Time for work-at-home parents to be heard

Apparently, this week is International Work at Home Parent week. Not that you would know it. We appear to be the forgotten minority when it comes to job statistics.

In fact, a quick search on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website – using the term “work at home parents” turns up nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero.

So how many humble suburban homes are actually hotbeds of entrepreneurship, industry and dedication?

When I began this journey – a little over 18 months ago – I had no idea of how many of us there were. I had been in my 9-5 (or 8-6!) corporate existence for so long,  I honestly believed that was what working meant. Sure, I knew there were consultants, designers, writers, web geeks  (I had paid enough of my employers’ cash to a few of them!) and I was aware that Facebook was full of crafty people selling their wares to the masses, but I had lumped them into two categories: “freelancers” and “hobbyists”. And I had no idea how many of them were juggling their own business plus young children.

Since setting up Black Coffee Communication, I have come across – and been inspired by – countless mums and dads who have said “Stuff you” to inflexible working hours, long commutes and unforgiving bosses. They have struck out on their own – and been mightily successful. Others, however, have tried, failed and gone back into the workforce.

So why does the ABS not seem to count us? Is it because so many of us dismiss how valuable we are to the Australian economy? (Less stress on daycare places, public transport, road systems, the environment and more)

According to Cas McCullough, who founded the Support a WAHP social networking group (you can find them on Facebook) and launched Work at Home Parent Week two years ago,  the boom in home-based micro businesses can be attributed to social media and a thriving international eCommerce environment.

But she added that governments were not keeping pace with the boom and warned businesses would  fail as fast as they start up unless they received greater support.

Cas – who obviously had more luck with her ABS search – said statistics showed that 84.2% of active business in Australia were micro-business. I know! That number surprised me too. Obviously, I’m sure not all are parents, but a fair number must be, right?

And yet, when you register a business in Australia, a physical address is needed. That sparks huge privacy issues for those of us who work at home around small children. Our work address is our home address, and who needs disgruntled customers or staff turning up on our doorstep?

Another issue that affects work at home parents is the lack of networking opportunities where young children are welcome.

As a micro-business with limited (or zero) marketing budget, I get the bulk of my work from networking. But I am one of the lucky ones – my husband is home at night to care for the kids, and I use a combination of daycare and kindy to give me some time during the day.

I can’t attend breakfast events – and a lot of the better business networking groups meet at breakfast, purely because it doesn’t disrupt the normal working hours. But we work-at-home parents don’t keep normal working hours.

This dilemma has sparked a local mum to set up a work-at-home parent networking group, with plans for a networking workshop once a month, with a creche activity available for children.  It’s a great idea, and she has received tonnes of support. Unfortunately, it means she is out of pocket thus far – and there seems to be no financial support forthcoming from council or other government bodies.

Meanwhile, McCullough is calling for the establishment of a dedicated organisation to support the plight of micro businesses.

“There is no peak industry body for home-based businesses in Australia,” she says.

“Many non-employing micro business owners simply don’t have time to lobby for change and they wouldn’t know who to go to anyway.”

I for one, would be strongly in favour of such a body. And with a Federal election coming up – I call for work-at-home parents to unite and lobby the government and opposition for more support for micro-businesses. Honestly, at the moment, neither side has much going for them, so this might even swing my vote.

What do you reckon?

Till next time,