Should Working Parents Get Special Treatment?
Some parents believe bosses are obligated to accommodate their responsibilities.
March 7, 2006 — -- Last week a column in this space on the delicate dynamic between working parents and their childless colleagues resonated with men and women throughout the country. I received hundreds of e-mails from people who shared their anecdotes and opinions on this topic.
We heard from women who believe it's the employer's obligation to extend flexible hours to enable them to meet their parental responsibilities. Many women said they believe employers should be required to offer accommodations to all working parents.
Other people -- those with kids and without -- disagreed, saying none of us is entitled to accommodations, and that if someone can't handle their responsibilities at work, they should change jobs.
Men and women without children expressed resentment for being expected to pick up the slack when a parent comes in late or leaves early to tend to their families. They said they believe it shows a lack of respect for their personal time. They're tired of the assumption that no kids means no life outside of work.
Some people went so far as to say that working is a choice for parents, and if they can't handle their jobs, they should stay home. (In fairness to parents, most people work out of necessity. They don't have the financial luxury to abandon their jobs.)
We live in a country that believes strongly in working hard and playing hard. It'd be difficult to find an employer or manager who doesn't agree that everyone deserves to have some balance in their lives.
Yet the reality of many positions prevents unilateral accommodations from being made. While it'd be nice for all of us to spend a lot less time in the office and a lot more time pursuing our personal interests and family obligations, it's not usually practical.
No matter where your opinions fall on this issue, there are some universal suggestions and solutions to keep in mind:
Be accountable for your own productivity. If you can't do your job without asking someone else to pick up the slack, then you should rethink your position. If leaving to be with your children requires you to hand off your work to other people on more than isolated occasions, it might not be the right job or the right company for you.
