Half of mothers end up in jobs where you don't even need A levels...makes me so cross

[wheelsonthebus]

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/27/nwork227.xml

I have a degree, and it has been useful to have on a CV, but the job I do now does not weven need A levels. But.. it is a fantastic job, I really enjoy it, it pays extremely well, and because I struggled through the dark days when the DC were small,and it was hard to juggle my employers have never doubtedmy commitment, offered wah before it as usual and have given me term-time working which is quite rare in our industry ( I work in the private sector, in a highly competitive business.)
So - the A level thing is a red herring.
I'm gald I have them, because now DS1 is starting Latin, can use my A level Latin to help him, but it would be a very strange job thqat required that on a daily basis...

I knew that I was burning my boats when I left my career, but I felt that it was the right thing to do at the time, in fact I wasn't planning on ever working again ( I'm an older mother so have already worked for donkeys years)

Employers often want and feel they need full time employees. I've run a team made up of full and part time workers and it's harder than having full time ones.

I manage a large team with people who are part time and people who work flexibly and/ or from home. I haven't found it hard at all, although I have to be organised.

The people who are part time tend to go beyond their hours and are extremely productive on the days they are in the office. I think flexible working demands give and take from both sides. As a flexible worker I expect my hours and days at home to be respected but I will come in to the office if I can see a meeting cannot be arranged at any other time or when there is a crisis around a piece of work. I expect the same from my staff

We retain a lot of staff and much of that is down to the fact that they appreciate the ability to balance work and home life.

Skyatnight - sorry, didn't come on last night after posting, I work in the private sector, in accounting.

You know I like the angle the Torygraph was taking on this - but my experience of Mumsnet is that pretty well all the mums (Xenia being an honourable exception) want to downsize. Or downskill.

This is a topic close to my heart at the moment. I disagree about mums wanting to downsize or downskill. I was a manager before going on maternity leave, now I work part time and basically assist the new replacement manager and it makes my blood boil that I am just his secretary! Especially when he is rubbish at the job. The company pay me the same rate as I earned before maternity leave to do a relatively unqualified job, they are losing out and I hate the job. Lose-lose. And several friends of mine have also been effectively demoted after having kids and hate the fact they are treated as though they are lesser workers.

I'm glad I work for a company that seems keen to get back those people on maternity leave and push them forwards, should they so wish to be pushed, but also fairly accomodating with regards to P/T requests etc.

I was luckly enough to work in a large department in a large school, where several fathers had reduced their days to incorporate child care - also have found lots of support when I have had to be off because of sick child. I had no problem reducing my days, luckly because friends in other schools were not allowed too. But I have also reduced the chance of any promotion, reponsibity points etc. And sometimes it hurts when I see colleagues shoot up the promotional ranks. I could go back full time - but to be honest I couldn't cope with the workload and spending quality time with my dd.

I returned to work mainly to keep my foot in the door. trying to find a decent school that will let you work part-time in my area is like rocking horse shit!

well, that alright because I haven't got any A levels.