Does part-time work work for you?
Julie Schwartz Weber May 7th, 2008
It is not remarkable that today some families attempt to juggle work and family responsibilities by having one parent work part-time, while the other works full-time. While for many families the loss of income associated with part-time work is too great, a 2007 PEW study indicates that most working women believe part-time work to be ideal (6 out of 10). Which is why a recent study by the Beaton Group of over 11,920 women and men in Australia is newsworthy:
This report concludes that, at least for professional workers, part-time work does not allow them to achieve their balance goals.Specifically, the report finds that professionals working part-time are suffering both career burnout and family stress. Ultimately, part-time professionals lose out on income and long-term career opportunities while still struggling to find enough time for their families.
Any part-time workers out there want to chime in?
While some may consider the results of the Beaton Group study surprising - and perhaps not what proponents of part-time work want to hear - they are understandable.
Particularly for those who are the only part-timers in the office, it’s hard to dial back expectations after having worked full time. The fear of being perceived as less committed motivates superhuman efforts in the workplace. Comments like “Part-timers can get the job done in half the time” and “Actually, I forget you’re part time” are evidence of success, even the ultimate compliment.
All the while the part-time worker may be applying similarly scaled expectations at home. Where full-time workers run errands at lunch, the part-timer scurries home to be with Junior and ends up toting him along to the bank or the supermarket. Where the full-timer pays someone else to clean the house, the part-timer facing additional budget constraints does the scrubbing.
Having worked part time and known several others who’ve done the same, I can see that part-timers may end up feeling double the stress. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s all about setting realistic expectations. Parents working part time need to acknowledge that they can’t play the roles of both full-time professional and full-time parent. As in any challenging situation, these parents need to determine priorities, acknowledge constraints, and allocate their time, energy, and passion accordingly.
Easier said than done, right?
[...] Care, Breastfeeding, Family Medical Leave Act, Gen Y, and those geared towards work, Overwork, Part-Time Work, Telework, Flexible Work Schedules in Small Businesses and [...]