Bosses to step up for our kids
As a single mum of two, Mary Fitzgerald wakes up at 4.30am to make sure she can be at work before her start time of 8 o’clock, pencil sharp.
‘‘I know a lot of mothers and fathers who would love to be walking their kids to school but the fact of the matter is, sometimes employers can be really regimented how and when you work.’’
Fitzgerald recently made a career change from a corporate job to journalis, and says it’s great being able to work from home.
For many parents, being able to walk the kids to school relies on the whim of their employers – and one leading New Zealand company is calling on others to step up.
Macpac does what it can to help parents get their kids off to school.
Chief executive Alex Brandon walked his 3-year-old son George to preschool on Thursday.
He said there were no rigid hours for Macpac’s 500 staff across New Zealand, and parents were encouraged to be involved in their children’s school lives.
Technology means office staff can do some work from home, at a time that suits.
Brandon admits it’s more difficult to be flexible for the retail staff, but store managers do their best to make sure parents can be involved in their children’s school lives.
‘‘I just think there are no disadvantages to being flexible and all employers should do it.’’
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment employment relations manager Jivan Grewal says all employees ‘‘have the right to ask to change their work arrangements, place, hours, or days, and all employers have a duty to consider any requests’’.
The National Survey of Employers 2014/15 showed a third of employers had staff negotiate to work flexible hours, reduced hours or job sharing.
For Mary Fitzgerald, who now works for Fairfax Media, an early start is still necessary every other day – but it’s on her own terms.
She wakes Alice, 10, and Henry, 16, at 6am, and together with the Jack, the border terrier, they are at the park by 7am.
‘‘I would never want to condescend to any parent about how they organise their morning, because it’s such a juggle and everyone has their own magic, but adding something that brings joy to all three of us every single day is a really smart thing to do.’’