Workingmums.co.uk - connecting mums and employers

This week on our facebook working mums group (join us by the way!) we have been commenting on a piece in the Mirror by Fiona Philips. She was discussing the proposals by the government to offer more money to stay at home mums - to encourage us not to work but make child care our primary job – in order to stop our kids becoming ASBO hoodies I suppose (the idea being that we are ruining our children by being working mums).

Well I am not so sure. The modern world is as it is and I wonder if the government should shift its focus from the parents themselves to the businesses who offer employment.

Perhaps rather than tax benefits to working parents, or more money for stay at home mums, the government should be promoting flexible working a whole lot more than they do (and granted, there have already been changes). Maybe there should be more of a focus on educating businesses to change their culture and their working practice to become more family friendly – and reap the benefits in return of a qualified, experienced and dedicated workforce.

Although I might have taken a longer maternity break if money wasn't an issue, I think I would still have eventually wanted to go back to work. I was lucky, and had an understanding employer who, being a working mum herself, understood the challenges and supported my need for flexible conditions.

But I think it is easier to get flexible working conditions off the back of a full time job well done. What is often harder is finding that flexible or part time job from the off.

My belief is that a lot of employers either think it is more trouble than it is worth, or simply don’t consider job share, or part time etc at all. I know. I have been an employer, and it just didn’t occur to me that I could get some great quality – and dedicated – staff on a job share or something even though I was working flexibly myself!!

When you are employing, and you find you have a gap that needs filling, you just think “full time”. Or if you have a slight need (eg HR help, but not enough for a whole 35 hours a week) then it is sometimes just put it off until the need is great enough for a full time position – rather than considering a part time position.

Now, I know that a lot of employers DO consider flexible working, and realise the potential of working mothers in particular (as WorkingMums.co.uk shows) but I think they are still in the minority. What the government should do is promote flexible working as a different option – which in many ways can benefit business rather than hinder it.

Plus, back to the terrible behaviour of the children of working parents. I have no doubt in my mind that my daughter will not become a happy slapper (although I don’t mind at all if she wears a hoodie). And to assume that she will, just because I am a working parent, is rather insulting. I think there is a whole lot more to it.