women making work work

Women Making Work Work Series

36 Comments / Women Making Work Work, Flexible Working, Navigating Mummyhood / By

Women Making Work Work

 

Welcome to my new blog series Women Making Work Work.  This series will look at a different women who has taken a perhaps alternative route to work.  They might have a traditional 9-5, but also be rocking a sideline passion project or be a mother with several different roles on the go in order to be flexible for the family.  They might be a business owner, a freelancer or a part time employee, but who ever they are they are women making work work for them! 

This series was born out of my discussions and meetings with other women who all have different ways of making work work, but who didn’t necessarily meet the traditional concept of SAHM or of working mum.  I don’t fit the mold properly either and it got me wondering about what everyone else does to make work work and is is just those who are parents who want more flexible working.  I knew that all employees were able to ask for flexible working, but in my HR roles (now some 6 years ago)  I hadn’t ever seen the requests approved except for parents and so I was interested in not only the experience of mothers, but of all women.   The more women I spoke to the more I discovered different ways that women make work work for them.  I have also spent a lot of time, since I had my children, trying to work what worked for me and my family.  Access to series like this where I could read about the experiences and ideas of others would have really helped me so I thought it was important to not only share my story, but that of some of the awesome women I have come across.

Women Making Work Work 1

Flexible Working is on the up!

In my research I found some interesting statistics about the world of the self employed.  According to the office of national statistics the number of those classed as self employed in the UK has risen from 12% of the labour force in 2001 to 15.1% in 2017.  Now of course there are loads of reasons for this and it isn’t all about flexibility.  Also in this series, I am not  just looking at those who are self employed, but also business owners, part time workers or those who have negotiated flexible working solutions.  It is about what makes work work for you and not fitting a particular category.  However, I think the rise of those not in full time permanent employment does demonstrate a shift in the labour market.

Figure 1 The cumulative change in employee and self employed jobs

What can you expect?

I will start this series with a post about my experience of transitioning from your traditional office 9-5 to a more flexible and ultimately self employed working life, but then I have several fabulous women in the wings who have kindly agreed to share their stories.  I hope they will help inspire confidence in those who are thinking about taking a leap into a more flexible approach to work, share some useful advice and experience and answer some queries that you have.  I know that they have inspired me.

Each of the women featured has taken a route to a more flexible working life that works for her.  Navigating Baby is not endorsing any particular route during this series!  I just want to share the experiences of other women and how she has made work work. 

Get involved

If you would like to be featured in this series then please email me at kirsty@navigatingbaby.com   with the subject Women Making Work Work. I am looking for women from all walks of life and of all ages to take part and share their story of how they are making work work for them.

women making work work

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36 thoughts on “Women Making Work Work Series”

  1. Nita

    Great topic! flexible working is the way forward and as a mother of one who will soon be going on maternity leave again, I would love to hear the experiences of other women who have gone through similar situations and how they make it work.#DreamTeam

    1. Kirsty

      I hope that you will find something useful. I have had loads of response so I think there are some good posts coming! thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

  3. Isabel

    Great idea, I agree, more flexible, patchwork like work patterns, more flexibility become so much more important (not only for women I think though), love your initiative 🙂 #dreamteam

    1. Kirsty

      Totally agree that it is not just for women. My husband also switches his working pattern so that he can be home earlier. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

  4. Rosie Doal

    I think this is a great feature idea. I’m sure you will come across lots of women who work alternative jobs/careers. wish i could take part but sadly i’m a full-timer, blogging in my free time x #dreamteam

  5. Bethanie Wardell

    I consider myself lucky because I work term time so get the school holidays off. A huge help as childcare costs mean it wouldn’t be worth me working through holidays. However, I am desperate to be able to work from home so i can be there for those sick days etc it will be interesting to see what other people think. this is a very interesting topic! #dreamteam

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks Bethanie. If you felt like sharing your experience of term time working I would love to feature you on the series. I really want to cover all the ways women are #makingworkwork. Thanks for joining us on the #DreamTeam this week

  6. Laurie

    I love the idea of flexible hours. When my boys were little, I worked at night and hubby worked during the day. we handed them off when we passed each other at the door!

    1. Kirsty

      It is so tricky to achieve but fingers crossed many seem to be making it work. I think the world is making it a bit easier these days. Thanks for being with us this week on the #dreamTeam

  7. Kate

    Brilliant idea for a series and much needed too. Hate how women are educated and trained and develop skills and qualities which then too easily go to waste with the challenges of combining work and parenthood. A sensible society would make this easier but then again as we have seen recently we certainly don’t live in one of those. All power to you and the women sharing their stories. #DReamTeam I have tried full-time work, part-time work, freelancing, volunteering and SAHM and they all bring their own worries

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks Kate and if you feel like sharing your experiences we would love to have you join the series. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

  8. Nichole Goodland

    This is interesting. I am currently a SAHM looking at ways in which to make some extra money, but I have also been applying for jobs and have a job interview coming up. The thing is in no way is it going to be family friendly with the hours and days as it is full time. Yikes! #DreamTeam

    1. Kirsty

      It is so difficult to balance everything and it is something that I simply couldn’t manage but I know loads of women who do it brilliantly. Good luck with the interview #DreamTeam

  11. Michele Morin

    I was very fortunate to be able to stay home with my kids when they were small, but we gradually added a small business to our family life, and found creative ways to make things work financially. Freelance writing is one avenue I’m exploring now that my children are getting more independent.

  12. Tracey Carr

    I am so excited to read about this series kirsty. i can relate to this because right now i am trying to create this life for myself where i can work from home but feel like i am still finding my feet. i hope ill get some good tips from this! its a great idea for a series #dreamteam

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks so much for the comments Tracey. I hope that you find some useful information. I have had a great response so we have lots of good stuff coming up. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

  14. Annette, 3 Little Buttons

    What a fantastic series. I’m looking forward to reading about different ways women make work, work for them. And quite curious about how flexible working could work for someone without children. I’m the same in that I’ve mainly seen this in place for mums, and not really for dads or non-parents. Thanks for being a fab #dreamteam host xx

    1. Kirsty

      Next week my sister will be on the series and she has no kids but has still decided to find flexible alternatives for herself #DreamTeam

  15. Emma

    Sounds like a great series, women and especially mothers are so resourceful. I fit into this category I think. I set up a Small online business but ALWAYS say I’m a SAHM if anyone asks, because I don’t go out to work. It’s a grey area, so great that you’re covering it. #DreamTeam.

    1. Kirsty

      Me too! I always say I am a SAHM, but I run my business and I also do the blog so it is definitely a grey area. Thanks for sharing with the #DreamTeam

  16. Noleen Miller

    As a working mother it is not easy. However I work flexi hours and it does help a bit. although i wish i could work from home at least 2 days a week #dreamteam

  17. Heather Keet

    What a great series and it’s so nice to see that ‘traditional’ work places are starting to allow flexibility. The world is changing and people need options – and technology allows us that! #DreamTeam

  19. Lisa Pomerantz

    Hi Kirsty! This is such a great topic, and one I hope to soon get better at! I was never the sahm, but i want to be more flex at work — which is totally impossible at this point. I’m dreaming of a better time. Kudos on this series! I will look forward to reading! #dreamteam xoxo

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks Lisa. I hope it will be useful for people. I have been lucky to meet loads of great women who have come up with some very creative ways of working. Good to see you back on the #DreamTeam xx

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