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Contrary to popular belief, they actually waste the least amount of time at work, just 11% compared to 14.5% for the rest of the workforce.
"This study reveals what working moms everywhere already know - that the world needs to start thinking differently about working mothers. The truth is that because their time is more limited, they are more inclined to squeeze the most out of the time they do have," explains 1st for Women Insurance’s Executive Head, Robyn Farrell, a working mom of two.
It’s strange that despite their ability to produce work against all odds, that working mothers are perceived so differently in the workplace. Employers traditionally buy into the myth of working mothers as far from the "ideal worker".
"There are only a certain amount of hours in a day and even less of them when you become a parent. As any mom with a job will tell you, there are many and constant trade-offs.
It’s a balancing act and also largely an exercise in time management. Economists say that scarcity creates value. In other words, it’s only when something is scarce that we value it. And it's that way with parenting. Children literally make your time more valuable, because there's less of it," says Farrell.
In economic terms, children also increase your opportunity cost. At any point, you've got something else of high value you could otherwise be doing.
"The goal of economics is to maximise the wellbeing of society through the efficient allocation of scarce resources. Parents become experts at maximising the wellbeing of their family," explains Farrell.
Women do this by first deciding on priorities, and then by choosing the wisest course of action to follow that will maximise the happiness of both their children and themselves.
Employers need to start realising the contribution of working mothers who actually have less time to mess around at work.
They’re interested in getting the job done and getting home to their kids. "We need to stop underestimating ourselves.
Women are amazing multi-taskers because we have to be," concludes Farrell, "even if we beat ourselves up about trying to find the perfect work-life balance, we’re actually doing a great job!"
1st for Women Insurance offers some tips for part-time working mothers:
- Learn to compartmentalise efficiently. When you’re working, do not allow distractions. The same goes for when you are with your kids - focus on them without distractions.
- Remember that it’s about quality of time that you put into each area of your life, not quantity. 15 minutes of undisturbed time with your children is more valuable than 1 hour with them while you’re on your phone or computer.
- If possible, if and when you need to work from home, make it either when the kids are not home or have an office outside the house where you can concentrate undisturbed.
- It’s healthy for children to know and understand that you are multi-faceted and have other important areas of your life - that they are the priority but that you also have other commitments.
- It’s crucial, even as busy as you are, to carve out time for yourself each day if possible. This might mean a quick walk around the block on your own, a nap on the couch; reading a book or a coffee or conversation with the friend, but whatever it is, giving yourself this time will make you a more fulfilled, happier and better mom and worker.
- If you drop the ball sometimes trying to balance it all, which you will, feeling guilty is useless, rather focus on changes that you’d like to implement and move forward.
- Ask for what you need, communicate and set your own boundaries as much as you can. Whether it’s help you need with the kids, less hours or more flexibility, if you don’t ask, you won’t get it.
- Be organized - this can go a long way in helping you manage the work-life balance even if this means scheduling in time for your husband and kids.
