One example of how Family-Friendly workplaces support parents and caregivers…

Our daycare’s hours are Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:30pm.  It is $1 for every minute you are late past 5:30pm.

My work hours are 8:00am-5:00pm.  My commute is approximately 30 minutes (on good days).

Getting my daughters ready in the morning takes at least 45 minutes (wake up, breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth, shoes and such, pack them up in the car, get to the daycare and do our little song-and-dance to say goodbye).

In a blink, the work day is over and it’s time to do the pick-up.  I don’t want to pay $1/minute, so I scramble to make sure I get there on time.  Some days are good, some days are bad, but I get there nonetheless.

We get home and start dinner.  It is now 6:30pm and the kids are starving! 
Dinner is served.  We all sit, eat and chat about our day.  It’s the first time in the day we actually are not rushing.  This is nice.  I wish it was like this all day, every day.

Before you know it, it is 7:30pm and the bedtime routine starts.  Bath, books, bed.  It takes about an hour for the whole thing, and I savour every minute of it.

Hugs and kisses, then lights out.  Phew… what a day!  Then we’ll start all over again tomorrow.

I am grateful that I work in a “Family-Friendly” office.  They allow me the flexibility to leave a little earlier to make sure I pick the girls on time.  This has been truly a lifesaver.  I can’t image life without it.

Do you work for a Family-Friendly workplace?  Are you a Family-Friendly employer?  We’d like to hear from you.

Comments 1