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Flex Your Time, Not Just Your Muscles
New Options Help Dads Be More Involved
By Teri Brown
(McGraw-Hill, 2005), believes offering flextime to fathers is an idea whose time has come. "Fathers are just as important to their babies and children as mothers are," says McWhorter Sember. "There are lots of fathers who want to actively participate in caring for their infants. If a mother needs or wants to return to work, flextime for the dad can mean the difference between full-time daycare and being cared for primarily by a parent. It's also important because there are fathers out there who are raising children without a mom in the home ... It's just wrong to assume that only women need or want flextime."
Approaching Your Boss
McWhorter Sember says the key to flextime is presenting a proposal to your employer that ties up all the loose ends and makes it clear that it will not only be successful but will benefit the company. She gives the following tips for fathers wanting to explore the flextime option:- Find out if flextime has ever been used in your company. Ask your human resources contact if they have a policy about flextime. If no one has tried it or if there is no policy, it doesn't mean they won't let you do it; it just means you must present a convincing proposal.
- Make sure your employer understands this plan will allow you to be more focused when you are at work and will enable you to be more productive.
- Try to create a schedule that will allow you to stay in touch with other members of your office or team, such as always attending the big Monday morning meetings. That way it will be clear you are still very much involved.
- Make it clear that you are working when you are at the office, even if it is off hours. Send e-mails and produce work. Do something so it is obvious you were there earning your keep.
