Dolly's blog

I’ve been thinking a lot about part-time working – my own arrangements and those of others.  Because one of the tricky things about being lucky enough to have a firm that said “yes” when I asked for four days is that I still find myself pondering why virtually all women higher up the food chain stick to the trad five.  It currently feels like part-time working is both a blessing and curse. 

There are so many (rather un-envious sounding) voices in my life saying “I don’t know how you do it!” that it’s refreshing to read articles resolutely in the “yes we can!” camp.  The Sunday Times has run a series of them but one had me choking on my peanut butter toast – Marissa Mayer at Yahoo being hailed as proof that women are “changing the conversation” and “can win the triple crown – career, spouse, children”.  Really?  Don’t get me wrong, I am full of admiration for her and having a pop at successful women does none of us any good.  I’m absolutely not doing that.  But, from where I’m sitting, someone who famously banned working from home and clearly doesn’t do part-time doesn’t personify a seismic shift in attitudes. 

The generation before us proved that if you stick to the rules then the world is your oyster.  Business leaders increasingly wear skirts and with every Marissa the subconscious image of career success shifts a little.  But the real challenge for many of us is fighting the fight less than five days a week.  For every woman who makes part-time working work (this year’s Power Part Time list I salute you) we all know those who secured the coveted part-time hours then watched their careers wither on the vine, tainted by the perception of diminished commitment and the practical challenges of doing career-advancing work on reduced hours. 

So I take my hat of to Marissa but if the price is a five day week (and the rest) then, right now, I don’t want that kind of success.  The hard bit is working out how to keep progressing with one arm tied behind your back. 

Dolly is an employment lawyer and partner in a London firm. Currently working four days a week, theoretically between the hours of 9 and 5.