Life is a tricky sod. You think you know where you are going and there’s a plan. A very important plan. Then you get in your own way, balls things up and you end up dazed, bruised and more than a little confused. You pick yourself up to get on with the plan and the plan explodes.
Some how whilst following my plan for world domination as an awesome legal type, I managed to pick up a beloved husband, three monkeys and a dog. I had to stop being selfish and factor in other people to my plans. That was a head wrecker. Once you do that and your priorities shift you need some flexibility. I still love my job and take pride at being good at it. I still want the gold star for hitting targets. I just can’t always hit those targets when it is expected of me. That’s where flexible working comes in
Everyone is different but afternoons are when I often need to be elsewhere. Monkeys need picking up or wrap around care. Dogs need to go to vets. Food needs preparing. I need to scream in a soundproof room. Being able to request flexible working helps. Some mornings I’m sending emails at 7am. Some nights I’m completing admin tasks at 11pm. It’s a juggle, and it’s not perfect, but being treated like a responsible adult benefits everyone. It’s not something for (step)parents only. This is not a game of cosmic one upmanship about how many children you have and how old they are. Everyone needs some flexibility. From dealing with aging parents, pets, broken boilers and mental health issues a Victoria attitude to working hours should be gone by now but there not. We can all change the perception of flexible working by putting the graft in, supporting our colleagues and remembering what raises one person up elevates us all.
The best I can do is direct you to Mother Pukka’s Flex Appeal which provides the stats and the business case for flexible working. Spread the word and be excellent to each other.