So I had to make a really scary decision-I had to ask my employer to consider granting me part-time status so I can help my father take care of my mother, who is increasingly sick.
My employer was gracious. They want to work with me to make this happen. I am a project manager for a web/software group, managing around 5 developers.
What can I do to try to make this work? I have been trying to block my time into chunks so I can get a massive amount of things done all at once (client status updates, review of current progress, meetings with team, etc), and doing some things, like feedback for my team, etc from a higher level. I also have been encouraging my development lead to take more of a role in managing the team with me, instead of waiting for me to run with most of the decisions.
I also think I might go see the senior project manager, who manages three times as many people as me-I think she might have some good advice on streamlining what I do so I can make this work.
It sounds like you are already moving in the right direction.
The key thing I find useful in working more efficiently is working off a prioritised “to-do” list. Actually, it’s 2 lists (1 for today and 1 for longer-term things, more as an aide-memoire). Once I have worked out which things off my longer-term list need to get done today, I then prioritise today’s items according to importance and urgency, then just get on with it!
Good luck, and I hope your mother’s health improves.
It does sound like you’re already doing the right things. Even when I was in the office I encouraged my teams to send me emails when possible instead of calling or interrupting me in the middle of something else so that I could work efficiently too. Will you have time at home to check and return any phone calls or emails at home? That would help your team to get answers that can keep them moving when they get stuck. If using WebEx type software is an option that would allow them to show you something if they need to.
well the IT place I work for is kind of weird-they do not allow you do to anything for work at home
I was thinking I might make the two days a week I miss on tuesday and friday, so I can get the team moving on monday and get them finished on thursday.
Mine didn’t allow working from home either because of OSHA issues but they ignored the fact that I did it anyway when I needed to. I’m by no means a workaholic but there were times when I could hold up designers or vendors for the entire time I’m out of the office. If they’re serious about not letting you do it you probably shouldn’t try to sneak it. Your schedule sounds like a good plan because then they don’t go 2 days in a row without being able to talk to you. I also gave my development leads full reign over the programmers as long as they stayed within the time, functionality and budget constraints. They were the experts on that phase of the project, not me.
yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. The development lead knows about the budget and what has to be done. I think I just have to do things from a higher level and let them work…but I have to find the right way to do it.
Are you in the US and if so are you covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act? Also, state law is sometimes more generous than the federal FMLA. You may be entitled to leave (generally unpaid) to care for a sick parent. Know your rights.
Also, part-time work means they pay you less, and are entitled to less work from you. It’s great that you’re trying to keep things going (I mean that!), but maybe the others who will be picking up additional tasks should get a raise or bonus budgeted for them out of the salary not paid to you.
Have you met with the development lead alone and then the full team to see what ideas they have for getting what they need from you quickly enough not to get stuck? Usually the programmers don’t need us at all most of the time, the business analysts should be able to fill their time even if they have to wait for a decision for a day, testers can work with the business analysts and your boss can handle it if someone does or says something horrifying in front of a client that has to be dealt with immediately. It sounds like you have it together and are just a bit nervous about it : )
