Related Posts
Bowl Leader
Hello everyone, I am Data Engineer with skills on Azure and am holding couple of offers KPMG Digital Lighthouse as Consultant : 12.5 LPA fixed +20% variable +1.25L bonus Tiger Analytics as SE : 14.5 fixed YOE : 4.1 years Can you please help me with which is better in terms of growth and WLB with your insights ? Tata Consultancy KPMG India Tiger Analytics KPMG Deloitte EY
Community Builder
How is the WLB in UST Global
More Posts
What is base pay range for L5 at Accenture?
Subject Expert
Can someone help on how to get a burner?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
It is so hard figuring out how to juggle agency life and being a parent. I wish I had said no to prioritizing work over my kids earlier. I barely remember my kid’s first couple years of life. He was in bed 80% of the time when I got home. It is a mommy track but know that being there for your kids has much greater ROI than being a work horse. Hang in there!! Don’t apologize for trying to figure out how to deal with one of life’s most challenging adventures.
My mom actually gave me really good advice. You can’t be a great wife, mom and employee all at this same time. Something always has to give. So when you are at work, put on that work hat and be efficient AF while you are there. When you leave, take off the work hat and put on the mom/wife hat. Be totally present with your family and put down the phone. Make the most out of the time you put in to ensure it’s quality time. Not always easy, but I remind myself of this constantly
I’ve been on the “mommy track” and it’s a choice you make to be able to find that elusive balance. I don’t have the hours in the day, energy, sleep to fuel my brain on full throttle to be 110% on the way I used to be when I was younger and kidless. But I recently saw a friend who is thriving and when I asked her how, she reminded of a time that I was thriving pre kids while she was in mommy mode. Now that her kids are older, she is rockin it. And that gives me hope. I’m not doing bad but I’m not killing it. I’m getting by and that’s pretty fuckin amazing. If you are getting by, good for you!!!! Even if you’re suffering and flailing, you’re still doing great! I ebb and flow from doing ok to sucking at life. But I stay on the ride and that’s winning :)
What you’re describing isn’t just “mommy track.” A lot of people don’t want to work 24/7. I’m in pharma, where a lot of shops have good hours (I’ve typically gotten out at 6 at every place I’ve ever worked). I’m not sure about general advertising though.
Honestly, this is something I screen for in interviews. I know “they say” you shouldn’t talk about kids before you’re hired, but I do. I’m clear that I will work from home if my kids are sick, and that I am happy to do work from home in the evenings but am only willing to rarely stay in the office past 5. Their reaction tells me if I want the job. My favourite response was “I’m a single mom, I get it!” but most employers have responded well. It just helps to set that expectation right off the bat.
I did that and think it cost me the job but I realized it wouldn’t have been what I wanted. And prolly they wouldn’t have gotten the midnight oil burner they wanted either.
I routinely get emails from team members at 1 and 2 in the morning. I just can’t. And I won’t. So, I guess I’m back to looking after 3 months ... anyone else experiencing this level of crazy understaffing or is there hope of a better life elsewhere (in NY)?
I’m at an office that really does respect work/life balance. They do exist, they’re just rare.
I think the culture of a client also has some impact here. Clients who leave at 5 pm are less likely to send fire drill emails late into the night. And internally creates drama should be easier to squash or manage 🤞
I’m a newly returned first time Mom in NYC and it has been a difficult reentrance. Wasn’t allowed to use any PTO to create a 4 day work week due to other people’s year end PTO, so back to pulling the 60 hour weeks quickly and being asked to work weekends for surprise Monday deadlines. Third day back and I was already marked as “too slow”. Wish I had some meaningful insight for you AD, but I can totally relate to how you’re feeling.
Can't you, as the account director, encourage your team not to be there at 1 and 2 am? Or if not, establish that you don't check or respond to emails during specific after hours? Did you say as much and get push back for this?
It’s not only my direct team, it’s all the leads of the other departments. No one has significant others or families, and we’re understaffed so they just work ridiculous hours and brag about it like it’s a badge of honor. 🙄
I went client-side when I had kids. It’s a trade off. Not as challenging creatively and not sure I can go back to agency life later, but it has created a good balance for me and my family.