Question for all-- Is the Architecture profession in NY friendly to women or men with children working either part-time or on a flex schedule? I have been working for a small design firm, which was "family friendly" but unofficially changed policies about 2 years ago.

So I wonder, are there any firms that are family friendly? Can the Architectural profession support more progressive work environment including- work from home, flex hours, part-time? Is this essentially the same as being a free-lancer or consultant, not an integrated part of a firm's business model?

Thoughts....?

With respect, I think you'll find that most firms' ability / willingness to accommodate what you seek will be a function of economics and the availability of labor that does not require such accommodation.

A few years back, everybody was busy and scrambling for good employees ... in that labor-shortage environment there was a great willingness to accommodate special needs and requests.

Things today simply are not the same and, in my view, most firms probably will be less accommodating than was the case a few years back. They simply don't have the motivation to deal with the logistics unless the candidate offers something extraordinary and rare.

OTOH, some firms with limited work may prefer a part-time schedule. The real trick in such situations will be to predict those firms' attitudes when things start picking up.

Good luck.

Interesting points.

What am I seeing as a contradiction is during the boom time-- employees and employers were so busy that I found most employers did not want to compromise their "needs" to their employees schedule. Employee out Wed afternoon, employer "needs" to discuss the proj Wed afternoon, employee is screwed...

I like your version of the kinder, gentler employer accommodating in times of possibility. Any thoughts on large vs med vs small firms ability or willingness to do this?

One more side note...my firm changed policies not when work was tightening...but when there was work a plenty. Perhaps it is just this firms position that we are disposable in times of plenty, and disposable now too.

Sad...

I think the model that suits what you're looking for is 'freelancer'. Which obviously means no health insurance, retirement plan, holidays etc.

I think in the States [and perhaps someone can correct me] you're offered 90 days or 3 months maternity leave and nil paternity leave. In Europe, or at least the UK, you get a year for either.

The whole low-pay, high commitment architecture model is not conducive to having offspring, unless you own the firm and your clients don't mind ankle biters running around the office. If both parents are architects, this is the only way I've seen it work.

actually in the US, maternity leave is usually 6 weeks, but you can take 12 weeks under the FLMA, but that is usually unpaid. a horrible system, but apparently, the US is all about family values...meaning, they want women to stay at home and not go back to work at all.

I meant FMLA

Hold me closer....

Suckx.

Hold me closer....

Suckx.

I thought a part-timer usually doesn't qualify for benefits anyway?
One firm I was at, you had to work at least 30 hr/wk to get benefits.