s/o to Stigma w/ flex schedule post below

financialdiva · April 2012

A lot of you mentioned how it shouldn't be about face time in the office and should be about getting the work done. While I agree with this 100%, managers I have and currently work for seem to tell me how "easy" I have it now. And then they go on to tell me their "horrible" work stories from way back when. I have heard MULTIPLE stories about how "back in my day my kids used to spend the entire weekend in the office with me so I could be in the office." (True story)

So, we all want to change the way the companies view hours and time spent in the office, then how are we going to make sure WE don't get wrapped up in the mentality of "well, I worked full time plus when my kids were little, so you can do it too". KWIM? If in 5, 10, 20 years when we are the manager or whatever and our direct report comes to us and wants to work part time, do you think you're going to have the guts to go against the "norm" and let them?

Of course we are all going to say YES we will, but I really wonder if our bosses thought the same thing "back in their day".

EastCoastBride · April 2012

financialdiva:

If in 5, 10, 20 years when we are the manager or whatever and our direct report comes to us and wants to work part time, do you think you're going to have the guts to go against the "norm" and let them?

Well, it's not quite the same thing, but at the same time - my entire working career, I've worked for managers who have always been very flexible w/ requests for time off and working w/ me when I've needed a little extra flexibility. Men and women.

I now work at a job where I get a LOT of time off, and it's never questioned when I ask for it. In order to have DS, at pretty much the 'last minute', I needed to go to NYC for 2 1/2 weeks. This was fine- my boss supported me.

Starting next week, I'm going to be able to start working from home one day a week.

Perhaps it's the field/companies I've worked in/at, but based on my own experiences, I know that I'd be open and willing to TRY and work w/ an employee in whatever way I could. I'd absolutley consider a request to work PT. Doesn't mean it will happen - depending on the demands of the job, staffing needs, etc. But if I COULD, I absolutely would.

financialdiva · April 2012

lasposa425:

I absolutely would. If there are issues with work not getting done, etc. I'd reevaluate it at that point.

But you bring up an interesting point of older coworkers saying how easy we have it nowadays. I hear this a lot too but the dynamic of the workplace has changed so much, largely because of technology. "Back in the day" employees weren't expected to be on call all hours of the day because of blackberries, etc. When you left the office, you left (no strings attached). Nowadays I'm available by email/phone after "traditional" office hours but in return, I expect some flexibility.

Also, I've heard stories about older working women who will say things like "well I didn't work part-time" or "I didn't take maternity leave" -- these comments work against all the gains/strides that were made to have a more flexibile work environment. It's almost like they're saying "I suffered so you have to suffer too." Could you imagine this happening with other movements in the workplace? (eg., child labor laws-- "well kids, grandpa worked in the factory at age 7 so you should suffer too"). I'm having a little fun with my analogy but hopefully you get my point

This was EXACTLY my point. Thank you. Big Smile I just hope our generation doesn't fall into that same mindset, KWIM?

And you bring up an excellent point about the technology differences. I just think those of us with bosses from the "older" generations don't realize that most of us can and are willing to be reached 24/7 and you're right, in return some flexibility should be there as well. It's not like I need to be waiting for your response in the office when I can leave at 5pm and then respond on my BB when I get home.

SummerOH · April 2012

I've had a few older, bitter-type co-workers who have said stuff like that. They've also huffily said that they NEVER attended their children's events because they thought work was more important. Um, ok? You really want to brag about missing your child's childhood? Is taking off half an hour early occasionally to see you kid's soccer game really that big of a deal? But they're the type to grumble about everything so whatever.

Mostly I hear the opposite from older men and women in my workplace. They say, "Wow it wasn't like that when I was your age (30)." But they mean that things have gotten better and should stay that way. My husband's company even offers 6 weeks of paid paternity time! Now that's progressive!

If you look at America in comparison to other developed countries, our parental leave benefits are quite shameful. Six weeks is nothing, plus we don't even require it to be paid. A lot of countries routinely give 3 months paid time off.

rockychryslerb2010 · April 2012

I get what you ate saying, but that hasn't been my experience. My company is extremely young, like when I started over five years ago, most of the company was under 30 and all the directors and most managing directors were under 40. I think the crazy work hours came from the 'work hard, play hard' mentality of a bunch of young kids who just graduated college, the majority male. As the company grew, they promoted from within so now all those young college grads who started 10 or 15 years ago are managers and still working crazy hours. I will say it has gotten better as we have merged with larger, more work life balance companies. I even know a female MD who went part time after having a baby! (the first female MD in my company to have a baby since I've been there). I kid you not, an agenda topic on my weekly team meetings is to discuss how people are making an effort to have a work life balance. I grew up with parents who were able to be home for dinner most nights and attend most my games, so it is just not how I grew up. It was fine when I was right out of college, but E just puts things into perspective. I would definitely be looking for a new job if my company wasn't being cooperative and letting me work from home

AuburnGirl04 · April 2012

lasposa425:

I absolutely would. If there are issues with work not getting done, etc. I'd reevaluate it at that point.

But you bring up an interesting point of older coworkers saying how easy we have it nowadays. I hear this a lot too but the dynamic of the workplace has changed so much, largely because of technology. "Back in the day" employees weren't expected to be on call all hours of the day because of blackberries, etc. When you left the office, you left (no strings attached). Nowadays I'm available by email/phone after "traditional" office hours but in return, I expect some flexibility.

Also, I've heard stories about older working women who will say things like "well I didn't work part-time" or "I didn't take maternity leave" -- these comments work against all the gains/strides that were made to have a more flexibile work environment. It's almost like they're saying "I suffered so you have to suffer too." Could you imagine this happening with other movements in the workplace? (eg., child labor laws-- "well kids, grandpa worked in the factory at age 7 so you should suffer too"). I'm having a little fun with my analogy but hopefully you get my point

Agree with this completely! Oddly, my largest hurdle to getting my part time work request approved was the woman director in our department at the time. She definitely had a "well I did it so you should too" attitude. All the men managers were completely on board.

I would say that if an employee has experience with the department, is well respected, gets things done and has great performance reviews, a company is silly NOT to entertain a somewhat flexible schedule and I vow to always support flex work arrangements for these type of individuals!

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