New baby and back to work
| Kelly Salambasis
Before I’d left on maternity leave I’d agreed with my boss I could go back to work 3 days per week. The perfect work/life balance I thought.
I could easily do my previous full time marketing job in 3 days a week and I would get to spend more days than I was at work with my son. I thought I had it all worked out.But then the recession hit, ¾ of the marketing team were made redundant, my role changed and it was obvious to me they needed me five days a week probably at least 10 hours a day – bang went my dream. It was gently suggested to me over the phone (note, nothing in writing) to me part-time wasn’t going to be an option. I wasn’t hugely upset – I didn’t feel ready to go back and miss out on precious time with my son. I duly resigned and thought I could easily find a part time marketing job once my son was a bit older. That didn’t happen as I got pregnant again when my eldest was 15 months and then I just put my career on hold.
Looking back though after not working for nearly four years, this was wrong. The company could have suggested a job share or found another role for me. But they had HR policies, and it seems to me that if you have a policy and can make a business case about why part time doesn’t work for you, then as a business you can do as you wish.
As a new mum I was tired, felt out of touch with the workplace and was on my own in any part-time negotiation with my company. Should I have pursued it? I just didn’t have the energy or confidence against senior people and I found myself understanding why they wouldn’t want to employ me. But with some distance and perspective now looking back I can see they should have done more. I was effective in my role, had done it very well (I got the maximum bonus on offer that year), I was motivated and wanted part-time to work. If they needed 5 day cover then why not suggest a job share – there were plenty of parent’s in the marketing team who would have jumped at the chance. But most companies are just not prepared to think beyond the norm and many parents don't have the knowledge, energy or confidence to fight a company's decision.
I would love to hear your experiences. Have companies become more supportive of part-time, flexible working or job shares in the last couple of years?
