Work Life Initiative LLC - Balancing Career and Parenthood

Balancing Career and Parenthood

Work-Life Initiative LLC is an option for people who take their career responsibilities seriously but seek a position with a company that offers family-friendly solutions.

Work/Life Balance Self-Test

Deciding whether to stay home with children or work outside the home can be a tremendous decision for any parent. It is a uniquely personal dilemma and the timing and circumstances of entering (or re-entering) the workplace vary widely. The following self-test does not provide answers, but serves as a check-list to help you assess your situation before deciding on a course of action.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Would you describe yourself as career-oriented?
Where do you find personal fulfillment in your life?
What aspects of your life define your identity?
Are you in a financial situation that requires a return to the workforce?
Are you comfortable leaving your children with an outside caregiver?
What are your realistic prospects for employment?
In what environment do you enjoy working? Do you need to be around other professionals in order to be productive?
Are you self-motivated?
Are you interested in a career with a company that offers flexibility to accommodate the responsibilities of family life?
Are you seeking a way to make parenthood and furthering your career more compatible?
At what stage in your child's development would you be comfortable seeking employment?
Is your goal to remain on a progressive, uninterrupted career-path?
Does a more fulfilling work/life balance suit your long-term goals?

If you're ready to take the next step in balancing a permanent career with a satisfying family-life, Contact Us.

Meeting the Challenges

Women with children seeking to remain on a progressive career-path face a number of challenges in the traditional workplace. They include:

Guilt over the possibility of a reduced role in child care
Discriminatory perceptions regarding availability and commitment to the employer
A “glass ceiling” that limits advancement opportunities
Lower pay than comparable male counterparts, including those with children
Pressure to conform with stereotypical notions regarding the role of moms
Poor cost/benefit ratio in calculating the need for child care
Lack of time for parental responsibilities
Finding self-fulfillment in an environment where your children's needs come first

Work-Life Initiative LLC is at the forefront of revolutionary changes in the workplace. We partner with family-friendly companies to provide custom solutions for working parents. With options like telecommuting, corporate day care, flex scheduling and more, we're introducing employment candidates to more adaptive ways to achieve their career goals without sacrificing family life.

Ready? Contact us to get started on your balanced career path.

Adapting to Changes

If there's one thing parents know about, it's change. How well you adapt to change is a major factor in achieving a successful work/life balance. People seeking home-based employment or telecommuting opportunities will need to restructure their activities in order to maximize the benefit to their employer.

Scheduling is essential. Professionals should establish regular working hours each day when they can be reached for updates, teleconferencing, client inquiries and other tasks. Routine parental responsibilities—taking children to and from school, making doctors' appointments, providing meals—should be included in the schedule for a more efficient use of time.

Technology is changing, as well, and keeping abreast of those changes works to your advantage. Convert your home space to improve your productivity and give yourself a more manageable, more efficient office-environment.

Contact us for more information.

The Role of Technology

Technology is a major reason many companies are embracing a more flexible work-structure, and that's good news for people with children. Innovations in telecommunications and automation allow work to be performed from remote locations and at various times throughout the day. Some of the more notable technologies include:

Cell Phones
PDA's
Email
Teleconferencing
Fax
Voicemail
Software
Pagers
Notebook Computer

All of the above items create the ability for a flexible work schedule.

Contact us for more information.

Creating the Home Office

Technology makes the home office possible, but it's up to you to make it work. Creating the right environment and developing organizational skills are essential to your success.

Setting Goals: Lack of supervision means you have a greater responsibility to be self-motivated. Set daily, weekly and annual goals and track your success.
Scheduling: Create a written schedule of tasks and deadlines, providing weekly updates to managers and relevant members of your team. Scheduling and timekeeping software simplify the task.
Kid Time: Scheduling time for your children reduces interruptions in your work day and helps you keep work and family life in balance. Consider any required tasks (school transportation, appointments, meals) and include daily time intervals when your child can count on your undivided attention.
Technology: The right technology makes your home office an extension of your workplace. Standard telecommunication equipment like a phone, cell phone, fax machine, pager, PDA and computer keep you in touch and available to co-workers and clients. A high-speed network link and specific software programs (including security software) may be required.
Creating Your Space: A manageable work environment improves productivity and efficiency. Choose a quiet space in your home (with a door, if possible). Have your computer, files and phone numbers in easy reach of your desk. Treat yourself to a comfortable office-chair, and keep the area free of any clutter.
Record Keeping: Keep reliable records of your daily calls and appointments for easy tracking. Maintaining a time sheet (time-tracking software is available) helps you stay on schedule and monitors your productivity. Recording your expenses is vital for reimbursement and tax purposes.
Having a Virtual Presence: Staying on a career track means demonstrating your value to the employer. Keep a virtual presence in the workplace with regular updates, calls and emails to keep abreast of activities and to inform others of your status. Send a weekly schedule of activities to relevant co-workers and choose a day to report in with management. Plan regular meetings in the workplace whenever possible—face-time remains an important aspect of building a working relationship.

Tips for the Telecommuter

Professionals who work from home have greater freedom—and greater responsibility. It's important to be pro-active in order to maintain your career path. The following are tips for overcoming the challenges of telecommuting.

Maintain your employer's confidence: The most important thing you can do is be productive and responsible with your tasks. Strategies like supplying your manager with status updates, a list of objectives and emails with your weekly schedule help ensure confidence in your performance.
Stay in the loop: Out of sight doesn't have to mean out of mind. Keep connections with your co-workers by phone and email and, whenever you're in the office, be sure to stop by to see all the people you interact with on a regular basis.
Keeping on the career track: Make your career objectives known and talk with your managers about the requirements for advancement.

Resources for Working Parents

You're not alone—millions of parents are in the working world and the Internet allows access to a wealth of resources that help you as a professional and a parent. Explore these helpful sites:

www.Mommytips.com
www.Babycenter.com
www.Mops.org
www.usa.gov/Topics/Parents.shtml
www.Realsavvymoms.com
www.Kidsource.com
www.Bluesuitmom.com
www.PTA.org
www.Workingmothermediainc.com
www.familiesandwork.org
www.Momsrising.org

Networking

Networking is a vital part of business—especially for the working parent. Making contact with others in your situation can provide insight into new and proven solutions for a more productive career and a more fulfilling family life. Seek out others in your community and share what you've learned. The following is a list of organizations that provide networking opportunities for working parents:

www.Americanmothers.org
www.MomsToday.com
www.CafeMom.com
www.Mothersandmore.org
www.Parenting.ivillage.com
www.4parentsnetwork.com
www.Mothercenter.org