Who makes your flexibility possible?

As a working mum, I've always been very grateful for flexible employers and family-friendly work environments. There's nothing more reassuring than working for a boss who appreciates your need to dash off to a school assembly, a dental appointment, or to rush to day care when the secretary phones reporting that your child has a hideous case of 'hand, foot and mouth' disease (as happened to my sister last week).

Who picks up the pieces at work if you have to care for sick kids?

Good teams will manage this well in a 'give and take' arrangement.

Sometimes, you'll be able to work from home.

Often it's those in the office who don't have children who tend to pick up the slack - particularly over school holidays. I received an email from someone about this recently. She is supportive of her staff who have
children, but there are times when she feels undervalued. She and her husband have demanding roles, work long hours, are active in the volunteer fire brigade, have a property and pets to look after and are actively involved with their nieces and nephews.

Is the workplace culture as supportive of her need for work-life balance as it is for parents?

Start today

If you enjoy support and flexibility at work, be aware of who is making it possible for you. Ensure that you're not taking this support for granted.

Think about the 'give and take' in your workplace. Is everyone's need for balance being catered for, or just the needs of a particular group?

When things are running smoothly in your life, ask what you can do for those around you who are supportive of your need for flexibility at other times. Creating a happy, flexible and fair workplace is everyone's responsibility.