I think I've been pretty lucky with my kids and my jobs. I've been in IT for twenty years and have had kids for 14 years. When the first was born, I was given an office so I could nap and lunch time. I had non sleepers so I was exhausted. I'd show up at 6 am have a nap for 30 min at noon, then work till 4-5pm and go home. Nobody, cared.
I moved to Telus, went through a divorce. All m,y co-workers where awesome and supportive. I was a mess, they covered for me when things where bad. When things where good, I made up my time and everyone was good with that. I ended up shared custody of my kids, so when I had the kids, I worked a 6.5-7 hr day, when I didn't have them I worked a 10 hr day. I moved to Bell, same thing. Supper supportive co-workers and management. I was always upfront about my situation and as long as I did my job, nobody cared. Sometimes I'd just work from home because it was easier. Then I went to Shaw. They where the company at preached "family first", but gave me nothing about grief. I was upfront about my situation, but they where the least flexible. My co-workers again, we're great. Management on the other hand, where the opposite. I think I was spoiled from everywhere else and I couldn't adjust to Shaws ways. I wasn't allowed to work through lunch so I could leave early. If I had to leave early, I got the when are you making up the time? Question. I've always made up my time. If I had a sick kid I'd work from home, but would be told to take vacation time because it wasn't allowed, which didn't make sense because I was required to do work in the evenings regularly and could work from home then. Anyways, shaw sucked, so when I had the opportunity to go on parental leave I took it and never went back...boy to I miss adults. I love my kids but man does the conversation suck. And I hate kids tv.
I guess I understand both views. I never felt privileged, but found that if my employer was flexible, I sure worked harder for them because I appreciated it.
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