Return to Office — at What Cost?

Hi mamas-

Notice all those companies mandating a return-to-office for their employees? (Maybe you’re one of them.) Well, it’s got us fired up 🔥 because at the end of the day, it’s not just about where we work, but about who gets left behind.

In a recent Fortune article on the gender gap in return-to-office policies, our founder Paula Faris spoke to the reality so many of us are living: when companies pull back on flexibility, it’s caregivers who pay the price. (And more specifically? Women.)

But flexibility shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be a smart business strategy that recognizes the leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving parents bring to the table because of their experience at home.

This week, we’re diving into how to ask for the flex schedule you need, why parenting is the ultimate training ground for leadership, and which companies are still getting it right. Because the future of work works better when it works for families.

Enjoy!

 This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• ⏳ How to Get the Flex Schedule You Want 

• ♟️ How Parenting is a Masterclass in Leadership 

• 👏🏼 The Companies That Get It

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣ ⏳ How to Get the Flex Schedule You Want

Despite the recent push for more RTO, many companies are still offering some flexible work options. Flex work looks different for everyone. Sometimes you just need to be able to clock off in the late afternoon to take care of the kids, and then hop back online in the evening. For some, working 4 days / week would be ideal, or reduced hours over 5 days. Whatever flex work looks like to you, there’s no shame in asking for it. Because we all know that if you don’t ask, you (probably) won’t get it. Fortunately, we have a great resource from CARRY™ Media on this very topic: check it out to learn how to ask for what you need.

2️⃣  ♟️ How Parenting is a Masterclass in Leadership 

Think becoming a parent has set you back, and maybe you’re feeling guilty about asking for a flex schedule because of your new circumstances? Think again. While the juggle is real 🤪, those parenting skills that you’ve honed day in and day out (and even in the middle of the night 🥱) pay off big time in a work setting. Parenting is a master class in leadership. Why? 

• Time management: No one can juggle meetings, deadlines, and priorities like a parent who is trying to fit work, childcare, dinner, chores, exercise, and sleep into 24 hours.

• Communication: All of those moments of listening to your kids talk about their day has paid off. You’re now an empathetic listener, provide clear feedback, and are better at aligning your teams.

• Emotional Intelligence: Workplace conflict and stress in the office have nothing on sibling rivalry. You understand other people’s perspectives and have refereed a fight (or several…), all while making tomorrow’s lunches.

• Leadership & Teamwork: Your time supervising, coaching, and motivating little people with BIG emotions has worked wonders for your ability to manage full-grown adults.

• Problem-Solving & Adaptability: You’ve got quick responses to sudden challenges. This is basically parenting in a nutshell, and it absolutely applies to the real world.

• Crisis Management: It’s the witching hour, everyone is hangry and tired, and also the cat just threw up. If you can get through that, staying calm under pressure and resolving problems effectively at work is a piece of cake.

Know your worth, mama. You’ve got this.

3️⃣ 👏🏼 The Companies That Get It

Given how many companies are mandating return-to-office, it can feel like there are no options for parents who need flexibility to make everything work. We’re here to shoutout some family-friendly companies that offer this benefit:

• Microsoft: Flexible hours, remote/hybrid options

• Verizon: Remote work and flexible hours

• Citigroup: Hybrid work options 

• Deloitte: Remote work, flexible schedules, extended leave

• EY: Work from home, flexible schedules

• Hilton: Flexible schedules and work-from-home options

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Flexible work schedules

• Mozilla: Remote work and hybrid schedules

📰 IN THE NEWS

Rhode Island First State to Mandate Workplace Menopause Support

➡️ In a major step for women in The Ocean State (and for making workplaces more inclusive for women at every stage of life), accommodations will now be required for menopause and related conditions in the workplace. You can read more about it in RINewsToday.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT 🤎

for working moms with older children

• As kids get older, it can feel harder to know when to step in and when to step back. That’s where “lighthouse parenting” comes in. This is a framework that encourages being a steady, guiding presence rather than a helicopter hovering overhead. We love this article because it breaks down how to be a “lighthouse” for your teens. And this quote? It really hits home: “For a child to be ultimately successful, it has to be success that matches who they really are, not your vision of who they might become.” 🥺 And don’t forget: kids don’t need perfection from us. They need to be able to connect, have (healthy) boundaries, and parents who can steer them through any rough moments.