Dear Workplace Sanity, I am a working mother and for the last for years I have been working in a government department. I have diversified working experience at different organizations, but one common problem I have faced in every workplace is the lack of facilitation for working mother. I have requested to my organizations to provide day care facilities, but the management opposed the suggestion with the excuse that it will affect the working capacity of female employees.
As a working mother, childcare during working hours is a big issue. I have tried many daycare centers, but all proved to be only money Institutes. Now I have a maid to take care of my kids during working hours, but after work it is my responsibility to take care of them , as all children need their mothers.
At my organizations, working late is the only criterion to judge someone’s competency. I am a competent employee and have always done my tasks with in time with complete perfection, but it is not possible for me to sit late as I also have domestic obligations. The senior management of my office is not happy that I am unable to stay late because of my family. They ‘assigns’ urgent tasks after working hours as if they want to penalize me for my family responsibilities.
I am not asking for any favor. I just want to go home on time. I have never wasted my time during working hours and have always completed my assignments with due care and vigilance. Sanity! Please suggest measure I and other working mothers facing the same problem can take?
Frustrated Working Mom, Dear Frustrated Working Mom, Late sitting is the problem of ALL employees and will require a change in your organization’s culture that can take up to two to three years to realize; your request for day care is completely legitimate and every GOOD employer today provides onsite day care facilities.
Now it’s not just the multinationals, but local organization too which realize that day care is a benefit they need to provide retain good talent. I suggest you initiate a petition and ask co-workers to join you in submitting a formal request for this benefit. You can offer to even pay for this service from your pay cheque so that it becomes a win-win solution for you and your employer.
If they still reject your request, then don’t quiet; start applying to organization that offers daycare as part of their total compensation structure. If you know you are a competent employee , then you have nothing to fear. You will find what you are looking for.
All the Success! Workplace Sanity