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Advice on flexible working arrangements

trinavenardtrinavenard
in Working Moms

I am five months pregnant and would like to discuss the possibility of working from home one or two days a week with my boss.  The company I work for is very flexible and telecommuting is usually supported but I am not sure when is the appropriate time to have this discussion.  Should I start this discussion now or should I wait until I am further along to bring it up?

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Re: Advice on flexible working arrangements

  • RoxyLynnRoxyLynn member

    Telecommuting should be available to you now, as I can't imagine it would be denied to childfree employees.  Of course you will be required to have childcare for your DC while you're working at home (nanny, daycare, whatever).  You'd be surprised how many women think someone will pay them to stay at home with their baby!

    I'd float the idea now so that you can iron out any problems that come up.

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  • Taylor44Taylor44
    Yes, I agree with PP.  You should start the discussions now to work out any details.  Also, when you are working at home, you will need some type of care for your child, or you will need to work after their bedtime.  It is not possible to get much work done during the day while watching a child.  I work at home on Fridays without additional childcare, and I get about 3 hours of work completed.  Therefore, I have to work extra the other 4 days of the week to make up for the difference.
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  • RoxyLynnRoxyLynn member

    imageTaylor44:
    Also, when you are working at home, you will need some type of care for your child, or you will need to work after their bedtime.
    If your employer agrees to it, and you don't need to interface with anyone else, that should work.

    When my employees work at home they MUST be available during working hours; if I need a question answered I need it now, not three hours later when it's convenient for them. 

    The type of work you do will determine whether you're looking for telecommuting (everything exactly the same, just working at home) or telecommuting AND flextime (if your work is more task-oriented without many deadlines).

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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    I would bring it up now.  Make sure to stress that once the baby is born, you will ahve daycare for all days regardless of where you are working.  I started working from home 1 day a week after my older DD was born and I discussed it with my boss while I was on leave but she said she figured I would ask (she works from home one day a week).  I had always had the option of working from home as needed and even now, work from once a week and other days if needed.  My kids are always at daycare which is a must at my company - kids need a different care giver or to be at daycare for it to work.
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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  • Lisa419Lisa419

    My company is very pro-telecommuting.  I was in a situation where I was laid off from another company while pregnant, and found this job that I started 6 weeks after my son's birth - it was posted as a virtual home office position, so I didn't need to have the discussion.  But if your company is supportive of these arrangements, I'd bring it up now. 

    FWIW, although my job is very task-oriented, I still work an 8 hour day and my DS is in daycare.  I found this works best for our family, as I can devote my time 100% to my work while he is gone, and devote 100% of my time to him when he is home.  However, I love the flexibility if DS is sick, daycare is closed, etc. that he can be home with me and I can still get some work done.

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