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Washington Babies
EDD: September 22, 2012
Working Parents and Technology
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42030810/ns/business-careers/
I was just reading this article and it got me thinking. Once I have a child I will be working (not sure if it will be FT or PT), and I've thought a lot about how I will find balance. I see my sister, who works FT, and she is often checking/answering emails after work hours at home. While I realize some jobs would genuinely require this due to the nature of the position; I'm also curious on average how much of it is sparked by technology. Do working parents feel pressure to answer emails, etc after hours simply because they know they are there? In other words are there often things that can actually wait, but because it came through on your phone or you checked work email you feel obligated to handle it right then?
How much of it is really required for someone's job, and how much of it is because we are so wired in with technology. My hope is to separate work from home as much as possible. Meaning in the evenings I won't be checking work emails. However I realize I can't really know what I'll do till I'm in it.
Is it more about the individual person and setting boundaries? I'm just curious to hear from those of you that are living it.
EDD: September 22, 2012
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Working Parents and Technology
I WAH, so my answers may be different from other moms, but yes. I do feel obligated to check email after business hours. My work can be very time sensitive, so I need to be on top of the emails. For the most part, my PMs are very respectful about giving me enough time to get things done and contacting me before the end of business. However, all bets are off when a book is about to go to the printer.
I also don't keep normal business hours. I work a little bit throughout the day, but mostly at night. Sometimes, the emails I receive are just reminders or heads up email. It doesn't cut into my family time because my DH gets home so early (school hours) and I am with my peanut all day!
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I generally start reading/answering emails at about 6:30am, and I arrive at work by 8am. The nature of my business and my clients makes it so that my life is easier if I can get to email sooner rather than later. If I wait, I run the risk of them working themselves up into a tizzy. Also, generally speaking, things often can't wait here so either I need to take care of it or get it to someone who can.
Since they are all on the East Coast though, I leave the office around 4pm. I usually check email in the evening if I see my bb flashing, but I don't feel like it puts me out of balance with my work/home life.
Having Lucy at home, I actually feel like it is much easier to separate work and home now. When I am home, I am focused on being at home. I might take a minute or two to something for work, but once I'm done it leaves my mind.
I purposely don't have my work from home stuff set up. If there's an emergency, my bosses know how to reach me but otherwise there's nothing that interferes with my family time.
DH has a dreaded crackberry that he's always on and I hate it because he is always thinking about work stuff. I really try to turn it off when I"m at home.
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I WAH, so my time to answer emails and phone calls is mostly during nap, in the evenings or after shes in bed. The balance is rough, to say the least. I wish I had normal "office hours"!
I think it will get a little better once LO is in preschool this fall, though.