The taboo of part time working
Whether it’s requesting it or actually completing it, working part time poses many issues.
There is an insidious idea that working less hours means a person is less committed to their role and the organisation they work for, there is also a belief that they are no longer ambitious. This is simply not the case. The majority of workers are seeking an element of flexibility in their weekly schedule in order to manage their responsibilities and lives outside of work. Companies can suffer from a lack of vision and consequently fail to value part-time workers which means they aren't adapting their workplaces to ensure their employees can have a fulfilling career and be hands-on parents.
This week Emma Stewart MBE spoke to Emma Barnett on Woman's Hour about the latest research carried out by Time Wise . The numbers speak for themselves; out of 6 million job adverts posted in the UK this year only 12% offered part time hours & in the main the roles were low paid.
It is widely known that in the UK there is shortage of candidates to fill vacancies and yet at the same time there are hundreds of thousands of highly trained, extremely skilled women who are no longer able to use those skills in the workplace even if they want to because many employers refuse to embrace part time working which is critical to a lot of women who often take on the majority of the caring responsibility in their household.
In a lot of cases the process of securing a part time contract can feel impossible and unclear. In addition, forcing an existing employee to wait a minimum of 26 weeks to submit a flexible working request really sends the wrong message out.
If a part time working request is approved it can often mean that employees become stuck on what is referred to as the mummy track, In my own recent Employment Tribunal hearing it was confirmed by a senior manager that in order for an employee to progress their carer they have to take on bigger roles however these bigger roles aren’t deemed part time appropriate therefore you can only progress in that organisation if you work full time! Mothers will always lose in a culture where employers reward their employees for seat-warming rather than performing.
There should be so much motivation for organisations to make part time working more accessible, the result would mean increased productivity, improved well-being for employees and better gender equality in the workplace not to mention the workforce would be a more accurate representation of society.
Organisations are really missing a trick; part time workers offer a rich pool of talent with a much lower cost to the company wage bill. Given the right role, with an appropriate & achievable workload, the results for both the employee and organisation could be amazing. Conversely leaving someone to drown in an unmanageable role that is not part time suitable will lead to serious ramifications for the employee and as I have proven the employer.
Clearly an organisation needs to invest in some upfront planning, roles will need to be adapted and, in some cases, completely redesigned. It is necessary for there to be a thorough, well thought out & creative approach to incorporating part time working into an organisation’s day to day operation but with the right mindset and people in charge this is all entirely achievable. A fundamental shift in attitudes & mentality from the top down is imperative. The toxic stigma around part time working has got to go; organisations need to champion those who work part time, it should be seen as a success story rather than something to be kept quiet for fear of opening the floodgates.
Ensuring mums have equal access to the labour market is not just the responsibility of employers; it is the responsibility of policy makers. Politicians have got to prioritise levelling up the jobs market; there needs to be legislative reform as well as innovative thinking and transformative action.
It is worth pointing out that part time working should not be classed as a gender issue. There are many men who would love to work part time but are fearful about the impact it would have on their career, not to mention the judgment from their colleagues. If more men worked part time the working landscape would look very different. The majority of people in the UK want to do fulfilling paid work and they want quality time to see their family and friends as well as time to pursue interests and causes they care about. We all need a better way to live and work.
Fortunately, there are many people working hard to enable skilled, ambitious and committed workers who need some flexibility, to find the right role within the right organisation. Timewise Jobs is a jobs board specialising in part-time jobs and roles that are open to flexibility. Investing in Women has been set up to help candidates find their dream job – one that allows them to shine at work without sacrificing time with their family. And most recently Anna Whitehouse aka Mother Pukka and Tim Grimes have founded Work Your Way which has been described as ‘Tinder’ for people looking for jobs that fit around their families.
Over working is not the only way to prove your worth, my successful Employment Tribunal claim demonstrates that intolerable part time working conditions do not have to be tolerated. I am more than happy to be contacted for support and guidance on this issue. You can find me on online at www.letstalkwork.co.uk and through my Instagram account: Lets.Talk.Work