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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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More working moms dream of going part-time
Really interesting article on cnn.com about a study showing that more working mothers would prefer to work part-time (no flaming, mean, inconsiderate posts please  ).
Article
Personally, I think it's true, more and more, working women are realizing that the dream to "have it all" is very, VERY difficult to achieve, but I think it's more of a function of this society not providing the means or flexibility needed to have succesful working mothers, as compared to some other countries.
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Posted 7/17/07 10:35 AM  |
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FelAndJon
needs to update her avatar pic
Member since 6/05 10212 total posts
Name:
Felice (aka LuckyBride2004)
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I know this would be my ideal 
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:38 AM |
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CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!
Member since 5/05 14021 total posts
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by Bxgell2
Personally, I think it's true, more and more, working women are realizing that the dream to "have it all" is very, VERY difficult to achieve, but I think it's more of a function of this society not providing the means or flexibility needed to have succesful working mothers, as compared to some other countries.
I agree with this 100%! I could telecommute easily but I'm not permitted to do so because then I couldn't be "micro managed". I would be much happy and more apt to prove my productivity if I was telecommuting then in the office.
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:38 AM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by shamrock124
Posted by Bxgell2
Personally, I think it's true, more and more, working women are realizing that the dream to "have it all" is very, VERY difficult to achieve, but I think it's more of a function of this society not providing the means or flexibility needed to have succesful working mothers, as compared to some other countries.
I agree with this 100%! I could telecommute easily but I'm not permitted to do so because then I couldn't be "micro managed". I would be much happy and more apt to prove my productivity if I was telecommuting then in the office.
EXACTLY. Personally, I'm finding that I CAN do it all, but that's only because I found a very particular niche where working parents are given a significant amount of flexibility (federal government position). We are allowed to work from home, take time off for parent-teacher conferences, school trips, doctor appointments, etc. The only drawback is I don't get paid maternity leave, but I can deal with that, as long as my hours are reasonable.
But, for all those in my area - law - who are working for law firms, it's just so impossible. There's such an old-school, conservative mentality in so many of these places. If they could just realize that giving a little flexibility will help them retain very qualified women, who will be THAT MUCH MORE productive.... sigh...
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:41 AM |
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jennyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 633 total posts
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I couldn't agree more - when I had baby #2 I asked for part time and to my shock, they actually gave me what I asked for. So now I do 4 days in the office and I have Fridays off. I cannot even begin to tell you how much balance it has added to my life and the stress it has alleviated from my life & my marriage. I appreciate my job and my employers so much more and everyone tells me I am one of the hardest working people they have ever seen. Employers have no idea how grateful their empolyers would be if they gave flex time and honored the family values they all claim to have. Plus I think I'm the most loyal employee they have as there is no way I would give up this situation!
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:43 AM |
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I would love to go part-time, but I don't know if the city schools have such an option, and I don't know if we could afford it anyway. I know I am more grateful than ever for my summers off, though I taught summer school every year for almost 10 years.
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:43 AM |
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ddunne2
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Doreen
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I know I am very lucky becasue I have a part time position from home. I was offered my old job, 100% from home, 20 hours a week. I am salaried, have full beneifts include 401k and even had a paid maternity leave with Molly. Plus as an incentive to have working moms come back to work, the company pays one week salary bonus after you are back for one month from your maternity leave.
It is definatley hard to balance working from home since I keep the kids home with me, but I have the flexibility to work whenever...evenings, weekends, etc.
It really is a shame that companies are not more mother-friendly. If they only realized a part time working mom could be just as productive as a full time position!
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:50 AM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by ddunne2
If they only realized a part time working mom could be just as productive as a full time position!
Ain't that the truth 
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| Posted 7/17/07 10:51 AM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I would LOVE to work part time. I would not like to not work at all. I think part time is the happy medium.
Who am I kidding, I would be happy getting home by 4.
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| Posted 7/17/07 11:47 AM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by ddunne2
I know I am very lucky becasue I have a part time position from home. I was offered my old job, 100% from home, 20 hours a week. I am salaried, have full beneifts include 401k and even had a paid maternity leave with Molly. Plus as an incentive to have working moms come back to work, the company pays one week salary bonus after you are back for one month from your maternity leave.
It is definatley hard to balance working from home since I keep the kids home with me, but I have the flexibility to work whenever...evenings, weekends, etc.
It really is a shame that companies are not more mother-friendly. If they only realized a part time working mom could be just as productive as a full time position!
That is great!! May I ask what you do? My company will not even offer part time.
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| Posted 7/17/07 11:49 AM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by shamrock124
I agree with this 100%! I could telecommute easily but I'm not permitted to do so because then I couldn't be "micro managed". I would be much happy and more apt to prove my productivity if I was telecommuting then in the office.
I could have written this.
Also, I am pretty sure I have a good chance of being granted part time if I ask for it. However, I know that being the only woman in a dept in a field that is so male-dominated and being the only person to ever switch to part time would do serious damage to my promotion potential.
I guess I just have to get to the point where I am willing and ready to give that up. Financially, I can't yet, even though right now I appear to be looking at a glass ceiling as it is.
It's true what they say - you can't have it all... but with PT, you can certainly almost have it all. I really wish more companies would get on board with this.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:10 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I feel very blessed that I have my ideal. I get to work PT. I could work as little as one day a month if our finances allowed. Right now I work two days a week. I still get 401K, pro rated vacation and a few other perks. I don't get any paid maternity leave and our insurance is through DH but that's not a problem.
I also can work extra when I want which I am starting to do so I can stay home 6 months or so when we have baby #2.
I think it's sad that more jobs aren't flexible. I know all can't be but there are a lot that could at least try.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:26 PM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by Bxgell2
Posted by shamrock124
Posted by Bxgell2
Personally, I think it's true, more and more, working women are realizing that the dream to "have it all" is very, VERY difficult to achieve, but I think it's more of a function of this society not providing the means or flexibility needed to have succesful working mothers, as compared to some other countries.
I agree with this 100%! I could telecommute easily but I'm not permitted to do so because then I couldn't be "micro managed". I would be much happy and more apt to prove my productivity if I was telecommuting then in the office.
EXACTLY. Personally, I'm finding that I CAN do it all, but that's only because I found a very particular niche where working parents are given a significant amount of flexibility (federal government position). We are allowed to work from home, take time off for parent-teacher conferences, school trips, doctor appointments, etc. The only drawback is I don't get paid maternity leave, but I can deal with that, as long as my hours are reasonable.
But, for all those in my area - law - who are working for law firms, it's just so impossible. There's such an old-school, conservative mentality in so many of these places. If they could just realize that giving a little flexibility will help them retain very qualified women, who will be THAT MUCH MORE productive.... sigh...
I ha dto respond. While i think its great that they are parent friendly, I think it is BS that the federal gov't does not pay for maternity leave!! Unbelievable
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:33 PM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by melijane
I ha dto respond. While i think its great that they are parent friendly, I think it is BS that the federal gov't does not pay for maternity leave!! Unbelievable
I'm not disagreeing with you there. I can use accumulated sick time or vacation time, but that doesn't really help for an employee who hasn't been there long enough to accumulate anything of substance.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:35 PM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by Bxgell2
Posted by melijane
I ha dto respond. While i think its great that they are parent friendly, I think it is BS that the federal gov't does not pay for maternity leave!! Unbelievable
I'm not disagreeing with you there. I can use accumulated sick time or vacation time, but that doesn't really help for an employee who hasn't been there long enough to accumulate anything of substance.
Also you are not sick or on vacation...I just think that is the tip of the iceberg the way Mothers are treated by the workforce. Luckily I have a job where I work from home and the company(and my boss) is based in Ohio.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:40 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I am in the middle of a career change that will allow me to work PT. I went back to school for 3 years PT while working FT because I knew I did not want to be that mom who has to run like crazy after working 40+ hours
Message edited 7/17/2007 12:50:20 PM.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:49 PM |
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2girlsforme
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 3071 total posts
Name:
XXXXXXXXX
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by Bxgell2
Posted by melijane
I ha dto respond. While i think its great that they are parent friendly, I think it is BS that the federal gov't does not pay for maternity leave!! Unbelievable
I'm not disagreeing with you there. I can use accumulated sick time or vacation time, but that doesn't really help for an employee who hasn't been there long enough to accumulate anything of substance.
I've worked for the government for 17 years, and while its true there is no paid maternity leave, the pluses clearly outweigh the minuses. I am fortunate enough to be able to make 2/3 of my salary (2days in the office and one day at home) and keep all my benefits intact. In addition, I can go back f/t in the future (though I have absolutely no plans to do so).
This situation has been g*d sent for me. It has allowed me to continue working as a lawyer and be a very involved mother. I have accumulated so much leave that I can take off whenever I want and I typically carry 6 weeks leave into the new year. I just wish more professional women had the opportunity to work the way I do. Interestingly enough most of the attorneys in my office are female and doing some combination of what I'm doing. The funny part is that I am really still carrying a F/T caseload and am considered very productive.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:55 PM |
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CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!
Member since 5/05 14021 total posts
Name:
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Posted by melijane
I ha dto respond. While i think its great that they are parent friendly, I think it is BS that the federal gov't does not pay for maternity leave!! Unbelievable
Unfortunately, this is the norm for lots of industries and companies in the USA. We have one of the worst policies on maternity leave of any industrialized country.
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| Posted 7/17/07 12:55 PM |
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lmb03
Stop kissing me!
Member since 5/05 2636 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
That article is so true. Thanks for sharing.
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| Posted 7/17/07 1:10 PM |
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WhatNow
Say Cheese!
Member since 1/06 8033 total posts
Name:
A (formerly WhatNow?)
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
Part time would be great! Unfortunately, very few companies offer that option. I work for a very large corporation and they refuse to allow mothers switch to part time, even for those who can afford it. You either work for them full-time of you don't work for them.
Working from home is also not allowed. As a PP mentioned, because then they can't micro-manage your every move. Also, because it makes others believe that we are getting preferential treatment.The others are mostly single childless women who just don't yet understand that by byatching about mothers working from home 2-3 times a week they are shooting themselves in the foot as well...
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| Posted 7/17/07 1:31 PM |
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Lucky
Growing up fast!
Member since 4/07 12683 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
One of my girlfriends works for a Community College (in Counseling) and they have a job share. She and another woman work 2.5 days each...sharing a position and splitting a salary. I am a teacher and would love to have a position like that!!! Wouldn't it be great if places offered a placement like that as an option?!
I would love to be home more with DD
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| Posted 7/17/07 1:34 PM |
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WoodIAm
My Boys!
Member since 5/05 5498 total posts
Name:
JoAnne
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I wish I could work part time. I dropped down to 5 days from 6 this summer and they had fit. There is no way they would let me go part time. I do like going to work a couple of days. I think it's good for both of us.
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| Posted 7/17/07 2:14 PM |
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krwm
<3
Member since 7/05 3466 total posts
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Re: More working moms dream of going part-time
I would love to work part-time. I work from home 3 days a week in the city 2, its a good schedule but part time would really be ideal.
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| Posted 7/17/07 2:15 PM |
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