Have you ever wondered how you are going to fit everything
into one day - getting the kids ready for school, getting them
to school, getting yourself ready for work, getting to work, making
that stellar presentation, putting in overtime to be ready for
tomorrow, picking up the kids from school, soccer, ballet class,
grocery shopping, making dinner, home work, plus a little housework
on the side before falling into bed?
If this scenario sounds hauntingly familiar to you- have you
ever thought of job sharing? Job sharing is the equal division
of one job between 2 people. Job sharers spend different days in
the office working as if they were one person.
More and more women are job sharing and are finding it an ideal
solution to balancing family and career. Alternative solutions
such as job sharing are part of a growing trend in corporations
that are seeking to increase employee retention and satisfaction.
Two heads are better than one
Job sharing, or flex time, has become common in the US, particularly
amongst women who want to work and have a family. Job sharing
enables women to have the best of both worlds- they are able
to work reduced hours, work from home, they have flexible holidays
and most importantly, more time. Job sharing does usually involve
a 40-50% cut in pay. Because men are still the main source of
income in a family they are less likely to job share, although
this is beginning to change.
Sharegoals.com is the birth child of Shari Rosen Ascher and Maggie
Sisco, two women who found themselves in a dangerous balancing
act once they decided to have children and maintain their full
time jobs. They created Sharegoals following a successful stint
sharing a job at Interep, a nation radio representative company.
When asked about the benefits of job sharing Shari Rosen Ascher
replied, “ Job sharers have an incredible psychological advantage
in the workplace because they have a partner to share the burdens
and successes of work. They have another brain off which to bounce
ideas; another set of ears to help hear what is going on around
them; another set of eyes to see the big picture and another voice
with which to make themselves heard.”
Through her research and interviews Ascher has come across many
people who enjoy the benefits of job sharing. Among these are those
who like to travel, those returning to school, or those who are
looking after their parents. Ascher maintains that with the advent
of cell phones and emails job, sharing makes good business sense.
There are many women who love working and raising a family, and
job sharing is a feasible way in which they can have both. Job
sharing enables women to keep the jobs they love as well as being
there for their children. Employers have nothing to lose when employees
are happier and more productive!
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