“I NO LONGER HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CARER OR CAREER BECAUSE OF WORKSTYLE.”
Only 67 per cent of adult carers have a job, with the majority of the rest saying they’d like to do flexible work, but are unable to.
The Workstyle Revolution is about to change all of that.
At the heart of the Workstyle Revolution is a campaign to change the way the world works, empowering you to be your most authentic self. The Workstyle Revolutionaries think it’s about time we rewrote the ‘rule-book’ in favour of inclusive, fulfilling and fair work.
One of the brilliant people who has joined our force for good is Katerina Gilbert, who lives in North Yorkshire. We spoke to her about how the birth of her youngest child changed her life – and her career – forever.
Katerina is no stranger to an executive career. Originally from Greece and trilingual, her marketing and advertising career has allowed her to globe-trot the world with her husband. That is, until life could no longer fit around work.
In 2009, their youngest son was born prematurely at 27 weeks’ gestation. He spent months in intensive care undergoing multiple brain surgeries, followed by a series of health scares. Katerina wasn’t able to hold him for three months, and wasn’t sure whether he would come out of hospital. Naturally, as parents, Katerina and her husband’s perspective shifted and they devoted themselves to giving their son the best quality of life possible.
“We basically re-evaluated everything”, Katerina told us. “We didn’t really know how both of us could get on with a 9-to-5-career. We just knew our lives had changed dramatically.”
When their son was finally able to come home, Katerina and her husband received a devastating prediction for his future by a senior consultant in London. “Your parental instincts kick in, we were determined to make the best we could for him and our family” she says.
And they did. A world away from the future forecast by the doctors, their nine-year-old son is now enjoying mainstream school. Although he requires a high level of support, he’s progressing and developing at his own pace.
Katerina and her husband didn’t get to that point without making big changes, though. To accommodate their new focus, both parents decided to take turns working full-time, while the other worked part-time, so they could dedicate more time to their family. This is still the case, with Katerina working flexibly so she can attend medical appointments, meetings and assessments whilst managing long absences from school and sleepless nights.
Working with Hoxby, she has the freedom to enjoy her own work-life balance with the Workstyle Revolution. But it wasn’t always that way. “We (carers) are expected to have junior positions or shift jobs, as if our personal circumstances are limiting what our brain/creativity/experiences can offer” she says.
Despite her impressive CV, Katerina found it difficult to break down old, tired work barriers and find flexible roles at her level, in her field. It seems society just can’t break away from the traditional 9-5, which doesn’t create a level playing field for everyone.
Aside from the inevitable financial compromise, Katerina says that it has also been a personal challenge for her. “The lack of self-fulfilment creates a huge emotional void” she explains. “Being able to have access to work one has chosen to do is very important, especially for a carer. Otherwise, on top of everything, there’s another factor depressing you further.”
Thankfully, she joined the Workstyle Revolution.
No more missing the meaningful moments, Katerina can march to the beat of her own drum and continue to flourish professionally. “The Workstyle Revolution allows carers to continue pursuing their career choices, and shape their workstyle around their personal circumstances,” she says. “Seven per cent of all children are disabled in the UK, so there are a vast number of parent-carers who need support.”
Meanwhile, her son loves the time he gets with his mum and continues to progress and grow. “He’s a truly remarkable boy, full of energy, humour, cheekiness and intelligence,” says Katerina. “He has gone through a lot, and our family has gone through a lot with him. We will always be around to support him, no matter what the challenges are.”
It’s clear from Katerina’s story, if individuals have greater autonomy over where and when they work, this will result in a greater sense of wellbeing and a better output. Nodding your head with us?
