Parent Transition Week
Policy Statement (from the company handbook):
[Insert Company Name Here] realizes that adjusting to a regular work schedule can be challenging following the arrival of a child and wishes to support an associate's transition back to work. To assist in the transition back to work, the Company offers a full week of pay for half the time worked for new parents during their first week back."
First, let me say, I am not aware of any other company that offers this benefit. I'm sure there are some out there, but most folks I have run into haven't heard of this. It is a superb benefit extended to not only birth, but adoptive parents. It is nice to know that one doesn't have to have it all together 8 weeks post partum and can ease back into work life.....well, in theory.
I made the decision last week that I would complete my 20 hour week by working each afternoon. My rationale was that if I worked in the morning, most likely I would get caught up in some issue and end up working an entire day. These seems like an ever more masterful plan in that I would have to leave no later than 5:00-5:30p to pick up one or more of the kids. This was an excellent plan...until about Tuesday.
After havings a full 1/2 day of meetings on Monday, including one with my boss who was giddy with excitement to not have to deal with my extremely competent, yet sometimes dysfunctional team, on Tuesday I was to meet with the two folks that filled in for me while I was out. This was like drinking from a firehose, but a typical day is like that, so it was just a matter of getting my head back into the game. I was indeed glazed over by the end of that call. I realized at this point, I had to complete goals for seven associates, complete a position requisition for an associate who was changing jobs, provide an assessment and resource needs for a neglected architecture, and provide documentation from a poor excuse for a reporting database to my boss on why my team needed at least 3 more staff. Let's do the math: 3 days x 4 hours=12 hours less 4 hours of meetings already on the calendar = 8 hours.
Now, if I actually had 8 dedicated hours, this might not be so bad. I had actually tried to "lay low" this week, but by Wednesday, it was full throttle--phone calls, IMs, email. I have easily put in my 20 hours this week already, and it is actually more like 30. There was thoughts of slacking on Friday and doing some things around the house to catch up, but alas, that would only mean working on the weekend.
So, to sum up:
Monday and Tuesday, my head was splitting by 2:30p.
Wednesday, I has nausea by5:00p.
Today, I actually had a spring in my step.
I guess I'm back. Just like riding a bicycle.
Who knows what tomorrow may bring.
So, with that, oh Corporate Master, I choose to provide edits to your policy:
[Insert Company Name Here] [Your Corporate Master] realizes that adjusting to a regular 50+hour work week and 168 hour per week parenting schedule can be challenging enhausting following the arrival of another child and wishes to attempt to support an associate's transition back to work. To assist entice the associate with a seemingly favorable work schedule in the transition back to working ungodly hours, the Company offers a full week of pay for half the time worked for new parents during their first week back."
Hmmm....I guess that's better than a full week of work for half the pay.
Policy Statement (from the company handbook):
[Insert Company Name Here] realizes that adjusting to a regular work schedule can be challenging following the arrival of a child and wishes to support an associate's transition back to work. To assist in the transition back to work, the Company offers a full week of pay for half the time worked for new parents during their first week back."
First, let me say, I am not aware of any other company that offers this benefit. I'm sure there are some out there, but most folks I have run into haven't heard of this. It is a superb benefit extended to not only birth, but adoptive parents. It is nice to know that one doesn't have to have it all together 8 weeks post partum and can ease back into work life.....well, in theory.
I made the decision last week that I would complete my 20 hour week by working each afternoon. My rationale was that if I worked in the morning, most likely I would get caught up in some issue and end up working an entire day. These seems like an ever more masterful plan in that I would have to leave no later than 5:00-5:30p to pick up one or more of the kids. This was an excellent plan...until about Tuesday.
After havings a full 1/2 day of meetings on Monday, including one with my boss who was giddy with excitement to not have to deal with my extremely competent, yet sometimes dysfunctional team, on Tuesday I was to meet with the two folks that filled in for me while I was out. This was like drinking from a firehose, but a typical day is like that, so it was just a matter of getting my head back into the game. I was indeed glazed over by the end of that call. I realized at this point, I had to complete goals for seven associates, complete a position requisition for an associate who was changing jobs, provide an assessment and resource needs for a neglected architecture, and provide documentation from a poor excuse for a reporting database to my boss on why my team needed at least 3 more staff. Let's do the math: 3 days x 4 hours=12 hours less 4 hours of meetings already on the calendar = 8 hours.
Now, if I actually had 8 dedicated hours, this might not be so bad. I had actually tried to "lay low" this week, but by Wednesday, it was full throttle--phone calls, IMs, email. I have easily put in my 20 hours this week already, and it is actually more like 30. There was thoughts of slacking on Friday and doing some things around the house to catch up, but alas, that would only mean working on the weekend.
So, to sum up:
Monday and Tuesday, my head was splitting by 2:30p.
Wednesday, I has nausea by5:00p.
Today, I actually had a spring in my step.
I guess I'm back. Just like riding a bicycle.
Who knows what tomorrow may bring.
So, with that, oh Corporate Master, I choose to provide edits to your policy:
Hmmm....I guess that's better than a full week of work for half the pay.
2 comments:
Thanks for finally telling me about your site. Just one thing though. I think the title of your blog has a spelling issue. Don't you mean....middle-aged-management?
Keep up the old jokes, buster. Your day is coming!
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