Many mothers straddle the line between working full-time
and staying home with their kids. Working part-time can be a great way for
women to stay connected to both their careers and families…..
But moms who have
staked out this middle ground attest to the tradeoffs required to do it
successfully.
Think you could find your comfort zone in a part-time
job? Moms who've done it and advocates for women help you sort out the benefits
and drawbacks of this potentially appealing option.
Women who switch from full-time to part-time earn less in ways that go beyond salary, according to
Linda Meric, director of working women advocacy group 9to5.
For example, when lawyer Julie went from working five
days a week to three, she lost her benefits, worth 24 percent of her pay. And
after Gretchen, an arts educator, switched jobs when she had a baby, she earned
significantly less from the new position and did not receive benefits.
Julie and Gretchen agree: Along with reduced earning
power, they must accept a different career outlook. Julie notices her law
school friends are steadily gaining pay and prestige, while she treads water at
her part-time job. Gretchen's goal is to keep her career afloat and alive while
she works part-time.
Despite the sacrifices, Julie and Gretchen have no
regrets about working part-time. They both are comfortable with their decision
to trade pay and promotions for more time at home.
Gretchen wanted to avoid having to do the massive and
difficult juggling act that one has to do with a full-time job and a family.
And Julie couldn't see herself as both a mom and a full-time lawyer. The
supermom is kind of a myth, she says. Part-time can be the best decision for
your quality of life.
Part-time work also has long-term career benefits not
afforded to women who leave the workforce completely. Taking one year off
results in about one-third less pay over the course of a 15-year career, Meric
points out. And Jill Miller, CEO and president of advocacy group Women
Work!, says trying to return to work after time away is enormously difficult,
because employers first look for recent paid employment.
Follow these tips to thrive in a part-time job:
Assess Your Needs: Gretchen says it's important to focus on what's right for you and your family, regardless of what others say or do.
Shop for Benefits Early: Before you have children, Miller advises women to position themselves in companies with progressive benefits.
I think the availability and quality of day care can be a deciding factor whether a mother returns to work or not. Part time jobs can sometimes fit a personal schedule and help with income. The job needs to pay enough for mothers to be able to afford child care costs. Governments should put more effort into providing cheap quality child care. Subsidize companies or corporations that provide for their employees. Good workers should not be lost simply because they have a child.
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