Is The Part-Time Working Mom Really Helping?

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Is The Part-Time Working Mom Really Helping?

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Is The Part-Time Working Mom Really Helping?

Are part-time working moms taking jobs away from women full-timers?

Featured Author:

Brittany E. Hudson

Brittany Hudson is a seasoned business professional living on the South Shore of Massachusetts with her husband, Greg and 18 month-old daughter, Carli. Brittany has become an advocate for working families in America and is working to create a strategic resource for working families to find balance in family and career life as well as political action for the rights of parents in the workplace. Brittany writes a weekly column about being a working mom.

Check out her blog, Career Parent.

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Do you work from home part-time?

I am not talking about the mom who works part-time somewhere to fulfill a part-time role. I am talking about a mom who stays at home and works part-time to fulfill part of a full-time role for next to no pay so she can fill some weird void.

I have been conversing with a gentleman lately who is pre-launch with his company. He had been asking me about my mission and was very excited to forward me an article from the Wall Street Journal on stay-at-home moms who are filling part of full-time roles by doing the work for this role that can be done via the Internet. These particular women mentioned in the article were MBAs working for $21 an hour. $21 an hour!

Why am I upset? Well, my gentleman friend was pretty taken aback himself. The problem is this: Moms with MBAs re-entering the workforce full-time are having a hard enough time finding jobs that pay what they deserve, meet their needs in flexible scheduling and desire to accommodate their child’s schedules as well. With moms working for the same job for much less than the full-timer with the same degree would make, I hope you can see the very big problem here. The salaries will only decrease as this trend gains popularity.

We need to move forward not backward! What in the world is going on here? Stay home or go back to work. Don’t cut the legs out from under the ones who need or want to work full-time.

What do these trend-setting companies think of this new twist on job filling? Well it is an astounding success of course! I mean, to hire a collective group at a great discount to fill one job role with no benefits is truly the best scenario that a stockholder and budget manager could ask for.

What do the women who are being passed up for a full-time job think of this brilliant plan by corporate America? Why don’t you ask one? Women @ Work Network is a consortium of local groups geared toward helping the currently at-home mom who would like to re-enter the full-time job market. Detours and OnRamps is also a Boston-based forum and conference for the same demographic. I love their mission but I see this new trend as a knife in the tire of their new car.

Clearly my stance will be controversial to some. My appeal is to the masses. Try to see this from the point of view of those who struggle in the full-time realm.

It is a great struggle, and if you are one of the stay-at-home-and-yet-want-to-work-moms you obviously don’t get it. There are lots of things you can do at home or outside part-time that would utilize your skills without taking away from others. You made a choice, now stick with it.

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smjk0629

3 months ago

18 comments

Maddie, I happen to share your opinion completely. I do not see this as a trend that will long term affect women in the workforce. To me the article seemed like a witch-hunt for who we can point a finger of blame at without having any kind of proof of an issue, hence why I asked for some data. If you are going to go looking for "witches" you better at least have some reason behind it. I have seen too many women do to much damage to other women in the workforce all in the name of "protecting" their own positions and that is exactly what this article called to mind for me.
Maddie

3 months ago

94 comments

The WSJ article mentions right off the bat that the SWAT (Smart Women w/Available Time) are being used by businesses that "need expertise from cheap, temporary labor." The article does not imply that the part-time workers are reducing the labor market by any full time staff jobs. Businessess have always needed "project workers." I think there are two big differences: 1. The project workers can work from home because of the internet and 2. The internet allows businesses to locate these specialized workers directly rather than going through a temporary placement firm, which is what they would have done in the past. My guess is that the reduced hourly wage is partly because the temporary workers due to the convenience of being able to work from home. But if the trend continues, the pool of temporary workers who hold MBA's will start to raise their price so the cheap hourly rate will resolve itself. And, BigMomma, bear in mind that not every person who needs a full time job would be equipped to do the tasks that someone who has an MBA but is not interested in full time work. I don't think this phenomena represents a net loss of jobs. However, I have observed that a number of businesses have started creating less than full-time jobs. And I do know that this can relieve an employer of the financial obligation to provide benefits to said employee. If an employee works less than 30 hours a week (or some set number of hours. I don't think it's a law. I think companies have policies on this.), they are not eligible for any benefits. The other manifestation of this is a thing called, "job-sharing." Where two people (in my experience, they are usually women), spell one another and each work part time. These are not major trends, in my observation, but I am seeing it occassionally. (SJ, I don't have any empirical data to support this which is why I have characterized it as an observation.) Sadly, this topic is further evidence of the need for a national health care system in this country. One other observation: It seems that the responses to this column became very adversarial. Does anyone share my opinion?
BigMomma

3 months ago

64 comments

Rebbie, 1 Corinthians 4 and 6
BigMomma

3 months ago

64 comments

http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2008/05/02/stay-at-homes-moms-fill-an-executive-niche/?mod=WSJBlog There is the URL from the article on the WSJ I am referring to. In this article the women that they are interviewing are not taking these jobs because they financially need to and this is all they can take. If that were the case, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Far be it from me to criticize anyone for putting food on their table. My take on the interviewees is that they are taking the jobs because they are bored with stay-at-home life AKA, they don't need the money. For someone who needs the money, has the education and this is all she can do, why should she have to make 1/2 what she would make per hour in a full-time setting? Why is the job worth 1/2 if you are working part-time at home? The job should be paying whatever the full-time salary is, scaled down to the hours worked. The companies that are doing this for are already saving a ton of dough on not paying benefits and not having them in the office in the first place. What I am saying is, why does the pay have to be so much less? Why are these women worth less to business and why are they accepting that they are "less"?
BigMomma

3 months ago

64 comments

Hi There, have you read the article that I am commenting on? Please do so. Is my article an opinion on the trend. Yes, of course it is. That is the beauty of writing an editorial. I am perfectly entitled to my opinions on any matter at all, the constitution says so. It is anyone's right to disagree with me as well. There isn't any date to support my theory at the moment. This is a brand new trend. So, no there is no data or documentation. The problem with that is, by the time anyone realizes the trend hurt the hiring process for working women it will be too late. Women are already STILL making less than their male counterparts. I don't want to see this worsen. Am I thinking about the masses rather than the individuals? YES I AM! That is why I am so politically active in fighting for Working Families' Rights. We need something that works for all and protects the financial welfare for all of us, not just the few.
smjk0629

3 months ago

18 comments

Your stance was not misunderstood. I would like to know what data you are using to support your idea that "there will be less full-time employment for women who need and when they do find it their salaries will be greatly decreased". You are basically spouting your biased opinion on the matter as though it is fact. If you want to prove your point reference some studies that show how these part time workers are hurting the rest of the work force. Or isn't there any such proof out there?
BigMomma

3 months ago

64 comments

Apparently my stance on this issue is misunderstood. What I am trying to point out is this (think big picture here): There is an open-position for a Marketing Manager. It requires an MBA as an educational requirement. The job will be virtual (working from home) 40 hours a week for a salary that equivalates to $50.00 per hour. One woman, let's say she is a single mom for the sake of the arguement, would die for a job like that! The only problem? The HR Director found 4 women who stay at home with the same education on Craig's List who will split the job in 4s, do the job for 1/2 the hourly wage and no benefits. Which is the better scenario for the person managing the budget for salaries and benefits? What is main concern? The main concern is this. If this trend continues there will be less full-time employment for women who need it and when they do find it their salaries will be greatly decreased so they can compete with the women who will share the job for substantially less than the job is worth. Do you see what I mean here? Don't let Business pay you crap money because you are home. You deserve the regular hourly wage wherever you are. Don't let them make you think you deserve less. It protects you and any other person out there looking for the same job. The issue isn't working part-time. The issue is working part-time for lousy pay.
rebbie

3 months ago

2 comments

If a mother want to work part time that is up to her. Who are you to say that a mother that work part time is taking away a job. I don't with that. People should learn to keep there place and worry more about themself and what is going on in their house hold. maybe that is the only job a mother can get righ now is a part time job. That to me is saying you are not a good mother. Pass not judgement for you may not want others to judgement. maybe someone don't like some of the things you say. We should learn ways to help people not hurt them or pass judgment. There are more thing to worry about in this world than a part time mom with a job. And i would like for you to email me at sxygail@yahoo.com. Maybe i could give you some words of help. Please put god first in your life and go along for the holy ride. And learn to clean around you own house hold first before you start to clearn around others. You must have better things to do.
Catalyst

3 months ago

2 comments

I think your take is offensive. It reminds me quite frankly, of the racist ideology that hiring a person from another country "takes jobs away" from Americans. I also find it sexist, there is no complaint here, about men who work full time and spend little or no time with the children. I think that the problem lies not in the mother's choices so much as in the dysfunctional way we think of employment. Workplaces should become more family friendly. Raising a family and working both fulfill real human needs (we do not do them just to fill some "weird void"). The desire for both of these important aspects of a persons life are in all humans, gender is irrelevant. My opinion is, ALL parents should be working fewer hours and spending more time parenting. Employers could also help by installing daycares on site, not expecting to be the only facet of a workers life, and generally making the workplace kid friendly on the assumption that about 40% of the workforce has children to care for. It is time we stopped seeing parenthood and work as two mutually exclusive, "separate spheres" and recognize that both occupations are normal and healthy and quite necessary for human happiness. I think these part timers are on to something, namely a varied and fruitful way of living and we should all take note.
smjk0629

3 months ago

18 comments

I think your take on it is self serving. I work full time and am a single mom. When I hear about this type of situation the feminist in me is enlivened. And I am not referring to just the companies that offer these types of positions to women. More importantly I am talking about how your article blames the women who want to work and have a family. Women bashing women has held us back for centuries, only when women worked together on issues that held them back did we start getting somewhere. Instead of placing blame why not look into what motivates these women to accept a lower rate of pay. If they are looking to fill a void, help link them to other ways to fill it. If they just need some kind of additional income for their family and can not work full time then who are we to judge. I am glad that you advocate for working families, but your article seems to scream that you only care about the masses and not the individual.
CarolePhaneuf

3 months ago

2 comments

Yes, I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. I used to work full time for a great company in financial investments. I have 4 licenses that I am not using because I can't find anyone that will hire me part time. I don't need any benefits, just flexibility. My three daughters are grown, in college and one is married and in graduate school. So, I'm not home to take care of children. My husband is military and I left my great job to relocate with him. (The company I worked for does not have an office closer than 2 hours) His schedule is unusually flexible, so I want the same thing. I also have two very ill family members that I want to be able to visit or help out with from time to time. And, we're not done moving. I have yet to find someone who will consider me part time in the financial investment world and am having to substitute teach to get myself out of the house and contributing somehow! Any suggestions out there?
APrilLaShella

3 months ago

4 comments

OOo yah,and I can't find a job.
BigMomma

3 months ago

64 comments

Sneaky and sad, I want these very capable and educated women to know they ARE WORTH their regular, hourly wage at 10 hours a week, as well as, 40. I really don't want biz to think, well, why hire "her" at 50 bucks an hour for 40 hours and benefits when I can pay for of them 20 bucks an hour and no benefits. Which do you think they'll choose?!
Sadiesmom

3 months ago

10 comments

I noticed the exact same thing! It glorified this part-time role, but didn't point out that the women were devaluing themselves. The media wanted it to sound like it was some sort of fantastic solution, when really... what choice do women have? As much as everyone wants to say that companies are incredibly flexible these days, they really aren't. Plus, it keeps the company from shelling out benefits, such as health care and retirement. Sneaky!
Jill

3 months ago

8 comments

I think the fault of this issue doesn't fall solely on the shoulders of the part-time workers. No woman in their right mind would say to a company- "Sure. I'll do a full-time job for part-time pay." But a company would definitely take advantage of a talented woman who could handle a full-time job and accept less compensation. When you want to work part-time, you don't have the trump card, the company does. You're stuck wanting to make a salary for a job you know you can do- because you know you don't have time to find a new job and juggle life at home.