WORK-LIFE BALANCE KEY FOR WORKING MOTHERS

November 25 2021

Many of us are continuing to work flexibly, dividing our time between the office and home. A big focus now is assuring women have the opportunity to balance their careers with childcare. According to the Office for National Statistics, women provided two-thirds more childcare than men during lockdown. With this in mind, how can the construction industry provide flexibility for working women who are mothers?

Many of us are continuing to work flexibly, dividing our time between the office and home. A big focus now is assuring women have the opportunity to balance their careers with childcare. According to the Office for National Statistics, women provided two-thirds more childcare than men during lockdown. With this in mind, how can the construction industry provide flexibility for working women who are mothers?

Flexibility is key

Very recently, Multiplex introduced a new flexible working programme for its staff in a bid to encourage more women into the industry. ‘Multiplex Flex’ addresses structurally related issues linked to gender equity, alongside improving health and wellbeing, and driving improved overall performance and productivity.

The contractor hopes to shift the ‘cultural dial’ of the construction sector with this programme, offering flexible working to attract women to the sector and retain their jobs. It’s a direction that Ambar Kelly is taking too, recently hiring Bronagh Breen who has returned to work after six years spending time with her young children.

Bronagh Breen is Ambar Kelly’s new estimator, responsible for estimating the enquiries that Ambar Kelly receives, and working with the directors to provide the latest prices and innovation.

Hailing from Ireland, Bronagh is a working mother of three young children. Customer service is at the heart of her career; she was cabin crew for 15 years and worked as a teaching assistant in Stockholm, where she raised her children.

“My children are between the ages of two and six so I’ve just returned to work now two of them are in school,” says Bronagh.

Work-life balance

Over the past couple of years, she and her family have moved to the UK. “Stockholm, where my family and I were living before as my husband was working, is really hot on flexible working,” Bronagh says. Indeed, Stockholm has been ranked the city with the best work-life balance in a recent HSBC survey. Only 1.1% of the Swedish population work very long hours, and culturally, it is widely considered that 5pm is the clocking-off time. The school run at 3pm is considered the country’s rush-hour.

“My family reaped the benefits of this work-life balance, and so when I came to work in the UK, I wanted a job that offered the same advantages,” Bronagh highlights. “Ultimately, the role needed to work around my children, be close to home and flexible if required. At the same time, the job needed to be fulfilling and purposeful.”

Thankfully, she found this in the estimator role here at Ambar Kelly. Bronagh is able to dedicate time to work, all the while being able to tend to her children if required. She can also change her hours if necessary and Ambar Kelly will work around her. “Flexible working is enabling me to adapt my work hours each week to suit my family’s needs,” she highlights. “I can change my hours depending on appointments, school events and holidays, and do so at quite a short notice. It really helps to work this way and I feel so supported by Ambar Kelly.”

Trust and common sense are key to flexible working. It’s a style of work that has made a difference to many people’s working lives since the pandemic, offering women in particular the adaptability they need to make their days more efficient.