I have just recently negotiated a better work life balance with my work as my daughter has started full time school this year and i want to be able to spend a couple of afternoons with her once i collect her.

My job is what it is. The hours are what they are and couldnt be changed as I work with special needs children and help get them to and from school.

be worth the negotiation! know what you bring to the table and know your worth! keep your ego in check also

A good article to think about negotiations which l have not before!

Yes I too have found hours that suit me.

I have never really negotiated for his this before.

I have negotiated before and it worked but I had to leave anyway

I think it all depends on the business. I’ve worked in retail for years but of all the places I’ve worked there as been very little flexibility from my employers, while my hubby’s firm was really flexible about him going back into studying and allowed him to work 2 days less a week. We lost out on the money but to have such a happier less stressful husband was a much better reward.

My flexible workplace has been created with my best friend who runs her own home office/business that I contract to 3 days a week. We don’t have anything formal, just an understanding that my family/son comes first. She doesn’t question medical appointments, school meetings/activities, etc. It just works and it has been a great gig for me to have for the past 10 years.

Negotiation is hard to do – especially in tough times when there are fewer jobs. Good on those who can manage it.

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  • • mom93821 replied
    • 24 Feb 2016 , 5:53 am

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  It does depend on the employer and on negotiating skills.

i think employers are being more flexible as time goes on.

I am lucky enough to have a flexible working arrangement but I still find work creeping into my non work days. My tip is to be clear on the arrangement with others and set boundaries and stick within them.

It does depend on public or private work and the size of a business. Interesting article to contemplate.

I found a job that I can work the hours that suit me

Normally the only way employers will pay for transport is if they send you from one place to another with your employment. Usual system seems to be If you are using your car they will pay an allowance per km. If they are paying you less than the Taxation Dept would give a taxation deduction you could try to claim the difference. One lay I know gets an allowance the same as she would from ATO. However if your employer shows it on your Group Certificate and you have to declare it as income I would still claim back what allowance you can.

Yes, pay packets aren’t the only thing to think about.

When I return to work (in like 4 years) I definetly need to negotiate work hrs to allow for school drop off abd pickups.

Great tips – we have done the further education one. The flexible hours one is difficult in practice (especially for men), even once negotiated. Nothing like having to move meeting times continuously to fit in with what is supposedly a negotiated later start time!

Lets hope employers embrace these requests and that the terms of the negotiations are respected by the businesses and coworkers.

I have never been successful in negotiating better work conditions. On a couple of occasions I just changed to another job.

Lke gs