Why are there no senior part-time roles?
What started as a reel with recent guest Emma McLean exploded online with hundreds of comments from working parents sharing frustrations, missed opportunities, and moments of hope about part time roles.
What really struck me was how much emotion and old-school thinking remains towards part time work. For so many working mums, the lack of senior part-time roles isn’t just about jobs. It’s about identity, family, equality, and opportunity.
The main barrier to part time and flexible work isn’t logistics or the law. It’s cultural. Too many workplaces still equate hours with commitment, and presenteeism with performance.
But the stories, the data, and the law all show it can work.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
- The barriers and cultural beliefs holding back part-time senior roles
- Real stories of mums (and dads) facing career penalties for choosing part-time work
- Where flexible and part-time work is working well, from job shares to international examples
- What Australian law (Fair Work Act) actually says about part-time work and flexible arrangements
- The broader impact: missed talent, superannuation gaps, the mental load, and systemic inequality
- How businesses can rethink leadership, flexibility, and the future of work to support all working parents
This episode is a must-listen for working mums who want both a career and family life, and for leaders who want to unlock talent, improve retention, and create more inclusive workplaces.
Resources & Related Episodes:
- Prof. Leah Ruppanner on the mental load
- Deline Jacovides on childcare affordability & superannuation
- Natasha Janssens on money & confidence
- Elise Slavin & Laura Stewart on redefining career success after kids
- Episode with Emma McLean
Connect with Carina and Working Mumma
- Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
- LinkedIn: Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien
- Sign up to the Working Mumma newsletter
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