Hélène Hendriks states that Merel Ek really has difficulty with the statements that Johan Derksen has made about a possible pregnancy. “I spoke to her extensively about this.”
Johan Derksen states that Merel Ek is not guaranteed her job at Today Inside if she becomes pregnant. If her temporary replacement is better, he or she will want to hold on to him or her and then Merel can leave. Pregnancy discrimination may be prohibited by law, but the SBS 6 star says he has absolutely no interest in that.
Complete nonsense
It inspires fear in Merel, colleague Hélène Hendriks explains in the latest Today Inside. “I heard you say that, you gave the example of Merel… But if you take away the emotion and the opinion and you actually peel it away… It is simply prohibited by law. It’s that simple,” the presenter told Johan.
Hélène also begins to be disturbed by Johan’s medieval opinions about women and work cultures. He is also downplaying the WNL misery. “You have to at least take that seriously and you can’t wave it away with: ‘They are disappointed females who just shout something.’ I think that’s complete nonsense.”
Bluntly
Hélène is unusually harsh against Johan. “I think it’s simplistic. Especially when you talked about Merel. You said, ‘Yes, if she gets pregnant…’ And I know how it works.”
She continues: “If there is anyone better… That includes me. If Noa presents later and she is better, she will take over and I will have to do something else, but if you become pregnant and someone does better and you have to leave… That is not possible, because it is prohibited by law.”
‘That is prohibited’
Johan then: “No, but no one is leaving.”
Wilfred Genee: “That did happen there. Leonie ter Braak suddenly had to present a night program.”
Johan: “Then you won’t leave. I had the same problem and then you put someone in the photo department.”
Hélène: “If you actually look at what pregnancy discrimination is, it means that if you come back and your position is reduced, that is already pregnancy discrimination and that is prohibited.”
Under 30
During his time as VI editor-in-chief, Johan also had no interest in pregnant ‘wives’. “If I had women under 30, I would be looking, like: ‘Do you have children yet?’ ‘No.’ Then I felt it for a moment and then I thought: no, I won’t take that, because she is pregnant within three months.”
Pregnancy discrimination? Well, no, Johan apparently sees that as ‘strategic personnel management’. “Not allowed, prohibited by law, but I shouldn’t have that, because then I have to pay out for six months while she is not there. That’s how it goes. Everyone in HR is in this conversation: do not hire ladies who are at risk of becoming pregnant.”
‘Merel is having it’
Merel should take it into account, says Johan. “You really have a problem if Merel is away for six months and there is another lady who is demonstrably doing better. Then the chef will have to find another position for Merel.”
Hélène thinks it’s strange. “I spoke to Merel quite extensively and she was concerned about it. She says: ‘I also know that Johan may not mean it literally towards me and that it is not personal’, and Merel has many qualities, so I don’t think she will ever be surpassed, but she does say: ‘It is a signal to women in the Netherlands.’”
Baby shower
Women will fear becoming pregnant because of outdated opinions like Johan’s, according to Merel. “That can also cause stress for those women,” says Hélène.
Wilfred Genee jokes: “And maybe for relief for Sam (Hagens)!”
Finally, Hélène told Johan: “You are no longer allowed to come to our baby shower. And if it’s a boy, his name will be Wilfred!”