Learn how to increase your chances of getting a schedule that works for you.
Every working professional should have the right to take time off, free from the pressures of work. But doing so requires some savvy planning with your supervisors and colleagues when you are gone.
First, check with your employer about your maternity, paternity and family leave options. The stress that many feel often relates to leaving work unfinished or falling behind on projects, so don’t leave your job with uncertainty and offer a clear timeline so that your work colleagues know what to expect.
While the art of balancing family life and career is fraught with intense emotions at times, make sure you check your emotional highs and lows at the door. Always maintain a professional attitude when in front of your colleagues. You want to show that you are dedicated and just as reliable, and that you take your work commitments seriously.
Here’s what to go over with your supervisor if you are considering time off:
- Determine the changes in schedule or job functions.
- Specify the start and end dates of your leave period.
- Figure out coverage. Who will cover for you while you are gone? Will your work be divided up among colleagues, and are they aware?
- Create hand-off notes and outline work procedures for your replacement.
- Establish boundaries and access. Will you be available for consultation? How much contact are you willing to have during your leave?
- Plan your re-integration. Design a strategy for your return, such as changes in job function, reduced hours, etc.
- Consider telecommuting and working from home or at a location closer to home. Present a clear plan of action to your supervisor about how you see this arrangement benefiting you and your company. Will you be able to make regular conference calls to check in with your colleagues or your supervisor? Will you be able to drop in on occasion if a project calls for it, or if you need to see clients?
There are four important steps to take when negotiating flexible work arrangements:
- Assess your job and employer. Will they allow you to try the above flex options? Some jobs are strict about a physical presence in the office during regular hours. For example, a surgeon or school teacher may find flex options provide no respite from their work demands. For those with more flexibility from their employers, consider if working in an alternate location would be beneficial. Can you handle the independence and distractions, if it saves you commuting time and costs?
- Find out where you work best. Many thrive in home offices, which allow them to save on childcare costs, while others find home offices distracting and unproductive. At face value, working from home may seem to be the most convenient option. But before seizing the opportunity, remember that working at home doesn’t necessarily make it convenient. If constant interruptions will make working difficult, the advantages of working at home may be overshadowed by the downsides, such as battling cranky outbursts from your kids or other interruptions of daily living.
- If you are a parent or caregiver, drop the guilt factor. Recognize that you shouldn’t feel like a bad parent if you come to the realization that you can’t work and care for a child in a synchronous manner and that you are more productive when you keep the two worlds largely separate. Perhaps you’re the type that needs a designated working space. Other parents might not mind writing or preparing reports, making phone calls and dealing with clients while toys are scattered by the desk and your child squeals and plays in the playpen set in the corner of the room. Seek out the best work arrangement and reassure your employer that you’re not seeking a favor, but asking for an alternative way to produce the same level of work expected.
- Champion your work. Once you’ve started your new work arrangement, remember that you may not be physically in the office as often as usual. Being “out of sight, out of mind” can have detrimental effects on your employer’s impression of you. Make sure you take these measures to ensure that you get the credit you deserve:
- Document your performance and work results. Check in daily if needed with your boss.
- Be clear about the expectations. You may not be able to work full time, but you can still produce full-time work.
- Set up periodic meetings with your supervisor to go over expectations. Have you made significant contributions? If so, in what ways? Work with your employer to adjust your work schedule as needed to fine-tune an optimal arrangement.
- If something urgent comes up at work, what is your family contingency plan? And vice versa—if something at home interrupts your work schedule, will your employer be able to grant you more flexibility?
While there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach, variations in theme, creative strategizing and planning will allow you to achieve the best of both your family and career spheres of life. Maintain clarity and definition, and be resolute in your personal choices. An injection of optimism and approaching your colleagues and supervisors with amiable professionalism will dramatically increase your chances of getting the schedule that works best for you. iBi
Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla is a speaker and expert in work/life balance and author of the book Harmony of the Spheres. She also runs the websites busymomMD.com and housecallsMD.us.
