Flexibility goes both ways

When an employer finds a way to make your role work from abroad, it’s not only a great sign of commitment to flexibility in the workplace; it’s also the recognition and appreciation of individual employees. That was the case for Karen Hamm from Own Body Mobile Health Services who moved to Copenhagen with her family. It’s a fantastic story to share and gives great insight for other job seekers looking at roles with our Featured Employer, Own Body Mobile Health Services.

Tell us about your working history prior to having children and any challenges this presented on your return to work after maternity leave. 

Prior to working at Own Body I had been working in a Private Physiotherapy practice in Melbourne and whilst the working day was not long, the days and hours were fixed and there wasn’t the flexibility to adapt the day or the hours to suit the needs of my family on a regular basis. Having a 4-year-old at the time meant that of course, there were times when I needed to be a little more flexible but this was hard to do when I had fixed schedule in place.

I joined Own Body Mobile Health Services in November 2018 not only because I was looking to do something a little different to what I had been doing before but also because the organisation seemed like a really great place to work: It offered flexibility to choose the number of days & hours I wanted to work as well as providing me with what sounded like a really interesting role and one in which I would be able to thrive in despite only wanting to work part-time and be there for my family. Own Body has certainly not disappointed on either of these accounts, so much so that when my husband took a job in Copenhagen last year, I did not want to leave the company and so we worked out a way for me to be able to continue doing the role from abroad. I’d say that certainly showed how willing & flexible Own Body is in order to accommodate a working parent! 

How has becoming a parent changed your work life, if at all?

Becoming a parent has most certainly changed my work life as I’m now balancing not just my own needs and that of my husband’s but also that of my son’s so there is less of my time to go around! My priorities also changed as whilst I still wanted to have a stimulating and rewarding career, I also wanted to be there for my family, particularly whilst my son is still young. This therefore meant looking for roles that could accommodate part-time as well as flexible working hours. Roles like this are not always easy to come by especially if you still want something that is rewarding and stimulating as well as providing opportunities for career growth but Own Body offers this in spades!

What does flexibility look like for you? 

Flexibility at work, for me, means I can take my now 8 year old son to school and be there at drop off. It means I can also be present after school to take him to various after-school activities or encourage him when he needs to do his homework or chores. It also means I can choose my hours entirely and therefore dip in and out of work during the day or week depending on what else I have going on that week. It means I can occasionally volunteer at school when needed and make up the work hours on another day or pop out for an errand and finish a task or project off later. It essentially means I have the freedom to be properly present for my son and provide for his needs whilst still being able to carry out my role at work well and not having to compromise on either. And it also means I sometimes work in the early hours of the morning before my son wakes up or in the evenings after he’s gone to bed which inevitably means it’s done with a glass of wine in tow which always somehow makes the work seem so much easier 😉 And last but by no means least, it also means being flexible for the company too as I believe it works both ways.

How has Own Body Mobile Health Services supported you as a working parent?

As a working parent, I cannot speak more highly of Own Body as a place to work! Not only do I feel extremely valued & appreciated, which is often rare to find in a workplace, but the company also genuinely really cares about its team members & their well-being. The Director, as well as everyone in the Senior Management & Leadership team, have got children of their own and therefore really understand the needs of a working parent, being one themselves. This has therefore led to a genuine culture of adaptability and flexibility in order to allow parents to be able to thrive at work whilst balancing the needs of the family.

What do you consider to be the most important element of support when balancing work and family commitments?

The most important element of support when balancing work & family commitments is having an employer who empathises with the need of a parent to want to balance both and do both well. Having that empathy then translate into real workable solutions that create sustainable, stimulating & flexible working arrangements for parents and is why Own Body truly stands out as such a great place to work as a parent.

To find out more about Own Body Mobile Health Services and current roles available, visit their Featured Employer page here.