Any mums here working in the City in front office positions in Investment Banking/ Global Markets Sales /Trading?

[Anonymous2005]

How do you manage work and personal life? Is your work place understanding if you need to be more flexible to be present for your kids or is that just not a thing in your area? Have you asked to drop a day off and do 4 day weeks or WFH 1 day a week?

I feel there is a lot of talk about supporting women in the industry and being more flexible with WFH but in reality many eyebrows are raised and people gossip behind your back if God forbid you logged in from home ( even though it might have been pre-agreed)
I don't have a support network in the office. There are no mum groups or anything as such so I just focus on finding other colleagues with kids that I can chat to but the reality is that I am minority in my area.
The nature of these job means you have to be present majority of the time and also juggle family life.

I just want to hear from others really. How do you manage in these types of roles as a mum.

Ultimately in this environment the bitchiness well never go away and the lip service to equality is pathetic. Let your numbers speak for themselves

Honestly love, it's hard and you're not imagining it. The gap between what companies say about flexibility and what actually happens on the ground is massive. I'd say find your people, even just one or two colleagues who get it, because having someone to vent to makes all the difference. Be unapologetic about your boundaries where you can, document any agreements in writing, and remember that being present for your kids isn't something to feel guilty about. The right workplace will value your output not your hours, and if yours doesn't, that tells you something worth knowing.

Honestly, no flexibility in reality beyond very rare occasions (eg a nativity). Certainly not day to day. And my mum peers are in the same boat - we all have very well paid, long-term nannys to pick up the slack.

There‘s no flexibility really. Like most women at my firm, we have a nanny. One woman argued very hard to drop to three days, she did eventually get it, but all her clients who had to ring someone else on her two days out, refused to call her on her three days when she was in, and she essentially lost her coverage to the colleagues who covered on her off days. She was cut in the next round/put her hand up for voluntary, not quite sure but she didn’t last long.

In terms of support, it’s not support per se, but I have a few colleagues from over the years that have definitely moved into the very close friends category. They are invaluable to go for a coffee, quick 5 minute walk to grab lunch, quick wine after work to vent, etc.

Most people are nice but they expect everyone to pull their weight exactly as before. If you choose to come back, you’re back as a full time, fully present employee as before.