Yep, Dolly had it right – there is a better way to working than 9 to 5.
And it is important to recognise this on International Women’s Day because it wasn’t so long ago that women were denied choice in the workforce because, quite simply, they were women.
Of course, there is still work to do – a gender pay gap hovering around 13%, women retiring with reduced Superannuation due to maternity leave and the fact that women are under-represented in parliament – we do need to celebrate how far we have come.
The 9 to 5 mandate just doesn’t cut it for working women. Juggling school hours, after school activities, further study, caring requirements or the ever increasing costs of child care means that women need that flexibility and support. And when we feel supported, we do our best work.
Isn’t that what any employer wants?
Pop Education has a predominantly female workforce made up of permanent, casual and contract workers who all work remotely.
And it works. Brilliantly.
The fact that my daughters see me working from home with a flexible work arrangement as just the norm makes my heart sing! Of course, technology has helped enormously to enable this but to show our future workforce that they have choices that eluded women not all that long ago, is so important.
When we are able to provide this, next and all the future generations of females with choice we come closer to bridging the gender inequality that still exists in our workforce.
If 9 to 5 works for you – sing your heart out! If not, find an organisation like Pop that will support the way you need to work.
