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Deciding whether to return
to work or not brings up a complex set of issues. For
some families it's a financial necessity, for other
mums it's about their needs.
This section is about raising some
of these issues in an open and honest forum.
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I would love to go back to work, but I feel there is no where for my son to go that is cheap but quality childcare, I don't have my family close by so I have to wait till my son is old enough to go to nursery. I'm wasting away and am unsure what I would like to do.
Sam
"I had to go back to work almost as soon as Sam was born - I had to for financial reasons. He wasn't planned and so we had no money put aside to cover our costs. I found that a lot of people were very critical of me for going back to full time work."
"When I decided to go back to work I felt like I was part of a persecuted race. Other mums used to tell me stories about children who'd been psychologically damaged because their mums didn't pick them up from school."
"I felt I needed to go back to work for my own sanity. I just couldn't contemplate being at home all the time. To be honest I found life at home with a baby plain boring. Even being with other mums became boring! I wanted to do more with my life!!"
"I've given up trying to find a part time job or job share in my chosen career as a business analyst. Not that I haven't tried, I've turned down two full time jobs offers because they couldn't offer the flexibility I needed to also allow me to take some responsibility for the care of my son."
"Making the decision to go back to work was incredibly hard. The thought of leaving her was so upsetting and yet I knew I was getting frustrated at home and this wasn't doing either of us any good.
I couldn't turn my brain off…if I could have, I would have. I felt guilty about needing to work and what my mother would say who had never worked when my sister and I were children. I also felt that other mums, who didn't work, were looking at me and criticising my decision. This was probably rubbish and just a reflection of my criticism of myself, but overall it was very difficult."
"I went back to work part time - but then don't most people have to these days?"
"Childcare is non-existent in the Gulf as I guess women don't have much of a say. Those who can afford it keep a maid. Alternatively you keep your child with a babysitter who will already be having around 10-15 kids and there is no special attention for each one. Until 2½ it's a real dilemma where to keep the child, as later on there are a few good playschools. I don't feel comfortable keeping Aaron with a babysitter as I don't want the tension of him picking up infections from other kids, and then worry at work about his health. Neither do I have relatives around who can look after him. Aaron is going to be 9 months soon. I guess I will just have to wait till he is at least a year old before I start looking around for a job."
"I am in the work outside the home mum category, not due to being career orientated but by having to. I hate the late evenings when my children (4 and 2 years) are in Nursery from 0830 until 1900 (twice a week), but have no choice so we all have to get on with it. I still experience the look of horror on stay at home mums faces when I tell them about my working hours and it makes me feel such a bad parent. But we need my income to survive financially and that is without having the exotic holidays etc etc."
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If you are struggling with making your decision and feel that you would like to talk to somebody about your personal situation you may be interested in 'Life Coaching'. Click hereYou can also find help or advice on returning to work through the organisations below.
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SUPPORT LINKS
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Working Families, formerly Parents At Work and New Ways to Work, is a campaigning charity which supports and gives a voice to working parents and carers, and helps employers create workplaces which encourage work-life balance for everyone.
They offer a range of factsheets covering issues such as maternity rights, flexible working, parental and emergency family leave, paternity leave plus an online forum and free legal helpline.
Working Families
1-3 Berry Street
London
EC1V OAA
Tel: 020 7253 7243
Fax: 020 7253 6253
Answerphone for free factsheets: 020 7490 2414
Legal helpline freephone 0800 013 0313
www.workingfamilies.org.uk
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WomenBackToWork
Does the thought of going back to work after a long break seem a little bit daunting? Then check out womenback2work.co.uk, the new complete online resource for women returnees'. This unique web site provides course information, help on job-searching skills, advice on childcare and even guidelines on starting your own business - everything you need to get back into the swing of things.
www.womenbacktowork.co.uk
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RGMC Management Consultancy and Life Coaching Services
Many parents struggle with work/life balance issues when trying to juggle their work commitments with parenting responsibilities. RGMC can help you and your employer to develop flexible working solutions and ensure that opportunities for staff to work flexibly are implemented in a way to support both you and the business.
To find out more visit www.rgmcltd.com/faq.htm#Flexible Working
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RECRUITMENT AGENCIES
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Equals One Recruitment
Equals One Recruitment is a company offering an innovative service to those wishing to work part time or operate flexible working arrangements. Amongst the many options available is free registration on a unique National Job Share Register, which is designed to help workers find a job share partner. Equals One's aim is to find workers an ideal working solution that closely matches their work-life balance needs.
www.equalsone.co.uk
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Flexecutive
Flexecutive is the leading provider of flexible working advice and employment services to both individuals and organisations throughout the UK. Our web site provides detailed information on a comprehensive range of flexible work styles plus access to full time flexible, part-time and interim employment opportunities and a nation-wide jobshare partner matching facility. Our support services also keep you updated on all the latest news and services including relevant changes to employment legislation.
www.flexecutive.co.uk
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