Why Women Still Can't Have it All

[MichelleRenee]

I am about to begin my final year of law school and this topic is on my mind frequently. I think for me the added burden of a bad economy makes it worse. I know exactly what kind of job I want and I have worked very hard to get the grades necessary for that type of job, but there is no room for me to be picky. On top of having a preference for "family-friendly" employers I have to worry about student loan payments. At this point I have to just apply for everything and in the end I hope I will get any job while knowing deep down that there is no way I will find something that meets priority #1 (fam friendly) AND priority #2 (enough $$ to pay loans and support family).

I feel like I am right on the edge of having it all but I am going to be knocked out by a technicality. It is painful at times. I know exactly what I want but all the hard work in the world won't make it happen.

[Annette]

I think stepping away from the 8-5 work day expectation would be a step forward for most "desk jobs". Telecommuting helps, but I think even driving to the office and getting your work done should be enough...basically results-based vs time based. My company is implementing lots of flextime, telecommuting opportunities. I love my boss, but she is a 50-something career woman that can't grasp the concept. She commutes 1-2 hours every morning and evening, so why shouldn't everyone else? She is extremely flexible, since she is a mom to two grown children and understands what I'm going through....but it just isn't good enough honestly. I work an 8-5 and many times I get my busy work done in the morning and the in afternoons I'm left fiddling my thumbs, except for answering couple of emails or have a conference call - which I *really* don't need to be in the office for. Many times, I'm left there thinking I could be using this time to workout, help out at DS's school, buy groceries...but no, I'm either wasting time online or finding busywork. This isn't for lack of work to do, I just do my work efficiently.

Exactly! Why are employers so hung up on the 8-5 mentality or even the staying past 5 equals more productive. It drives me batty. I work efficiently, but I bet I could work faster if I was able to leave for the day after I finished all my tasks. Sometimes I work slow on purpose so I can stay busy till quitting time.
My kids are not elementary school aged yet, but I have heard all about the scheduling issues with more days off and day camps not running full days. I would really like to be involved with the kids' school but I don't know how feasible that will be since I work 45 mins away.

[cosmic]

Exactly! Why are employers so hung up on the 8-5 mentality or even the staying past 5 equals more productive. It drives me batty. I work efficiently, but I bet I could work faster if I was able to leave for the day after I finished all my tasks. Sometimes I work slow on purpose so I can stay busy till quitting time.

I really believe this. People take all the time you give them. Some jobs may require 8 hours a day or longer, but many don't. On top of that, experts have been saying for years that "time macho" - working long hours, staying after closing, coming in on the weekends - is actually less efficient with the tools we have available. Good article on this from GigaOm: http://gigaom.com/collaboration/wome...of-time-macho/