tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2236461450774245955.post8670130297632973913..comments2023-05-17T09:06:27.535-07:00Comments on The Childless by Choice Project: Making a Case for Flex Time for AllLaura S. Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11503359529542988850noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2236461450774245955.post-89833109155335389852016-02-28T12:06:25.216-08:002016-02-28T12:06:25.216-08:00I've experienced this in subtle and not so sub...I've experienced this in subtle and not so subtle ways for my entire career, which is in Student Affairs in higher education. Many departments regularly have night and weekend events in order to connect with students when they're available. That is an accepted aspect of our work. Yet when it seems to predominantly be the single people staffing and attending those events? Or those with partner and children are more readily excused for their early departure? Not cool.<br /><br />True organizationally-sanctioned and structured flex time is only vaguely supported because it's not like anyone has really made an effort to change the way meetings are scheduled or to create "core hours" with flexibility around those. It's essentially allowed to be departmentally managed but that doesn't change the fact we're not all in alignment. <br /><br />What makes me most furious is when some higher-up states we all need to support the work of other departments by making appearances at their evening and weekend events and, if we don't, we get knocked down a notch in performance reviews or, at least, in how we're treated by those higher-ups. That's REALLY not cool. <br /><br />Yet I need to go home for self-care reasons even though I don't have the same culturally sanctioned reason of partner and children. <br /><br />I have a doctoral degree I'm working on at home. <br />I have a furkid to take care of at home. <br />I have ME to take care of at home. <br />I have plenty of (what should be culturally sanctioned) reasons to go home, too. <br /><br />At least now I can constantly say "I have a paper to write" or "I have readings to do" and everyone oohs and ahhs and says "go! go!" I used to joke that my PhD will be my child in this life, but apparently I was closer to the truth than I ever realized. <br />archdivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09145422010042596452noreply@blogger.com