Enjoying summer while meeting work obligations does not
have to be a tug of war according to CareerWomen.com, the leading
career site for working women. While not all employers are able to
offer shorter summer hours, obtaining a flexible schedule is possible
if you approach the request by using these four simple rules.
- Be prepared – when asking for a flexible summer schedule, be
clear on exactly what you want. Have requested dates and hours written
down along with your plan to meet work obligations.
- Be flexible – if your first choice of dates is not possible given
vacation schedules or project deadlines, be willing to switch.
- Be willing to negotiate – a strong negotiation strategy always
begins with understanding the needs of both sides. Make sure you know
what your employer needs and what you are willing to give either with
reduced pay, checking email during your out of office days or
accessibility by cell phone if needed.
- Be proactive – If you get a summer schedule, check in with both
your boss and your team on a regular basis to make sure that everyone’s
needs are being met. At the end of the summer, proactively follow up
with your boss to detail what worked and what didn’t with suggestions
for improving the process in the future
JillXan Donnelly, president of CareerWomen.com advises, “Today's
technology makes it easier for employees to stay connected and in-touch
when out of the office. Checking in at a pre-scheduled time – either
by email or phone – and
then turning off for the rest of the day (or most of it) can give you
the time you need
and your boss the reassurance that you are committed.”
Additional resources to enhance professional development and advance
women’s careers can be found at CareerWomen.com
including career development tools, career and employment news,
professional associations and employment opportunities across the US
with some of the best women-friendly companies.
