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The other full-time job; Working mothers drawn to jobs that allow most flexibility

By Lisa Schryver, Source: Tribune Media Services

Many moms know that gut-wrenching feeling of guilt that often comes from leaving the kids at home while you go to work. Luckily, some employers understand and have implemented programs to help moms create a better work-life balance.

According to Sharon Reed Abboud, author of “All Moms Work: Short-Term Career Strategies for Long-Range Success” (Capital Books, $15.95), mom-friendly jobs are those that allow flexible work schedules, such as telecommuting, working part-time, or working full-time with flexible hours.

“Mom-friendly companies are run with a progressive management style whereby working moms are not penalized for taking time off when their child is sick or going to a school activity, for example,” explains Abboud. “In a mom-friendly company, working moms can work part-time or on a telecommuting basis and still be viewed as equal in professional status with their full-time counterparts.”

In many cases, moms who work full-time say it’s imperative to have an employer who values the ability to balance work and family life. Such was the case for Julie Cole, a lawyer who left her law firm to start a business with three other women six years ago.

“The real motivator for me was that my eldest child was diagnosed with autism and all the research indicated that for best results, a parent had to manage a very intensive (applied behavior analysis) program and be a strong advocate,” she says. “The traditional workforce did not provide me the time or energy to be able to raise my son the way I wanted to.”

Many companies already offer subsidized childcare and extended maternity leave. Others have gone one step beyond the bare minimum to offer onsite childcare, consultants for pregnancy-related issues and private lactation rooms. These benefits are becoming increasingly important to working mothers as they strive to find a better balance between home and work life.

“For many working moms, work-life balance is their No. 1 priority,” Abboud says. “It is very difficult, if not impossible, to work full-time and still be an involved parent if your company is not progressive in terms of work-life flexibility.”

© 2009, Tribune Media Services