This is such a fantastic post. I have nothing to add, just wanted to say: yes.
As a woman who raises three children without a partner and works full-time plus, I heartily approve of this post.
I totally agree that faculty jobs ought to not be all-consuming. It's not reasonable to go all out, all the time, for the rest of one's career. But what about the colleague who does work 90 hours a week? Often he'll write more papers than people who work reasonable numbers of hours a week.
Kate: Beautiful beautiful post. We desperately need to recognize that workers are first and foremost human, and we working moms desperately need allies to make the powers-that-be see the light.
plam: I spend many sleepless nights wondering the same thing.
I agree completely with this post. But I don't see this changing in the scientific discipline. While I would LOVE to see a change in the adjustment of the expectations about how long it takes to run an experiment,etc, this would require, at least within the universities, a complete about face in their philosophy. As it stands we follow a business efficiency model. The emphasis is on the bottom line - productivity, productivity, productivity. This is currently measured by the currency called publications.
There would have to be a global change in university philosophy towards an emphasis on science as a PROCESS, which I inherently believe it is. It has to be global because otherwise it spirals back to where it currently is - a tragedy of commons.
I agree 100% as well. One of my favorite parts of running my own company is offering these opportunities to our workers whenever we can. I also believe that we should all work less and spend more time at home with our families. I hate that people get so much credit for spending time at the office when they're just socializing or wasting it for so much of that time. We have one worker we just brought on for whom we were happy to offer a completely flexible package, which will include time off for paternity and a part-time, telecommuting schedule that allows him to play a significant role in nurturing his 1 year old and the second child they're planning.
I'm a Millenial, and I see these type of beliefs in others my age. I hope that as more of us rise to positions of power and own our own companies, we create a more friendly and freeform workplace for everyone.
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