Juggling
Work and Family
by Saul Singer
Israeli
society expects and, to a certain extent, supports the concept of a 2-income family.
Tax laws specifically encourage mothers to be in the work force, since mothers
(and not fathers) receive significant tax breaks in the form of tax credits per
child. Employment laws such as government-mandated and government-subsidized Chufshat
Leidah (maternity leave) and Sha'at Hanakah (a shortened work day for mothers
of infants) encourage mothers of young children to return to their jobs after
childbirth. A well-developed system of ma'onot (full-time day care centers for
babies and toddlers) is a familiar and well-engrained Israeli institution, which
makes it practical for both parents to be out of the house.
While
all of these factors make it possible for both mothers and fathers to be working,
it certainly is not easy to run a family while keeping up with the demands of
a job. One problem in particular is that the Israeli public school system is not
a full-day program and it includes a tremendous number of vacation days, making
it difficult on the one hand to have two parents working, and on the other hand,
to have a parent available at home when the children have time off or come home
early from school.
Though the employment "fast
track" and traditional 9 to 5 work arrangements do not necessarily work for
parents of small children, there are alternatives to this type of arrangement
that provide greater flexibility. There is a range of employment opportunities
in Israel, which meet the needs of a young family.
Full-Time
Positions
"Full time" is a vaguely defined term used to describe
a wide range of working arrangements. Particularly in the business and hi-tech
sectors, full time positions can often be negotiated to mean working from 8 to
4, a timetable that matches the hours provided by most Israeli day care centers.
If the 8 to 4 option does not provide enough coverage for a particular employment
opportunity, parents can negotiate working a combination of "short"
and "long days," i.e., working until 4:00 most of the a week and alternating
with a spouse or hiring a private babysitter once a week, to allow you to make
up the extra hours. Alternatively, if both parents have flexible schedules, one
parent can work an "early shift" and be home in time for the children,
while the second parent can start the work day after ma'on "drop off"
and get home after the 4:00 deadline. Some employment arrangements also allow
you to clock additional work hours in the evening at home.
Being
a Professional Consultant
Freelancers have much more flexibility than
salaried employees. For example, graphic artists and technical writers are usually
employed for 45-hours a week. However, freelancers who offer the same services
on an out-sourced basis can work at home part-time, according to their own schedules.
On
the down side, freelancing has several disadvantages. Some months may be busier
than others. You have to find and keep your own clients, and you don't have access
to employee benefits such as employee insurance packages and savings plans, vacation
days and sick days.
Using Full Time as a Temporary
Measure
In many professions, part-time options are available if you already
have experience and contacts in Israel. However, if you are just starting out,
full time work is a good option.
This reality holds
true for a range of employment opportunities, including certain medical professionals,
writers, accountants, marketing consultants, psychologists, etc. For example,
public relations consultants who work privately (directly with individual clients)
can work at home and set their own hours. However, if you are an Oleh Chadash
who is newly entering the public relations field, you will probably first want
a full time job in a good firm, which will allow you to gain valuable experience
before you can strike out on your own. Similarly, dentists who own their own practices
can control their work schedules; but if you are a young dentist who is looking
for work in existing dental clinics, you are dependent on the schedule of whoever
hires you and may need to work afternoons or evenings, when it is inconvenient.
As
a working parent, it may be necessary to develop different long-term and short-term
employment goals. In the short term, it may be worthwhile to obtain a full time
position, which may give you the necessary experience to set up your own business,
professional service or medical clinic. This will allow you, in the long-term,
to work part time without compromising your professional satisfaction, independence
and flexibility.
Running Your Own Business
If
you run your own business, you frequently have the luxury of choosing your own
hours. If you are a hairstylist, artist or child care provider, for example, you
can control your own schedule and you are not obligated to answer to anyone other
than yourself.
If you own a store that provides a
service, you may have the option of hiring additional staff to provide you with
the flexibility and support that you need. For example, if you are a pharmacist,
optician or photographer, you can hire someone to be in your store at times when
you are unavailable.
On the other hand, getting a
business off the ground can certainly be a 24-hour a day commitment, and it may
be necessary at times to put a tremendous amount of time into making your business
work.
Working in the Educational System
The
school system is the most natural work environment for parents of small children.
Teachers, psychologists, administrators, secretaries, guidance counselors and
therapists can all find employment working in the public or private school sectors,
holding a full time position as defined by the Ministry of Education without compromising
the ability to be home when your own children finish school. Academics working
in the university system are also on a schedule that provides enough flexibility
to meet the needs of the family.
Part-Time Administrative
Positions
It is not unusual to find part-time administrative positions,
particularly in medical offices and the educational or public sectors. An administrative
position with comfortable working hours located close to home (and without the
after-hours responsibilities of other types of employment) is a very convenient
employment option that provides tremendous flexibility for people who want to
be maximally available to their families.
Caring
for Young Children
In Israel, it is very common for mothers to return to
the work force immediately after finishing the government-subsidized maternity
leave. Maonot, or day care centers, exist in every community in Israel and are
the most popular form of child care for infants and toddlers. Standard hours in
Maonot are 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. In some Maonot, later hours are available,
until 6 pm.
For individuals who would prefer a more
home-based atmosphere and don’t mind the extra expense, the private Mishpachton
is another arrangement that is commonly available. In a typical Mishpachton, a
babysitter will look after a small group of infants or toddlers in her own home.
Hours in Mishpachton vary: some places offer half day programs (until 1:00 or
1:30 pm) where other places offer full day programs (until 3:30 or 4:00 pm).
Children
attend Gan, or pre-school, starting at age 3. In some places, Gan is a half day
program that ends between 1 and 2 pm. For working parents, Tsaharon – afternoon
programs – are available for a separate fee. In many cases, Tsaharon staff
members pick children up directly from the Gan, bring them to the Tsaharon and
provide hot lunches and afternoon activities. Tsaharon programs usually end between
3:30 and 4:00, though some programs do end later.
If
the Maon, Mishpachton or Tsaharon in your neighborhood does not offer you the
type of child care schedule that you need, private babysitters may also be available.
However, babysitting fees are usually higher than the other options.
Different
communities in Israel have different child care options. Speak to other parents
in your neighborhood to find out what is locally available.
Online
Resources
Digital Eve is an email list for working businesswomen. To subscribe,
send an email to dei-discuss-subscribe@lerner.co.il.
Working Moms in Israel is an email list for mothers who are looking for part
time or flexible work arrangements. To subscribe, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/workingmomsinIsrael/
Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute) has a web site with information
about employee rights and benefits: http://www.btl.gov.il
Kav La’Oved is non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the rights
of workers: http://www.kavlaoved.org.il/index_en.asp.
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