Returning to work
Q: My oldest child is now going to school and I'd love to find work I can do during term time only. How do I find a job like that?
A: Many organisations now offer term-time working as a flexible option. Banks, the civil service and the BBC all consider applications for term-time- only working, so mums can be with their children in school holidays.
There are also term-time-only jobs in schools and universities. Contact education colleges in your area and your local council to ask about vacancies, or check out www.publicjobsdirect.com and www.mumandworking.co.uk.
Q: I'm a nurse and work the evening shift while my husband looks after our two young children. But a new shift pattern has been proposed, which means my hours of work will be different all the time, and I don't think I'll be able to get childcare. Help!
A: First talk to your union representative. If enough of you find this new arrangement impossible, then your managers may be persuaded to change their plans. After all, good nurses are hard to find and expensive to recruit.
If they insist on pushing through the changes and you can't find suitable childcare, then you may have a claim under the Sex Discrimination Act, as most nurses are women. If your claim goes to a tribunal, you'll have to show that you made a real effort to find childcare, so make a note of everything you do.
Find out more:
The website www.motheratwork.co.uk is invaluable if you're thinking of returning to work after giving birth, or you're already juggling a family and a job. It has lots of info on being a working mum, from the practical, using your income wisely and knowing your employment rights, to ensuring you have time for you, your health and your relationships.
For a copy of the accompanying book Working Mothers: The Essential Guide (£8.99), call 01733 898103.
By Leah Hardy
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