Comments on: Part-time work is the devil http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/ Off-Ramped and Unbalanced Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stacy http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4101 Stacy Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:41:03 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4101 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. 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.

]]> By: Tracy http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4097 Tracy Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:09:41 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4097 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 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.

]]> By: MJ Tam http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4094 MJ Tam Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:04:59 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4094 Still figuring all that out myself. BTW - your new blog do looks great! And how are you? :-)MJ Still figuring all that out myself.

BTW – your new blog do looks great! And how are you?

:-) MJ

]]> By: Shari http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4059 Shari Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:39:32 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4059 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. 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.

]]> By: jean http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4044 jean Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:37:29 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4044 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! 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!

]]> By: selfmademom http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4043 selfmademom Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:28:49 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4043 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. 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.

]]> By: RookieMom Heather http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4042 RookieMom Heather Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:13:01 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4042 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? 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?

]]> By: RookieMom Whitney http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4041 RookieMom Whitney Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:56:14 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4041 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. 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.

]]> By: Robyn http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4040 Robyn Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:15:30 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4040 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 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.

]]> By: tela http://www.selfmademom.net/2009/08/04/part-time-work-is-the-devil/comment-page-1/#comment-4031 tela Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:57:56 +0000 http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1019#comment-4031 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. 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.

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