Flexibility Danger Zone

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:55:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I started my PhD on Workplace Flexibility. Eager to meet my supervisor for the first time, I rolled up wide-eyed and eager to give voice to the positive impact that flexible work has brought to my life. And after hearing my spiel about my research proposal - with all its rosy reasonings - like a slap in the face, she hands me 'The Precariat'.

"The Precariat : The New Dangerous Class" is a recent book by academic Guy Standing. It's a warning to people like you and me who succumb to the trappings of flexible work. It's dark and devastating; painting a picture of exploitation and extreme insecurity for those who fall into the drudges of casual, part-time and flexible work. Standing points out that flexible work is largely in favour of employers who use this to exploit their workforce, in return they benefit from reduced costs, a flexible workforce which they can utilise (or not) according to the demands of their business.

It warns against loss of economic security: benefits lost include superannuation, social security entitlements, maternity leave, sick leave, annual leave, irregular income, etc. It also warns of loss of security in terms of social standing: loss of identity, career progression, skills development and becoming deskilled.

Standing does point out that his perspecive is grim. There are instances where some casual labour (for instance working whilst studying for your degree) might be instrumental in developing a strategic pathway - but he feels this is more or less rare.

Whilst I'm enjoying Standing's book (I have not yet finished reading it), I am taking it merely as a warning to balance the flexibility, to monitor it, to keep it under tight control - with a formal agreement that benefits you as an employee. Taking on flexible work, casual and part-time work can work for you now, but you need to ensure it doesn't take over your life and lead you down an unsuspecting path of the precariat.

The Power of Part-Time

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:24:00 +0000

There’s alot of value to be gained through part-time work. It offers true flexibility between work and life interests. Whilst this view comesf rom a mother of two young children who is juggling work, life, family and household responsibilities, it also mirrors the sentiments held by many workers of all ages, from all walks of life.

Reducing the hours you work frees you up to include the other interests and responsibilities in your life. With 60%of working women feeling pressed for time, why not consider reducing your working week by even a few hours a week? Quite often it doesn’t make a huge difference to your pay packet as you might be liable for less tax, and therefore experience only a minimal change in wages. Yet, the huge difference it makes to your quality of life is really worth considering.

I remember all too clearly the days when I worked full-time: the weekend was meant to be relaxing, a time to wind down and replenish my energy. Instead, I had so much to do that I would return to work on Monday morning absolutely exhausted! And that was even before I became a mum!

Incorporating other flexible work options such as telework or compressed hours can also help maximise the benefits on offer with part-time work. Life’s too short – take a good look at the way you are working today and ask yourself if you could worker smarter by re-organising your routine to leave more time for you!

Time Management for Business Mums

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 22:34:00 +0000

I recently joined an online business mums' community (check it out: http://businessmums.com.au/). One of the questions asked of new subscribers was "What is your main business issue?" This question came as a big reality check for me! To my own surprise, my main business issue was not marketing strategy, or client relations, or cashflow or other business imperatives. It was, simply, time!

For most mums, time is a scarce resource! Of course, you manage the hours of the day according to your 'essential' priorities: feeding, nappy changes, play-time, cooking, cleaning, cuddles, bath time, potty training, story-book reading and more cleaning! Whether your child goes to school or childcare, time is still a critical factor affecting the lives of working mums. (A recent study revealed that over 60% of working women feel rushed or pressed for time.)

One of my saviours is my 'power-work' plan. During opportune times (kids nap time, kinder/school/childcare times, etc), I use these periods to work full steam ahead. To execute this plan successfully, these sessions need to be pre-planned in order to ensure I have all the information, tools, equipment, etc., available and within easy reach upon commencement of work, for optimal productivity and minimal time wasting.

So how do you manage your time? I'd love to hear some great time management strategies for working mums - particularly those of you who work from home.

Book Launch Teleworking Mum : the essential work from home guide for parents

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:18:00 +0000

The book Teleworking Mum was launched yesterday - in typical teleworking fashion: Online via media release, Twitter announcements, special offers and YouTube video launch!

Somehow, it seems the launch will continue as a long-term engagement as media enquiries are coming through thick and fast... and now the promotion and hard work begins!

Though, happy to be resting from the writing for a while, but sure the bug will start to itch sometime soon.

Happy reading everyone xx.

Mums taxed more than rich

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:58:00 +0000

Working mums are taxed higher than the mega rich.

When mums receive family benefits and then return to work, they get a rude shock to discover that their tax rate exceeds that of the mega rich.

A report to the Australian Government’s Henry Tax Inquiry last year indicated that working mothers on low to middle incomes are taxed at a rate of 56 per cent, whereas the super rich are taxed at only 45 per cent.

Last week a seminar on women and tax was delivered by Professor Patricia Apps at the University of Sydney. The presentation argued that the current taxation system significantly curtails women’s workforce participation by up to 40 per cent. This in turn impacts negatively on our nation’s progress, delivering losses in productivity. This also translates to a loss of around 30 per cent in household savings for couples.

Another interesting point in Professor Apps’ paper is that she indicates that in this instance, half of the income of working mothers who also have a working partner is utilised by our taxation system to fund the tax breaks for high income earners.

Workplace Flexibility for Parents

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:36:00 +0000

For many mums, flexibility makes workforce participation viable; it can make the difference between being engaged in paid employment or abandoning it. Flexible working arrangements provide a valuable means to facilitating an improved return to work journey after having a baby. But when it comes to dealing with the unexpected stumbling blocks that parental life throws at you, will flexibility be enough to sustain your work and family responsibilities?

Both my children recently had pneumonia. The past weeks have been grueling, to say the least; nursing extreme fevers, sleepless nights, and trying helplessly to provide some level of comfort for two suffering little beings. And just when we thought we were out of the woods, a secondary infection flared up, throwing us back into the quarantine cycle.

Without question, my responsibilities as a mother and treating this illness have taken precedence over most other things in life last month. Everything else in my life had either been rationed or forsaken. Housework was kept to a minimum, some chores were delegated to my husband, and there was certainly no room for social or personal activities.

My job, however, continued without interruption. I worked to full capacity without having to take time off, finish work early or miss a deadline. How was this possible? Well, the answer is telework. Luckily, I am able to telework (i.e., work from home) and only work part-time hours.

Had I been working in a traditional role at my employer’s workplace, I really don’t know what would have become of my job. I would have experienced significant stress feeling like I’d let my employer down as I would have no doubt needed to take at least a month off work to look after my ill children. Had that scenario occurred, I can only imagine the difficulty imposed on my employer.

This experience has shed some true life light on why flexibility is so important in the lives of working parents. However, it’s not enough to just have the option to be flexible – you need to harness and use it. Trying to introduce a flexible work style at a critical time of need is a sure recipe for stress, and possibly failure. With any new work arrangement, there are the typical creases that need to be ironed out before things run smoothly. Introducing something new when you’re caught up in a frenzy is not the ideal scenario.

So, my advice is this: if you’re a parent who can relate to the sudden, unplanned events that come hand in hand with having young children, start planning your flexible working arrangements now. Don’t wait until boiling point before you make your change. Flexibility needs to be trialed and established before it can be effective.

Hopes for Paid Maternity Leave Fade

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:49:44 +0000

Last week we heard that the planned legislation for paid maternity leave will be put on hold as a result of the global financial crisis. Today the outlook for paid maternity leave is even more grim as news reports indicate that the issue is being pushed further and further on the backburner.

For over one quarter of mums in Australia paid maternity leave is really no big deal at all. These women are not eligible for paid maternity for various reasons: they may not have been engaged in the workforce for at least 12 months prior to having their child; they may have been working on a contract, part-time or casual basis; they may have been self-employed; they may have been unemployed or out of the workforce altogether.

Paid maternity leave aims to provide financial assistance to families at a time when life is most fragile: physically, emotionally and of course, financially. Ironically, however, if paid maternity leave legislation comes into effect, it will not be of benefit to the women who need financial assistance the most . Therefore these women will be likely to re-enter the workforce at a very early stage following childbirth in attempt to curb additional financial strain on their families. A recent federal government-sponsored study showed that 1 in 10 mothers return to full-time work before their child's first birthday.

The opportunity for these mothers to telework would be a viable alternative to paid maternity leave. Mums could start work earlier (i.e., soon after their baby is born) but because they would be saving much time and money by foregoing the commute aspect, they would be able to earn the same amount of money by working less days/hours. This would also be kinder on their physical and emotional wellbeing, with less stress and being able to spend more time with their bubs.

I'm living proof : I started working only six weeks after I gave birth to my daughter earlier this year and I can tell you, if it wasn't for telework, I would not have been able to hold down a job at all. I was physically weak from a very difficult pregnancy, so being able to work from home allowed my body to heal much quicker. I could sleep longer and rest as I needed to, mainly around my newborn's routine. I only worked a couple of hours a day, but without the burden of child care costs, commute and other expenses (and not to mention a corporate wardrobe!), my weekly income was pretty decent.

Aside from being able to contribute to the management of household bills working as a mum really boosts your self esteem. It provides that 'adult' interaction, even if only via the phone or email. Also, having a job I really enjoy gives me a real sense of community achievement.

So, for the women who are disappointed about the fading paid maternity leave scheme in Australia, I challenge you to try teleworking as a viable alternative. Working shorter hours and/or fewer days is manageable with a young baby, when you can do it flexibly, from home. The beauty of this is also that you maintain your skills, knowledge and employability whist taking a break from the office/workplace to be with your child. You may want to return to your workplace when your child is a little older, but I bet you won't want to give up the countless benefits of working from home.

Easing the Pressure on Childcare

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:24:16 +0000

I've been a teleworking mum for nearly three years now. As my eldest child, Charlie, is turning 3 later this year I thought it would be an ideal time for me to take on a bit of extra work during the hours that he attended kinder next year. Unfortunately we were unable to find a vacancy in our area for 3 year old kinder, so a couple of months ago I started looking at long day care centres offering a kindergarten program instead.

As it turned out all the local child care centres were booked to full capacity - all bar one, which happened to be an ABC Learning Centre. I made an appointment to see the centre and meet the staff.

The ABC centres had long been in the media about their financial troubles and it had clearly affected their reputation in the market. When I attended the centre in my area for an inspection I found that what was normally two separate rooms was now one room consisting of 3 year olds, 4 year olds and 5 year olds, plus their numbers were that low they still had vacancies.

As much as I had faith in the centre and trusted that they would care for my child to their best ability I was not comfortable placing my child there simply for the fact that I didn't want him in an environment surrounded by stress. No doubt the staff were under a lot of pressure and feeling insecure about the future of their jobs and their workplace, which no doubt would be sensed by the children in their care. I couldn't place my child in such circumstances.

We are now on three waiting lists for other centres in our area with no indication on when we will be accepted. For us that's not a great problem because teleworking provides such great flexibility. As I only work part-time hours, and mostly flexibly around my childrens' routines, I can generally manage my work and family schedule in synch. Taking on additional work, however, would be unrealistic at this stage until we are able to get Charlie into kinder or child care.

As I ponder on the demise of the 1000 plus ABC Learning Centres around the country I feel for the families of the 10,000 children in their care. Most of these child care placements are due to work comittments, which will now put the pressure on families to either leave their work, possibly resulting in financial distress, or hope to find child care placements elsewhere.

For many families experiencing this dilema, teleworking or other flexible work options could be the best solution. Teleworking offers such extensive benefits to families including the opportunity to reduce the need for formal child care services. If you're a working parent there's no better time to start teleworking than now!

Finding a Silver Lining in the Current Economy

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:59:21 +0000

Uncertainty and angst has swept the world over the past week: the fear of a global recession, banking fallouts and plummeting stock markets. With business confidence levels following suit it only stands to reason that mums in the workforce (or those planning to re-enter) will be feeling the pressure too. With such a dark cloud looming, how can working mums find that silver lining ?

Although mums can often experience workplace inequalities such as reduced opportunities for promotion it usually stems from mums' preference for part-time or casual employment. In an economic downturn part-time or casual workers are usually preferred in order to curb business operating costs. This reduces business expenses such as superannuation, insurance and wage costs. It also frees up workspace and infrastructure, enabling organisations to utilise these for multiple employees instead of just one.

There are currently over 2.4 million Australians working from home. For many mums working from home is a utopian choice; much desired work/ family balance is achieved whilst cutting back on commute and other work-related costs. In any economic climate teleworking for mums makes workforce participation more viable. However, for more difficult times teleworking is a saving grace.

Therefore issues that were once considered barriers to mums' careers are now emerging as competitive advantages in the workforce.