The On Ramp and Other Metaphors
Posted on 27. Sep, 2006 by rebel in General
One of the not-so-hidden scourges of at-home parenthood is the lingering question of how you re-enter the workforce (which seems to be generally be the expectation today). Newsweek takes a stab at the issue this week in a nice piece that catalogs what some forward-thinking firms are doing to capture those moms who ended up off of the career track for a while.
The article mentions training courses, new approaches to part-time work (I love the concept of the Booz Allen “adjuncts”). All in all, the biggest advantage is probably the spreading recognition that at-home parents are not damaged goods. The story does inject a note of caution, reminding readers that work-life revolutions have a way of sputtering (on-site day care and job sharing still exist, but neither has been adopted in anything approaching the numbers needed).
Still, good to see this kind of press, even if it was mom-focused (in Newsweek’s defense, it was part of their “Women in Leadership” cover package). But dads face these issues, too, as has been pretty well documented. Hopefully, we’re near a tipping point when it comes to re-entry into the workforce.
College Parkian
28. Sep, 2006
Adjuncts? Cool name; uncool salary in University-land. Also, in the U, adjuncts conduct most of the classes, therefore, are responsible for the majority of seat-contact-hours. That means, time with students.
Any idea on the salary/benefit package?
I should reveal that UMCP is way-better than most places. Adjuncts have access to benefits.
Rebel Dad
28. Sep, 2006
I get the feeling that “adjuncts” in Booz-land do better than those in academia — I get the feeling the term describes the bond between individual and company more than it describes the pay scale. Any consultants out there know better?
KC
28. Sep, 2006
“One interviewer asked him if he was gay or “just weird, since ‘stay-at-home dad’ isn’t something a man is willing to admit to,” he was told. ” — from the WSJ.
I’d forgotten how mad that article made me (and depressed since I wonder if that’s what sort of questioning I’ll get). Thanks for the reminder.
College Parkian
28. Sep, 2006
Bond — as in regular or sustained contractual work; close-to-the-institutional-breast consulting?
In two orgs — non profit, and U-spin-off — my work was covered under
“if when and as needed” contract.
Hmm. Wonder if Booz-Allen adjuncts must have prior job berth. Might like that adjunct-land.
Wrote letters of rec for two shining-star students who are now at Booz-Allen. Will ask.
By the way, one student described himself as hard-core soccer dad underneath it all. Wants to make ton of money now, socking it away so he can do dad-things in his thirties.
Hard-core! Funny how the young’ens talk.