How a Company with Flexibility Empowers me as a Working Mother

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In light and celebration of International Women’s Day, I would like to share my story about how Schneider Electric empowers me as a working mother to two young children. With the Global Flexibility Principles, I am able to be my best and manage my unique life and work.

I’m a mother of two adorable young children aged 2 and 5, my mornings are usually extremely stressful as I’m always struggling to get out of the door with the kids on time. The morning routine usually starts with my daughter’s tantrums of not waking up and getting changed and my son jumping on the bed, running around not letting me get hold of him. Feeding them breakfast is another mission and then the long commute to work while keeping my 2-year-old entertained. In all this chaos, you’d expect me to panic and forget about enjoying these beautiful moments, but that’s not the case. I don’t have to stress anymore about reaching precisely on time.

I’m very lucky to come to a happy welcoming workplace where my employer and manager understand my unique needs being a mother of young children.

Flexibility Principles at Work

As soon as I’m done with work and head back home it’s like moving from a spin machine at the gym to a treadmill, as I’m back to my second more exhausting job. My house is usually like a crime scene, with all the clutter from the morning frenzy. Filled with tiredness, we must prepare for the night. After I’m done with changing the kids, feeding them dinner, coo over their artwork and read bedtime stories and putting them to bed, when the lights are finally out its time to prep for the next morning. All clothes laid out, lunch boxes and bags packed so we can save time in the morning. And of course, catching up on work – inbox full of emails.

That’s just the daily routine. Do you know how often toddlers going to daycare get sick? Hint: A LOT and the infinite invites from school to attend school activities. It’s wonderful to work for a company with flexibility so I am able to work from home with my son when he is sick or being able to attend my daughter’s school activities in the morning and work the rest of the day from home, knowing that my company trusts that I’m still going to deliver results and support my team.

Empowered with Support and an Inclusive Work Environment

It’s incredibly empowering to be able to manage my work within a flexible schedule that suits my needs. The beauty of our culture is not just being a company with flexibility but the empathy and inclusion that comes with it and how it’s deeply embedded in our culture and embraced at all levels.

Motherhood is constant, demanding and exhausting. Add sleep deprivation to the mix and it becomes overwhelming. The biggest issue for working mothers is the idea that they must be available around the clock both at home and in the office. While most are up for the challenge, they will only be successful if employers support them in all aspects of their life– home and at work.

I’m very lucky to work for a company that values differences and aspires to become the most diverse, inclusive and equitable company globally. As flexibility principles are imperative to the creation of diverse and inclusive workplaces, we not only value flexibility at work, we live it and breathe it. Our philosophy is that every role can be flexible in some way. We welcome people from all walks of life, ages, cultures, embracing different perspectives we believe everybody should have the same chance of success.

Trust and Empowerment at Schneider

Having an incredibly understanding and inclusive manager, herself being a mother of four gives me inspiration as a working mother. She trusts her team and empowers us to work at our own pace without any judgment or undue pressure.

On most days I don’t even need flexibility, but the psychological safety of my manager makes me feel uniquely valued and helps me contribute my very best.

At Schneider, we commit to well-being, creating an environment where our employees can flourish. This encourages the employees to act like owners, take responsibility and ownership of everything they do. This gives them a sense of empowerment and freedom which breeds innovation. We ensure that you have what you need for high performance, personal fulfillment and fun, that’s why great people make Schneider Electric a great company.

At Schneider Electric, we promote an inclusive work environment as we believe in a world where we are all #EachforEqual. Our inclusive Global Flexibility Principles empower and meet the need of both women and men to manage their unique life and work. Flexibility is for everyone and can be seef in ways such as flexible working hours, telecommuting, Activity-based working, Flexible holidays, Part-Time, Volunteering, Flexible Dress Code and more.

If you’re interested in a meaningful, inclusive and empowering career and working for a company with flexibility, check out our jobs and apply today at www.se.com/careers.

About the Author

Bushra is part of the Talent Acquisition Team in Sydney, Australia. She is passionate about sourcing top talent for the business while ensuring that candidates have a great experience throughout their journey with Schneider. Bushra has worked in recruitment and HR across different industries and countries. She started her career in the humanitarian sector in Pakistan recruiting for the emergency response program by International Rescue Committee then moved to the Netherlands and worked in the oil and gas sector. Bushra worked as an Agency recruiter in Western Australia before she joined Schneider’s talent acquisition team in Sydney. With an MBA degree in HR and her diverse experience in talent acquisition, she aims to keep learning and growing with Schneider. She is a mother of two, a 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. She loves traveling, exploring different cultures and binge-watching Netflix when the kids go to sleep.