Work can be such a big issue when you have a family – with the possibility of juggling, finances, stress, compromising, childcare and employer issues becoming a focus.
I’m involved with a couple of projects at the moment – with Pregnant Then Screwed and with the North of Tyne Combined Authority – which are both focusing on work when you have a family.
So I am interested in hearing from you – your stories, your experience and your perspective around the barriers to work as well as how your working life has changed as a result of pregnancy and having a family.
I want to hear everything you have to say and want to share about what has impacted your work life because I know the barriers to work are varied and personal.
Over the years, parents have told me about:
employer inflexibility over maternity and paternity leave as well as around the return to work
giving up their job, stepping away from their career or finding another job which works around their family life
lack of communication and lack of consistent policies which made the return to work challenging and confusing
how the expense of childcare is a big issue meaning that families have to make different choices around work and the days/hours they can be at work.
stress and pressure over taking time off work to attend antenatal appointments
lack of support around time off work after a premature birth, after babyloss and if there are any medical needs after birth.
I would love to hear your experiences, which can remain anonymous. I want to learn and feedback the range of issues.
I would also love to hear the positive stories, of practical solutions and good practice.
Please do share this post and you can feedback your experience to me. I really appreciate your time to read this and to be involved. Thank you!
Hello,
Thank you for opening this topic up for discussion. I'm a new mother although I'm a non-bio parent, so I came into parenthood through the support role. I worked as a freelancer throughout my partners entire pregnancy. My days were long, and since I had just entered the new job role, I wanted to stay committed. With her high risk pregnancy, I wanted to be able to be there for my partner. Once our son was born (premature), I took time to hibernate with them and support through the beginning weeks, but I never REALLY took off. If a job offering popped up, I didn't have the luxury of denying it. So 8 weeks post I was pretty much working again. Not always everyday, but pending whatever the gig dictated (sometime 5 day stretch sometime 2 days at a time). I wasn't eligible for paid time off as a freelance/gig worker. It caused a lot of stress, frustration and down the line 6-9 months post jealousy. My partner still hadn't gone back to working either and was out of work. I decided to try committing to part-time structured work and begin a new job around 4 months post. The part-time approach has worked so far 10 mos. post) but I do find I'm not passionate about work right now. It's definitely a means to an end, and I thought if I do PT and my partner finds a PT gig, we could both engage with our son in this 1st year and be able to cover bills without taking on expenses and discomforts with 2 full time jobs. This is an extra element too for a two mom structured family where I will be birthing as well. So, not to rush her out of stay at home mom vibes, but also establishing the reality of a pendulum swing to a more support role for 2nd baby. Overall, if PFL was extended to the freelance community, and if we had truly universal healthcare (or employee provided healthcare for part-time workers with lets say 20-30 hour work week), the struggle wouldn't be as difficult as it is now.
Hope that was helpful.
Wise Muvugh