\u201cI have one child who has just turned eight. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, sometimes with projects or assignments, it could be quite difficult, as my wife and I have busy lifestyles. We would have to make sacrifices to bring my son to school, relying a lot on family members. Now with the hybrid model of working at SL Controls, there is a lot more flexibility.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhenever my wife is not able to bring my son to school, I am able to step in as much as I can when I am working from home. We still do lean on the family a bit \u2013 we’re very lucky that we are surrounded by a good support network. But it is great being able to do more of the school runs and other things myself. So long as I am not on the road, I can usually rearrange meetings, and everyone is understanding.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere is a greater understanding now that having increased flexibility works. The working pattern works, as you can still achieve the same productivity and deliver for customers even if you do have to drop off for half an hour for family reasons.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWith the flexibility of the job I can also make sure I finish on time on certain days. Monday nights are a good example, when I am doing football coaching for my son’s age group. I have a rule to finish on time on that day, and it’s similar for basketball on other nights. It’s great to have that and everyone is understanding. If I decline meetings at that particular time of the week, they understand why.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wes Hanbidge, Project Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe just had our first baby, a boy, in the summer. Funny enough, he was born on the same day as my own birthday \u2013 and my brother has the same birthday as well! There is something funny with that date in this family.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI took paternity leave for two weeks when Ivan was born. My manager said to take more time if I needed it, and if I was going again, I probably would take an extra couple of weeks. My manager said don’t be afraid to take a month off, but part of me was saying I would see him every day as I was working from home. My advice to other new fathers is to take more time if you can.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhen you pick him up from the hospital, they sort of hand you the baby and it’s like; what’s next? During my two weeks of paternity leave, I was cleaning the house, looking after the washing and dishes, doing the shopping, anything to give my wife as much time to sleep as possible. And there was entertaining all the guests we had, as everyone wanted to come and see him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy wife and I have been living together for a while, but having a baby turns your house into a home. It’s more of a family home now, and it is different as there is a third human being in the house.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAs I work from home, I get to see him a lot more often than I would if I had to drive to work. I get to see him growing up, which is just fantastic. People have given us advice that you have to start looking for creches and schools very quickly but working from home under a hybrid arrangement is a huge advantage. It definitely helps when you compare it to a situation where the two of us are not here at all. Working from home takes the pressure off.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Celebrating](\"https:\/\/slcontrols.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Celebrating-the-many-fathers-working-at-SL-Controls-ahead-of-International-Mens-Day-Alan-Loughlin-1.jpg\")
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