Josh Biscaia Da Costa’s Post

When I started working part time after returning to work after maternity leave there was this strange stigma I felt about being a “part timer”. I felt guilty. Ashamed. That I wasn’t giving 100% to my employer. I worried that my commitment to my job was being questioned and that I was being seen as less dedicated or capable. The truth is, many of us who work part time do so because we are balancing other significant responsibilities, often caring for our families. The denigration of part time work is DEEPLY rooted in misogyny and patriarchy. It unfairly targets (predominantly) women, who frequently shoulder the burden of caregiving. There is NO SHAME in working part time. In fact, it’s a testament to our ability to juggle multiple roles and still contribute meaningfully in our professional lives. We absolutely need to change the narrative around part time work. It's not a lesser option; it's a valid and often necessary choice that reflects the complex realities of our lives. And don’t even get me started on the cost of childcare… Can we celebrate the strength, resilience, and dedication it takes to manage both professional and personal responsibilities? 💛 #WorkingParents #WomenAtWork #FlexibilityMatters

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Part time pleeeeeeease! If you’ve been following my posts (thank you ☺️) you’ll know that I’ve become a mum in the past year and now on the hunt for a fabulous new role to return to. But I am finding it sooooooooo tough! HR is typically an industry that is heavily female dominated and we all know that a massive proportion of childcare still falls on the mum (in most cases). But there aren’t many roles advertised as part time… we aren’t helping out our own and I see it across other roles too 😢 Going part time is slightly easier if you are already in an organisation but what about us that have had to/choosen to leave their employer and now need to look for a new role that is part time?? Part time benefits so many people including parents and people living with a disability or illness. That’s a HUGE percentage of the talent pool! Please look at your roles and consider how some flexibility might work and you never know, you might just hire someone amazing, committed and efficient. 🙌 #parttime #flexibleworking #hr #talent #jobseeker

I don't care whether you come into the office at 9 am. I don't care if you choose to work from home or not. I don't care if you work from the garage while they fix your car. Life happens You don't need to justify to me why you need a day off. You don't need to explain how sick your child is to leave early. You don't need to apologize for having a personal life Yes, I care about results but I also care about you. We are all human and we are all adults. I lead people. I don't run an adult daycare center. My advice for anyone hiring: 1. Select the right people. 2. Agree on deliverables (be crystal clear). 3. Provide proper tools and support. 4. Work-life balance to prevent burnout. 5. Get out of their way. Agree? (Disclaimer: Self employed with a total staff of one) #hiring #jobs #HR #corporate

Jason Chui story of trying to find part time work as a dad! In my previous post, I discussed returning to work after 20 months as a Stay-At-Home-Dad (SAHD). Finding part-time work as a man has been an eye-opening experience. When I started job hunting in Switzerland, some recruiters expressed surprise at my status as a SAHD, asking why my wife wasn’t caring for the children. I explained that she moved to Zurich for a great job opportunity, and we agreed I would handle childcare. In many culturally conservative countries, it’s still uncommon for fathers to be primary caregivers. While Australia has more SAHDs, a stigma remains around men in this role. Despite jokes from friends about having "free time," managing household tasks and parenting is incredibly demanding. Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., there’s little time for personal activities. In Zurich, I found many part-time jobs and currently work an 80% role. Part-time can mean a 4-day week or shortened hours to accommodate school drop-off and pick-up. Swiss schools have half days on Wednesdays, complicating schedules for part-time workers. Part-time roles have traditionally catered to women, reflecting a cultural bias that continues to burden them with household responsibilities. While more men share domestic duties, studies show women still handle the majority of these tasks. Men working part-time is less common, and during my job search, I noticed that such positions were often viewed as "women's work." As an English-speaking SAHD, I felt at a disadvantage, but I eventually landed a role in financial services. A significant challenge is collaborating with full-time colleagues in a demanding environment where tasks require immediate attention. Balancing urgent emails with my responsibilities as a caregiver is tough. I often work late at home after my children sleep to catch up. While I strive to meet deadlines, familial duties limit my availability, leading to fewer opportunities. Such challenges are common among part-time workers, especially women, who often feel sidelined in their roles. As I transition back to being a full-time SAHD due to my contract not being renewed, I reflect on the need for organizations to better support part-time employees. We have valuable skills and shouldn’t be overlooked. November 2019 #StayAtHomeDad #PartTimeWork #WorkLifeBalance #Parenting #GenderRoles #CareerChallenges #WorkplaceDiversity #FamilyFirst #FathersInCaregiving #SAHD #FlexibleWork #CulturalBias #MenInParenting #PartTimeParenting #CareerTransition

If you have a flexible, part-time or compressed hours working agreement, let’s be very clear that this is NOT your company doing you a favour. This is the bare minimum companies should be offering in order to help women stay in the workplace with sky rocketing childcare costs and cost of living increases. Therefore, you are not indebted to anyone, you are getting paid based on the hours in your contract and your contribution. 1. You are not on call 24/7 you have the same right to enforce your boundaries as a full time employee. Don’t feel out of a sense of misplaced gratitude you need to be ‘readily available’ 2. Stop the guilt - there’s no need to feel shame about leaving early or working less time. Your contribution is equivalent to your contract and that is valid and valuable. 3. Make demands as a full time employee would, if you need something, ask. To flip the stigma we need to advocate for our rights. Remember, part-time and flexible workers are an asset to ALL companies often working harder, faster and more efficiently! #parttimework #parttimejobs #womeninbusiness #flexiblework

Returning from maternity for a second time. I’m reflecting on my previous post, 2 months out from returning back to the workplace. And once again I now find myself in the same position, with this time much different as I have my second son at home and thriving. Returning to work feels exciting, overwhelming, unwanted in some ways but also very much wanted in others. Navigating drop offs to child minders, the inevitable calls for early collection due to sickness etc, it leaves me wondering how everyone manages it! For someone who prides themselves on punctuality, flexibility, scheduling, it also feels impossible. I’ve noted that on my return, my workplace has moved to a more rigid hybrid approach, requiring staff to be back a minimum of 3 days a week in the office. I have seen many posts lately from friends, current and past colleauges about their employers also requesting more in office time. My question though; if productivity hasn’t fallen, why the need to remove the flexibility? I would love to hear the thoughts of my LinkedIn friends. What is the benefit? Genuinely curious. #hybridwork #hsbcuk #hsbccareers #maternityleave #returntowork #returntooffice

Returning to work part-time isn't the only way to make work, work after parental leave. In fact, returning to part-time hours with a pay cut and no change to job scope is often a significant contributor to the gender pay gap. Many talented professionals who are also parents want to work full-time. They may, however, need a bit more support to figure out how to make it possible both practically and emotionally. This is where coaching can help your employees to: ✨ Figure out practical ways to juggle work and family life. ✨ Gain confidence in managing a full-time job along with parenting. ✨ Learn to set unapologetic boundaries to protect their time and energy. ✨ Better handle stress and stay healthy. ✨ Find ways to advance their careers without sacrificing family time. By investing in coaching, you can support your employees in making a successful transition back to full-time work, benefiting both the individuals and the organisation. At Work Life Mother Ltd we help your new and expectant parents thrive in their careers and ensure you keep hold of valuable talent. It costs £30k and upwards to replace lost talent and maternity/parental leave is a known talent leak. To keep hold of your people, and your competitive edge let us help you become an employer of choice - drop me a message today to talk further. #WorkingParents #MaternityLeave #ParentalLeave #WorkLifeIntegration #ParentalTransititionCoaching