexible enough to find solutions that did not interfere with their work.

8. The government considers the low birthrate in this country as a danger to the current pension system because it will have fewer and fewer contributors. Should the government try to motivate employers to hire mothers by providing tax incentives to firms that employ mothers with children?

Absolutely!

9. The Czech Republic is set to become the venue of the 2007 World's Women Entrepreneurs Congress. Do you believe this event will boost women's involvement in business in this country?

Actually, Via Perfecta organizes an annual national forum of this congress called Woman — Creative Personality of the Third Millenium. This is a forum where women entrepreneurs exchange their experiences and support their businesses. I'm convinced that every such event gives a boost to female-led businesses.

10. Do you think that the low participation of women as entrepreneurs here is a result of discrimination or their unwillingness to join in risky business practices?