Parent Time

Even if you loved your job before, time at home with a new baby often reshuffles career priorities. Instead of climbing the corporate ladder, suddenly your number one goal is cutting back on your work hours to focus more on family. Here’s how three parents took action to achieve the new balance they were looking for.

Is it possible to find a job that's challenging and rewarding, but still lets you put family first? Yes, say the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, an annual roundup of companies that have proven their commitment to family-friendly policies for employees. (See our list of the top 10.)

Yet, according to a recent national survey, only one-quarter of working Canadian parents believe such a balance is achievable in their current jobs. We talked to three parents who came to that conclusion — and decided to tip their own balance in favour of family. Find out how they did it, and read expert tips to help you decide whether you can too.

Originally published in Today's Parent, December 2007