I proposed the idea of Care Shifts a few years ago and was thrilled that the idea was well received. This year I’m living and working almost totally via Care Shifts, and it’s changed what I can do and how I can do it – some things for the better, some things TBD.
A Care Shift is essentially an agreement between employers and employees on the hours employees will work traditional hours and when they’ll do work the doesn’t require an immediate response at non-traditional times. Think of it as attending meetings vs creating presentations.
A leading asset management firm has been doing this for years to great success: in their case they require everyone to work 10am to 3pm, but then give employees the option of how to work the rest of the day. Some people work straight through, while others with care responsibilities start earlier, pick up at the bus, and do the thought work that doesn’t require interaction with colleagues later.
Since 2013, I’ve worked different iterations of Care Shifts. I’ve been able to produce work I’m proud of, first at The New York Times and now running The Company of Dads. It’s been super rewarding, at times, for both the quality of the output and the calendar jenga-ing that’s allowed me to live what I preach as a Lead Dad. There have also been periods when it’s been fairly stressful when things haven’t fallen into place – or I’ve been too tired to push myself to get enough done so I could wake up early, somewhat fresh and finish up what I had been working on.
But the tradeoff always benefitted my family: I could spend more time with my daughters when they were awake and I could support my wife in her career, which has less flexibility, and at home, so she would not have to worry about the logistics when she finished work.
This school year I’m on the grind, as my teenager would say. At least three days a week I have no flex. I have to leave work at 2pm to get my youngest daughter from school and take her to various support tutoring. I don’t get back until 5:30 or later.
Here’s where Care Shifts work.
My day has breakfast and drop-offs from 7am to 9am; Zooms and calls from 9am to 2pm, with some emails worked in; and then writing like I’m doing now for the hour in waiting rooms. Most nights around 9pm I focus on the work that needs real focus.
I try hard to shut work down on Saturday and Sunday, so those day can be full-on family time.
One key to this working: I run my calendar with maniacal efficiency, particularly when I travel for work. And when it’s a day when I don’t need to leave at 2pm to get in the car line, I don’t waste the time. Care Shifts need the right structure.
It’s not for everyone. But it’s working, so far. How do you manage the juggle as a working parent?
