Why three days a week is a great fit for working mums - Women's Agenda

Why three days a week is a great fit for working mums

Many working mums dream about the ‘magical’ 3-day per week job, seeing it as a powerful fit for a fulfilling career and family life.

Research backs such thinking, with a recent Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) study finding that women who work 15-24 hours per week believe their job improved their time with their family and made them a better parent. Once women started working more than three days per week, the balance started to tip and they could see detrimental impacts on family life.

Meanwhile, a survey by WorkingMumsAustralia.com.au asking women, ‘What is the perfect number of days to work for a mum?’ found that 44% voted three days; 14% four days; 12% two days and 0% one day. Surprisingly only 3% saw five days as the perfect number.

So why is three such a popular number for working mothers?

Before children, I had a high-pressure career in Banking, both in Sydney and London. The birth of my first child made me reconsider my priorities. Whilst I still wanted to have a career, my little girl was now my top priority. Long hours and a long commute were out of the question. I decided to move away from Financial Services and firstly took a role with the charity National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in London and then started my own business, Little Eats, when I returned to Sydney. I loved having the ability to enjoy fulfilling work but also spending plenty of time with my children. I loved taking them to swimming, ballet and just hanging out at home.

I was lucky enough to be offered a Marketing Manager position with a start-up company called Juggle Street (like an ‘Uber’ for babysitting) in early 2015. With flexible hours and the option to work one day from home, it was perfect me. I now relish my two days a week with Miss 3, picking up Miss 5 from school at 3pm and doing reading groups when invited. For me, this is the perfect work/life balance and I can understand why research backs the fact many working mothers see this as an ideal scenario.

Still, part time work has its challenges. Below are my five tips for making it work

1. Choose your role carefully. Part time roles may be harder to come by than full time but don’t de-value your skills and experience. Hold out for the right role, as you will be happier in the long run.

2. Agree scope and hours upfront. Make sure you and the employer are on the same page from the outset. For example, you could negotiate to leave early certain days to do school pick-ups and then make up the hours in the evening or during the week. Working from home is also a great option to cut down on commute time and increase productivity.

3. Include childcare costs in your monthly budget. Childcare may be a substantial portion of your pay so make sure you factor this in.

4. Make sure extra work is paid for or you receive time off in lieu: Agree the scope of your role upfront and try to avoid working on your days off unless completely necessary. Re-assess and discuss your role with your manager every three months.

5. Be in control and organised: Organise your week in advance by doing grocery shopping online, batch cooking on a Sunday and preparing lunches in advance.

There are excellent part-time roles available, but they’re not always easy to find. Remember to keep communication lines open with friends and old colleagues. Often these roles are not advertised and word of mouth is key. 


 This is an edited version of Nicole’s article, first published by 100 Mums.

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