Sometimes I think I’m the expert on what it’s like to go back to work part-time after baby. Sometimes I have a big mouth. When those two sometimes collide, it ‘aint pretty.
So first, my apologies to the poor mom I talked to on Sunday at the benign street festival in my neighborhood. Because really, I know you were just trying to have fun with your kids, and you really didn’t need me to lay into you about all negatives of working part-time. You’re just trying to scale back your workweek, and really, I get it.
But, in case you, or anyone else cares, I’m gonna lay it out there real nice and simple. I just don’t think part-time work works all that well. Especially if you’re trying to “scale back.” You may think your company will be all sorts of grateful to you for giving them a day back of your salary, but really, going from four days to three days of work a week, just creates a scheduling and organizational headache for your colleagues and managers.
I worked a three-day workweek. I think it’s the devil. I may not have said it before, but with a year-and-a-half on the SAHM front, I think I have a new perspective on the matter. I know at one time I said I loved working part-time, and so if you use this post against me I will come find and kill you (remember I am channeling the devil), but that was like a whole naive six months before my part-time love went down the reality drain.
I think staying at home for awhile now has opened up my eyes to the annoyance of some part-time jobs. Part-time work alludes you into thinking you’re getting “the best of both worlds,” (that, by the way, is like one of those annoying new-mother sayings, like “just sleep when the baby sleeps.”) but in reality, you’re neither here nor there with work or home life. You’re torn on your days off because your client really needs you to be on a 3 pm conference call, but you really need to be at the mommy-and-me class. The part-time devil makes you think you’re getting some kind of good deal on the whole work-life situation, but if you’re like me, you just end up feeling stressed out and maxed out instead of productive and profitable.
Even though I think my part-time schedule started off grand, in the end it didn’t work out so well for me. (Can’t you tell?) This doesn’t mean it can’t work for you, but I think there need to be some ground rules and expectations set up from the start before you try it. I tried to set these up in that old post I wrote about how you need to have an understanding boss, terrific child care, great coworkers, and a partner who has awesome benefits. If I were to add to that today, I think my only piece of advice would be: don’t get sucked in.
Don’t let the devils of part-time work - conference calls on your days off, not getting paid for working over your alloted hours, only breaking even between work payment and child care, lack of promotions because of your reduced hours – get you down. If you can work it out to be just part-time, I think there is a fighting chance of succeeding. If not, I think you’ll just end up dancing with the pitchfork amidst a hot fire.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there…local reader stopping by. We missed Retro on Roscoe this year and I am so bummed about it. Any good? Also, I have to agree with you about going part-time. I did it before my son was born and didn’t even THINK about the repercussions and the expectations that would follow. I spent more time on conference calls on my days off than I did doing anything else and I didn’t get a single dime from that time. Not to mention the lack of benefits which put me on Cobra throughout my pregnancy and delivery…who thought THAT was a good idea? I threw in the towel at the end of my maternity leave and quit. So far, I’m pretty happy with that decision.
Well said, and I add: Don’t be fooled into thinking you can take on project X, Y and Z because you “ONLY” work part-time. I’ve got the mental scars to show for that.
I total agree with you, I went back part time after Ian was born and 6 weeks in I was so stressed between being a new mom and trying to do my job good. Also the cost of childcare sucked away most of my part-time paycheck.
Wordy mcworderson. Even working one day from home stresses me out beyond belief. I sometimes wonder why I still do it. If I could afford the extra day of childcare, I might not.
I seriously considered going part-time for the earlier this year, but it was a candid conversation with my boss about her experience going part-time (which she did for a couple of years after maternity leave). She was all negative nancy about it too. It became clear to me that going part-time was not only a loss in pay but a serious loss in career oppty & advancement. If I was going to go part-time, it really meant just working for a paycheck during that time. And when I thought about it that way, I decided to find other ways to work full-time (like more telecommuting, a full-day kindergarten, etc). I may be FT and not in the fast lane to becoming a Director or VP. But at least I know that I’m still in the running.
I loved this post because I am currently doing a consulting gig where I am there 15 hours per week (3 days x 5 hour shifts) you know, so I can have my cake and eat it too, picking up my kids at 3.30 and not suffering any mommy guilt. But, the same shit you are describing where I am essentially as much an inconvenience to my co-workers as a value. Particularly for those who are below me and relying on my input to move forward. They asked me to stop calling into a weekly call because my car/cell phone situation was a distraction.
I did want to share my past wonderful experience, however. When I returned to work after my first child was born, it was to a 30 hour work week, and it was great. I had a 12-minute commute, so this might not work for many people, but I worked every day from 8 to 2. I relieved my nanny at 2.30 and then got to play SAHM at the park with the other moms for the afternoon. It worked because I was in the office every day and it was easy for people to know my schedule. I did not make any exceptions, so they knew not to ask for them. Just saying, it can be great.
Ha ha. Ever since Whitney had that nirvana of a part-time arrangement, I have been seeking it myself. Hells bells, I even have worked in that same office building a number of times. But it has not worked perfectly for me.
I do prefer working part-time to being home full-time because, even at a terrible work-day they still pay me and don’t cry/drool/spit at me. I like adult conversation and feeling that my brain is getting a different kind of work out. Work also helps me connect with my husband more as a peer.
Finding awesome work with a flexible part-time schedule has meant generally being unavailable to clients and colleagues when they expect my quick responses; however I can’t see a brighter future with full-time work. Can you?
Great comments. Robyn, your approach sounds awesome for a full-timer, and I hope your flexible arrangements don’t mommy track you- they shouldn’t. You’re still full time! Heather & Whitney, I do think there are good part time options out there, but they are so few and far between. As far as clients go, I was in a client-based business, and my clients understood up until a point, and then I just felt so bad that I couldn’t get back to them in a timely manner. Of course, if it’s the choice between that and full time work, I’ll take the part-time, client avoiding work any day.
self-made mom -
part-time work is great for me – but i understand that some basic rules need to be followed
1) my employer knows my schedule
2) i have a care-giver who can work extra hours in case “something comes up”
in my case – i realize i have been VERY lucky to have #1 and #2 work out for me
sorry we couldn’t hang out at blogher drinking mock-itos
i hope to come to chicago in the fall for a cubs game
love your blog! you and your hormones make me laugh!
I find the same problems working at home. While I am working in my t-shirt and shorts, I am also juggling lunch hour to cover a conference call. I figure it’s my choice, so I just have to make the best of it. I don’t know any woman — working or stay-at-home — who has it all figured out. We’re all in it together.
Still figuring all that out myself.
BTW – your new blog do looks great! And how are you?
I had a great part-time schedule in a client-based business. I was able to negotiate full-time pay for 4 days a week coming off of maternity leave from my second child. (I had another job offer and that’s what I negotiated to stay put.) So I was 4 days a week with one of those days from home. It worked out well for the most part–gave me a lot of flexibility and a good balance of home and work. Fast-forward a year and a half later and the economy went south. A main client left us, and there was no replacement. Instead of floating me until new biz came in, my schedule, and quite frankly pay, were probably seen as a liability. I was a target to be laid off, and I was. The good news is that I landed on my feet, but with a full-time job. I really miss my flexibility and kids. So, having had both–I would say I would prefer the part-time schedule. I’d really prefer SAHM, or even part-time consultant with no health benefits, but the economic situation in our family doesn’t allow either to be a possibility.
I always worked full time until I had my daughter. I took a year off from work and returned part time. I’ve been part time for a year now and love it. I’ve told my husband I never want to go back to being full time again. I am less stressed, still have a paycheck and don’t feel as guilty having my daughter in daycare only a few days a week. It’s been perfect, not a hellish experience as some have described.