The Spousal Support Checklist for Talking About Going Part-time
By Pat Katepoo, Work Options Advisor and Developer of Flex Success Proposal Template
“You want to do what?”
Uh-oh. Getting some signs that your spouse may not be
thrilled with your decision to work fewer hours?
If you’re married, your decision to change to less-than-full-time
work is not an independent one. As with your manager, there's some convincing to
do!
But at home, unlike at work, you have the advantage of
intimacy and discussion over time.
Let your spouse express personal opinions, concerns, and
ideas about your plan. This communication process can
help you develop the support you need for ongoing
success.
Use this checklist to guide you in your discussions
together.
We've discussed how the quality of our family life is
affected by our hectic and/or materialistic lifestyle.
We've discussed what we would like to improve in our
marriage and family life.
We've discussed each of our goals and roles in
fulfilling that vision for our family life.
I've
explained to my spouse how my working fewer hours
outside the home would enhance our marriage/family life.
I've told my spouse about WorkOptions.com as a
resource for helping us meet our family goals.
We've discussed the shift in priorities that may be
necessary as we make financial adjustments.
We've discussed how to deal with any power shift that
may come with one of us bringing in less income.
We've worked out a household budget and spending plan
that we both can agree to.
We've discussed whether or not my spouse might feel
added pressures as the only full-time worker and how we
might deal with it.
We've discussed the benefits and advantages of
reducing my work schedule.
We've discussed how long I anticipate having a changed
work schedule.
We've discussed how our long-term financial and
professional goals might be affected by this change.
We've discussed our plans for having (more) children
and how we would adjust to that situation.
We've discussed expectations and changes related to
household roles (e.g., housework, child care, bill
paying, etc.).
I've shared my completed flexible work proposal with
my spouse as a way to demonstrate how I've carefully
worked out a plan.
To reach mutually agreeable terms, we've made
modifications to my plan based on our discussions.
We've translated the my plan and proposal into a time
line that we both agree upon.
We are both committed to doing our best to make the
plan and proposal work.
As in any goal, mutual support between marriage partners
can help make a flexible work arrangement successful.
