Everyone has outside interests and needs, whether it's family, community service, health issues, travel, recreation, or something else.

You don’t have to be a working mother to want more time outside of work—or to value from WorkOptions.com's resources.

But if you don't fit the working mom profile, will your motives for time flexibility be less readily accepted by managers, coworkers and others?

Probably.

I'm not saying that's right, but it's real.

Even so, your strategy for getting approval of a flexible work arrangement is the same. Your Flex Success proposal for restructured work—just like anyone else's—should emphasize the business merits of the new schedule, not the reasons behind it. See Don't Get Personal! for more on this topic.

Beyond that, I'd like to address three specific categories of individuals as they relate to requesting flexible work:

1. Men

2. Those with no kids

3. People 50 +

Men:

Fact: Since 1993, most Flex Success users have been women, many of them working mothers. There's societal pressure at play here.

Think about it: You don't hear the term “working fathers”; it's redundant to most.

The pressures for fathers to work full-time are both internal and external even though their desire to be involved with their kids is high and their work/family conflict issues are on par with working mothers. (Source: Working Fathers, a book by James A. Levine, founder and director of The Fatherhood Project.®)

A single or married man with or without children who asks for a reduced-hour workweek may be perceived as not serious about his job and career path, even if that's untrue.

His decision and strategy may be similar to that of a woman who is committed to her career, yet deciding to sequence from a fast-track phase to a temporary slower phase while demands outside of work—no matter what they are—require more personal attention and energy.

However, this choice is not perceived in the way it is for women. There is definitely a lower level of acceptance for this approach to work/life balance among men.

Often the most acceptable flexible work arrangement among men—in their eyes and others' —is telecommuting, so that may be a good place to start.

Working part of your workweek from home, if set up wisely with boundaries, can allow for more time and energy for personal relationships and interests.

Focus your visit here on WorkOptions.com's telecommuting-related articles.

If you're a father, read Telecommuting for Dads: Winning Ways it Works for You, the Kids and Your Manager.

Then, consider Telecommuting Flex Success to help you in getting your telecommuting request approved.

I also recommend that you use GoToMyPC to access your work computer from home. Click here to get your free 30-day trial of GoToMyPC.

Nonetheless, if you're under 50 years old with no kids in the picture, your motives for a flexible work arrangement may generate questions about job commitment.

If that's a legitimate concern in the employer culture where you work, you may want to first pitch a full-time work option such as compressed workweek or telecommuting, or a combination of the two. The Fridays Off tactics are another possibility. As you establish your success in the new arrangement, you may progress to a part-time, job sharing or other creative ways to get more personal time.

In any case, the resources at WorkOptions.com can help. You may want to start with the articles listed below.

Two big mistakes to avoid when requesting flexible work

How to prepare for objections

Get the scoop on your employer to strengthen your negotiations

People 50 +:

The 50+ crowd is pushing a strong trend to have both meaningful work and enough time for outside pursuits. Flexible work arrangements are a way to fulfill this combination.

Savvy employers see the huge worker shortage coming as older employees leave the workforce in greater numbers than the available replacements.

This positions you to confidently propose any of the flexible work arrangements. Still, present your proposal on its business merits; don't get personal about your needs and desires.

And while your coworkers may be reading about the “the new retirement” which has older employees—including professionals—working part-time, they may not be anywhere near that phase. So be sensitive in garnering their support of your new arrangement. This need is addressed in the Flex Success Proposal Template.

So If You're Other Than a Working Mother... 

I recognize that everyone has personal needs outside of work; I would love to hear of your Flex Success story in the weeks ahead.

All the best,

Pat Katepoo
Work Options Advisor

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