Parenting Decisions - Reducing Working Hours to Spend More Time with Children

Nicole Kofkin, the Managing Director of smartaupairs UK and Smartaupairs Australia discusses the topic of balancing working hours with spending more time with children in the Women's Agenda publication. "Women taking a break in their careers or going part-time to look after their babies or preschool-aged children seems to get a lot more attention and support from governments, the media and society in general. What's often not talked about are the women who decide to step off the corporate ladder to spend more time with their teenage children. When your kids are older there's a fair chance your career is in full-flight and respect from your superiors and peers is growing as fast as your responsibilities and hours. What motivates women to put on the brakes and pull back in their careers at a time when their workplaces need them just as much as their teenage children?" // "Nicole Kofkin worked fulltime for almost 20 years, primarily in the marketing area of the travel industry in the UK. She loved her work-from-home days but in order to step up to the next level, including managing a team, she was told she had to be in the office every day, which would have meant gruelling commuting and a 60-hour week. Kofkin set up a Sydney au pair agency called Smartaupairs to enable her to work part-time and have the flexibility to be there for her boys, now aged 9 and 12, as they entered their teenage years. One-third of the families she has on her books have teenage children. They employ au pairs – young women from Europe and America – to live in the home and act as big sisters, role models, homework helpers and a "taxi service" when their parents can't be around fulltime. Kofkin: "It would never be voiced but you know in the corporate world if you make the decision as a mum to go part-time or ask for flexibility, it can affect your career. You know the employer will say 'Oh well, there will be someone else to step into that position to do everything we want'. I had to make a big decision to go part-time and for women who do that I think they deserve a pat on the back for that bravery. Not everyone is in the situation where they can start their own business but you have to respect that other people want the flexibility you have. I'm proud that amongst the entire team I employ, not a single person works nine to five, five days a week. I employ several part-timers, including one mum who works some of the time from home. We all have a life outside work. Having that flexibility to work part time creates so much more happiness and fulfilment." Continue to read the full article here: http://www.womensagenda.com.au/guilt-free-zone/parenting/women-cutting-back-the-hours-to-find-time-for-the-teenage-years/20120910592