by Karen Salmansohn, Columnist for A.M.-N.Y.
Working mother -- Isn't that redundant? Even today's most savvy mom can feel confused about the benefits and trade-offs that come with working part-time. If you're considering cutting back to a more "flexible" schedule, here's the inside scoop.
1. Be ready not only for a pay cut -- but a "benefits cut." Often this amounts to losing the equivalent of 25 percent of your pay. The result: Day care expenses might exceed your earnings!
2. Be ready for a "prestige and promotion cut." You might feel frustrated watching full time friends gain status and promotions -- while you feel nervous merely making sure you remain needed and appreciated.
3. Be ready for a "big emotional promotion" and "family time bonuses." It's hard to put a price on the improvement in your overall quality of life – but you will feel a daily priceless bonus in connection with your loved ones.
4. Recognize that going part-time has benefits over going no-time. According to a recent report, taking one year off can result in one-third less pay over a 15-year career. Plus, trying to return, can prove frustrating when employer's request recent job experience. Also, keep in mind that you presently have no overriding legal right to get your full-time job back -- unless you have something in writing.
5. To request a part-time job, you need to describe what you want in writing to your boss, who then legally has 28 days to agree to your terms or meet with you to discuss them.
6. If you're not yet a mom, but hope to be, it might be smart to find work now in a progressive company -- one which you know will give the best benefits to part-time working mothers.
Next: Fatherly Advice From Three Career Dads >>
Find out more about Karen Salmansohn
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
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I am a single mom and wanted nothing more than to get my kids out of day care. I kept looking for a way out until I read about Cathy Banks, a divorced mother of 3, who found a way a to make a great living from home and was teaching others how to do it too. When I got to her website ( tiny.cc/WorkAtHomeMom ) it was obvious that I wouldn't need super computer skills. Her program makes it fairly simple for people with reasonable intelligence to master it. With this opportunity, not only did I quit my day job, but I get to spend most of my day doing what I love… being a mommy!
I changed careers by deciding to work at home to be with my children. I have worked from home for more than 10 years. It was the best decision that I ever made. Big companies such as Hilton and AT&T are cutting costs by hiring home workers. Cable/phone and hotel companies usually hire home workers for customer service. Also, the TV shopping shows hire homeworkers to take calls. You just know how to find these jobs. ( tr.im/B09T ) has a FREE list of hundreds of LEGITIMATE work at home jobs offered by well known companies. These jobs do NOT cost you money. They are employment positions. You will need to cut and paste the above link for it to work. Good luck to all that are looking for employment.
ReplyI forgot to mention that I work 4 hrs a day and make $30K a year as an employee. I am a full time mom and a part time employee. :)
Staying at home full-time is not always possible. If someone can stay at home, in my opinon, they should. Those young years in your children's lives are priceless. The years past quickly...
ReplyIf you choose this route, once you go back to work be prepared for the paycut...ect..
And, welcome to my world..
Chris, I just joined your world. I am a Pharmacist by trade and last year, my 6 year old son was bullied terribly at an after school program. It wrecked me, and I made some drastic changes in my life. I agree 100% that if you can stay home with your children YOU SHOULD! But, that being said, I have been reading about lots of different ways people are trying to make money at home. I chose AGEL and am doing very well. If you work hourly, you make some money, but you get no place. If you work for yourself, you reap the benefits of your hard work and you choose your schedule. It works for me. if you are interested in hearing more, feel free to contact me at ThinkAgel@aol.com and my name is Shari.
The extensive pay and benefit cuts working mothers receive are just evidence of gender inequality still prevailing in the American workplace. If a man announces that he is about to be a father, he may get a pay raise. Yet mothers-to-be lose money in the workplace, finding themselves with less hours or passed over for promotions in what is considered a "protective" manner by their company. A majority of single mothers are below the poverty line because of this.
ReplyKaren Salmansohn, as women with equal rights to men guaranteed by law, we should NOT be ready to give up these rights at the slightest change in status. Bringing new life into the world and raising the citizens of tomorrow should not make us second-class citizens ourselves. If anything, we should be ready to CHALLENGE these practices in the workplace.