Work options

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Many parents enjoy going back to work. It can help you reconnect with people and activities outside home, and add variety to your daily routines.

The workplace has changed a lot in the last 20 years. These changes include:

• longer working hours
• more women with children in the workplace
• more men taking part in child care at home
• a rise in part-time and casual jobs
• huge leaps in technology (especially communications)
• an ageing workforce.

The modern family has evolved too with:

• more single parent families and separated families
• more dual-income families
• child care options becoming more and more expensive.

When it comes to your work arrangements, try to look at all your options and find what works for you. It doesn’t matter what your friends or people on TV do – choose the option that is best for your family. Flexibility for parents is becoming part of many modern jobs, so you can have a fulfilling and happy life as a working parent.

Once you have looked into arrangements at work, it is worth thinking about organising child care. It might be a while off, but it’s worth considering the main issues, particularly as most centres have a waiting list. When will you need child care? Is it available locally? Does it make sense financially?

Organising things at work

Try to find out early what family-friendly policies your employer has in place. What options are included in your workplace agreement?

Some things covered by workplace agreements include:

• Pregnancy at work: flexibility for women who are preparing to give birth.
• Working from home (or telecommuting) some or all of the time. If you have the kind of job where you work on a computer and can keep in contact with the office by email, this can be a great way of working. Of course, if you drive a crane or work on a supermarket checkout, it’s not an option.
• Job sharing: sharing your role with a similarly qualified and capable employee. Perhaps you know of someone who would consider doing this with you?
• Regular part-time work.
• Parental leave.
• Work-based arrangement for child care: even a child care facility connected with your workplace.
• Breastfeeding in the workplace.
• Carer's leave: days allowed for employees to care for a sick child or loved one.
• Flexible work hours: for example, being able to arrive late and work late or vice versa, or longer hours for four days rather than five days of the week.

Some tips that might make the first few months easier:

• Request flexible start and finish times if this is possible.
• See if you can organise to work part-time for the first week or two after returning.
• Make a rule not to attend meetings outside of normal working hours.
• If you want to breastfeed while working, ask about your employer’s policies and facilities.
• Ask around at work for recommendations on local child care and school holiday care.
• Would it make sense to change shifts to a time when your partner can be at home to care for your child?

Talking to your boss

You might feel a bit nervous about asking your boss for flexible arrangements. Here are a few ideas to help you out:

• Think about exactly what it is you want. Then think about it from your manager's point of view – does it seem practical? Try to come up with some reasons your suggestion is good for the business as well as for you. Consider any problems your boss might have with your idea, and try to think of solutions.
• If other people at your work have flexible arrangements, talk with them about how it's working and what they proposed to their boss. If their arrangements are working out well, you could talk to their boss about the best ways to approach your manager.
• If you're a member of a union, your union may have suggestions for you.
• Try to approach negotiations calmly. If you're very nervous or think you might get defensive or angry, think about writing to your manager instead of arranging a meeting.
• Ask for a little more than you want; leave yourself space to be negotiated down.

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