Baby. Career. How to have both
We know to expect sleepless nights and nappies, and that things will change. But how will work fit in? Even if you're taking your full quota of maternity leave, chances are you'll need or want to go back at some point. How will that work for you?
Juggling the demands of children and work can be a rollercoaster for new working mums. But if you start planning and preparing for it as early as possible (even while you're pregnant), you can create a much smoother ride for you and your family.
Know your rights
In January 2010, the Australian Federal Government introduced the right for parents with children under school age to request a flexible work arrangement. If you put in writing a request for a change to your working hours, patterns of work or location, your employer has 21 days to respond - and if they refuse, they must outline "reasonable business grounds" for the refusal. Examples of these could include the financial impact on the employer's business, or the inability to organise work among existing staff or to recruit a part-time replacement employee. (You'll find full details, as well as steps you can take if you get a refusal, at fairwork.gov.au). This sounds great in theory, but can be more difficult in practice. How do you ask? What do you ask for? (Remember that flexible working arrangements cover anything from reduced hours to working from home or changing your start and finish times). And what can you say to give yourself the best possible chance of your employer granting your request?
Emma Walsh, founder of Mums@Work (mumsatwork.com.au), believes it's all in the planning and preparation. "The key to success is to put the work in upfront," she says. "You need to propose a solution to how your flexible working arrangement will work, and not expect your employer to work it out for you."
This means reviewing your job, working out your core responsibilities and thinking about how you can meet the requirements of the job while maintaining your own interest in it. Consider available technology so you can work remotely, or job sharing with someone else. "Think outside the square about how you could do it differently," says Walsh. Once you've done that, put a business plan together. Show your employer exactly what you are proposing, with clear bottom-line reasons about why it won't be a bad thing for him or her.
"Have different scenarios and information in front of you when you speak to your boss or manager," says Penny Webb, founder of Working Mums Masterclass (workingmumsmasterclass.com.au). "Be upfront about your own value to the company." Communicate that you have a legitimate right to work flexibly, outline how your role will function with your proposed flexible work arrangement, and be proactive in showing how it will work. It's important to reinforce your skills and attributes, as well as any key goals you've achieved.
For more tips on how to get the best out of boardroom and baby, pick up the Autumn 2012 issue of Cosmo Pregnancy, on sale now.
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