Family-Friendly Work Schedules:
A Work/Family Balance Solution
by Pat Katepoo
Does it sometimes seem you're so busy making a living that you hardly have time to make a life? You're not alone. New parents who are also employed outside the home often struggle with work and family conflict. Time becomes all the more precious and priceless--and there's "not enough of it" to do everything.
However, many working parents have discovered that a flexible work arrangement is part of the solution. If you're tired of the juggling of activities, tired of the time crunch, or just plain tired (!), it's time to explore how a flexible work arrangement at your current job might help add to the work and family balance equation.
It may be that your employer doesn't have formal or informal policies related to so-called "family-friendly" work schedules, such as telecommuting, flextime, and job sharing. That's not uncommon and it should not keep you from getting the flexibility you want.
While large and progressive employers get much of the media spotlight in this arena, at employers of all types and sizes, more than 75% of flexible work arrangements are initiated by the employees themselves, one-one-one, with their immediate supervisor.
Which flexible work option is best for you? Your home life, your position at work and your budget will dictate which one will best meet your needs. Here is an overview of your options.
FULL-TIME OPTIONS
FLEXTIME is the most popular and widely used flexible work option, and usually the easiest to propose and get approved. It would allow you a flexible starting and quitting time within management-set limits. For example, if normal work hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM, a flextime schedule might allow you to work from 6:30 to 3:30, 9:00 to 6:00, or whatever start/stop time worked best for you while still being workable for your employer.
TELECOMMUTING would allow you to work at home during part of your scheduled hours. Typically, telecommuters come into the office two or three days a week to attend meetings and to stay visible and in touch. Telecommuting may also be a part of a reduced hours arrangement. It is standard, expected practice for telecommuters with young children to have a separate child care arrangement while the employee is "on duty". This may be in-home or outside-the-home child care.
The COMPRESSED WORK WEEK is usually four, 10-hour days. Some banks with extended customer service hours, for example, make this option available to certain employees, but it is often an impractical match with child care arrangements.
PART-TIME OPTIONS
Are you often tired with little time for yourself after you've taken care of everyone else's needs? If so, a SHORTENED WORK DAY of five, six or seven hours can help make the difference between stress and sanity as you juggle your work and personal lives. With fewer hours on the job, you may find yourself with more energy to get the job done.
If you'd like a full day off during the week to be with your young children, or just to get some personal time, a SHORTENED WORK WEEK may be your best option. A four day work week can be an affordable option that works well in most professional positions. Anything less than that and you may be unable to meet your job duties unless you job share.
A JOB SHARING ARRANGEMENT is a form of part-time work where two people share the responsibilities of one full-time position. For professionals or managers and others in high level career paths, job sharing is an attractive work option for keeping on the career track while still allowing more time outside of work.
Before deciding which work option is best for you, list and prioritize your work and family objectives, and match the arrangement that best suits them.
Certain steps have proven successful in getting a flexible schedule approved. Most professionals who have successfully restructured their job have done so by presenting a well-thought-out, written proposal to their immediate boss. You will need to do likewise whether or not your employer has a flexible work policy. Why? Because it's still up to you to present a good "business case" that meets your employer's needs.
Whichever arrangement you choose, spend several weeks in the planning stage. Use this time to gather information, to work on your budget if you are choosing a less-than-full-time option, to build support from your co-workers and spouse, and to carefully construct your written proposal. After that, there may be additional time needed waiting for a response and for additional negotiating.
While not a cure-all for work and family conflict, a flexible work arrangement is a lifestyle management strategy for savvy, career-minded parents to seriously consider.
if you have any questions or comments!