Full Time, All the Time
with Britt and Robyn
I'm Britt. I work full time as a mom, wife, blogger and salesperson with a fancy management title. And I'm Robyn. I work as a project manager and between corporate meetings manage to cook a home-made meal every day. This blog is about our experiences of juggling full-time work with family.
Check out our personal blogs:
Miss Britt and Who's the Boss?
In this week’s issue of Time magazine, the cover story details The Future of Work. Specifically, the article takes a look at how the workforce will be (and has been) changing. Not surprisingly, the article highlights the disappearance of employer paid benefits.
It’s not news to anyone who has worked - or looked for work - in the last 5 years that company sponsored health care is a rare gem in the job market. Most employees these days are thrilled to have the opportunity to pay a portion of their health insurance premiums out of each paycheck. An employer who invests any matching funds into a 401K is often thought to be going above and beyond the norm. And a pension? What is that? As a 29 year old worker, I have never worked for a company that offered a pension.
Insurance and retirement benefits used to be the perks that differentiated one job offer from another. With those extra benefits being taken off the table, what are the perks that we’re working for now?
Of course, most of us are ultimately working for the paycheck. Whether you’re earning a salary, hourly wage or commission - we show up to work everyday because of the monetary compensation. But what else can your employer do to keep you happy, productive, and loyal?
I know some people who could not work in a suit. A casual atmosphere and the ability to wear jeans is a big deal for them, although putting on a skirt and heels would be just fine for me. I know some parents who have chosen a job because of on-site child care. While I would appreciate the convenience of having my kids in the same building as me, my children are old enough that it’s not a deal breaker (or maker).
One of the things I do value in a job is flexibility. I like to be able to work from home three days a week. I like to be able to take off early on a Friday or schedule an appointment in the middle of the day. I operate under the philosophy that if the work is getting done, it doesn’t matter when or where it’s being done. Obviously I have to keep things like deadlines and customer service hours in mind, but I would crumble in an environment that required me to punch a time clock.
For me, the intangible benefit of having a certain amount of freedom with my schedule and location is important enough that I might reject the chance to make more money at a more restrictive company. I’ve done the corporate 9 to 5 thing and I hated it.
What do you value in a job, beyond the financial compensation? Do you value stability over flexibility? Are you willing to give up a little in terms of salary if it means more vacation time every year?
What are the perks you’re willing to work for?
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I’m one of those lucky folks whose health benefits are paid for in full by my employer. I’ve also been able to negotiate an office space away from headquarters (which is about 95 miles away from home) in another company building about 40 miles from home. Although I don’t work on a time clock, I am allowed to keep relatively tight hours at the office so I can ride in a carpool. I occassionally have to log in again when I get home, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. Have I maximized my earning potential, most likely not. But I do have a situation that works for me and right now that’s worth more than the extra bucks.
Double-valley Worker | May 27th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Flexibility is absolutely essential to me because of my son’s medical needs. The ability to come and go as I need to as long as the work is getting done and getting done well is of the utmost importance to me.
Finn | May 27th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I haven’t had a raise since I started my job 2 years ago, thanks to the construction slump.They have quit contributing to our 401K’s. And although I’m only paying $20 a month for my health insurance, I’m paying about $170 a month for my daughters. So, currently the benefits package is better than a lot of others out there, that’s not what keeps me here.
I adore the people I work with. Everyone gets along great. We all really care about each other and we are a well oiled machine as far as team work goes. Also, my bosses know that I am a mother first. If my child is sick, no questions are asked. I go home and I take care of her and no one complains about it. No one feels like I am less worthy as an employee because of it. That is what matters most to me. With other companies, I would’ve been fired a long time ago for the amount of time I’ve had to take off of work with little notice.
Erica | May 27th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I’m with you on the flexibility thing. I wish I had just a little more flex so I could work from home regularly. I’ve had those timeclock jobs and only last a short time in them. I don’t like people telling me what to do. It stifles the creative process.
I’m in a situation right now where I like but don’t love my job. I’m kinda looking, kinda not. I’m bored by the subject matter (scientific research) but I love my boss, who is wonderful to work for. The pay is about 15% less than it would be in the corporate world. However, my employer contributes 10% of my annual salary into a 401k. I earn 4 weeks of vacation and 4 weeks of sick time a year. And I don’t punch a clock.
I definitely work for a company to have health insurance. I pay $160 / month for full heath and dental, life insurance, AD&D and life/AD&D for my daughter. That’s inexpensive too.
The most intangible benefits I like are an environment where I’m learning new stuff and where I’m contributing to the common good.
Lynn @ human, being | May 27th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Having flexibility was the only way it made sense for me to return to work after having children. It was my number one priority. Financially, it didn’t make sense to work part-time and pay the childcare expense, so I needed to find something I could do mainly from home.
HomeBy3.com was a great resource for me in being able to find high-quality, flexible work opportunities. The mission of HomeBy3.com is to connect companies with professional, yet flexible, opportunities for individuals who need and want balance in their lives. The jobs posted are nationwide, and include work-at-home, part-time, flex-hours, contract-based or temporary positions.
I wish everyone luck in finding amazing opportunities at HomeBy3.com!
NCmomof2 | May 31st, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Im under the philosphy that if you are just doing a job just to do a job you’ve completely wasted your life.
i think women are the worst at this. we have been taught to dislike ambition or something.
thousands of years of repression will do that to you. luckily a lot of us have jobs that matter to us. creating, inventing, helping etc.
what are you teaching your children? to work for money and then come home and complain about how tired you are?
im surrounded by this kind of person. but most people just coast through life. im just an accountant. but its humorous, i like my work environment (took a while to find but i kept searching) and i always find something interesting. i also have an art degree. each of us are not just one thing. but you spend a majority of your time working ladies. make it worth it. even if its being a garbage man. otherwise your just teaching your little girls how to grow up to be whiny &*!@#$ and your sons to never commit to a whiny you know what.
gwendolyn | June 1st, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Back up day care for all those random days off of school that kids have is a gem from my employer. I also enjoy more vacation than average so I can visit family every year and still take a 1/2 day here and there to see my daughter’s performances. The ability to work remotely when needed saved my job 2 years ago, and being 45 minutes from home/school is asingle parent essential!
I’ve worked 1-1/2 hours away, better overall work environment but can’t imagine it now, never knowing if I’d be home for dinner, if leaving work early actually meant getting to a school event on time.
Mich | June 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm