As a freelancer who is also a parent or carer, starting a new job, which frankly is a regular part of the job, can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when thinking about how to balance what might be asked of you in a professional capacity with your caregiving duties. Juggling work, childcare, and other caregiving tasks can be incredibly demanding, and it's okay to acknowledge that this can feel like a lot to manage at once.
When you begin your new role, it's important to have open and honest conversations about your caring responsibilities. Addressing these challenges early on can help you find practical solutions that enable you to meet your work commitments while also fulfilling your role as a parent or carer. Whether it's discussing flexible hours, touring with children, needing to be on call at crucial moments such as needing to pick up the phone for a care related emergency or finding other forms of support, being upfront about your needs is the first step in setting yourself up for success in both your professional and personal life.
As a freelancer, balancing work and caregiving responsibilities can be uniquely challenging, and what works for one person might not work for another. Every parent's situation is different, just as every job is different. With that in mind, here are some suggested prompts to help you start conversations with your client or manager about your caregiving needs. These ideas are meant to guide you towards positive, practical solutions that support both your work and your responsibilities at home.
Timing the conversation
For a freelancer, the best time to discuss being a parent and any associated caregiving responsibilities is typically during the negotiation phase before finalising the contract. For many of us these conversations happen through agents and managers, but not always. Please note these are ideas rather than advice. Sadly, there still exisits a lot of discrimination and unconscious bias in our industry and every situation is different. This is why PiPA can not give advice and can only share best practice.
1. During Initial Negotiations
- Timing: Once the offer has been made and you are confident you want to exisit, this is ideally when to bring up your caregiving responsibilities before the contract is signed. This allows you to discuss and negotiate any necessary adjustments and avoid unpeasant surprises later down the line.
- How to Approach: Frame the conversation positively, emphasising your commitment to the job while also needing to balance your responsibilities as a parent. Be clear about what adjustments you might need (see below for some suggestions and ideas)
2. When Discussing Project Details
- Project Scope: When going over the scope of work, timelines, and expectations, this is an ideal time to discuss any potential scheduling conflicts or special requirements you may have due to your caregiving duties.
- Suggest Solutions: Be proactive in suggesting solutions that work for both you and the company. It's much easier for people to respond to tanglible suggstions rather than come up with their own solutions as they may not be aware of what is required or possible. Sometimes, people aren't able to meet our requests but they are able to offer a compromise for example.
3. At the Contract Signing Stage
- Final Adjustments: If you haven’t already discussed it, the contract signing stage is the last opportunity to bring up your caregiving responsibilities. Ensure that any agreed-upon accommodations are included in the contract to protect both parties.
4. Before Starting the Project
- Reaffirm Commitments: Right before the project kicks off, it can be helpful to reconfirm any adjustments or accommodations that were discussed. This ensures everyone is on the same page as you begin work.
Tips for the Conversation
- Be Transparent: Honesty is key. Share your situation in a way that highlights your dedication to the project but also clearly communicates your needs.
- Focus on Solutions: Rather than just presenting a problem, come prepared with potential solutions that show you’ve thought about how to manage your responsibilities effectively.
- Keep It Professional: Approach the conversation in a professional manner, just as you would discuss any other aspect of the contract. This helps to maintain a positive and collaborative tone.
By discussing your caregiving responsibilities at the right time, you can set clear expectations and avoid any potential misunderstandings, ensuring a smoother working relationship throughout the project.
Here are some areas for adjustments for you to consider requesting:
Flexible Scheduling
- Start and End Times: Request flexibility in start and end times. Some companies allow early finishes on Fridays or late starts on Mondays to help those with caregiving responsibilities manage their weekends better and minimise time away from family.
- Pinch points: Are there specific times, like tech weeks, where you anticipate challenges? Is there any flexibility? Be up front about the challenges and try and have an idea of what will make it easier in advnace of the conversation.
Communication and Planning
- Advance Schedules: Ask for tour and rehearsal schedules as far in advance as possible to plan around your caregiving responsibilities. As caregivers it's really important for us to know when we are working with as much notice as possible so we aren't loosing £££ un-needed care or aren't caught short at the last minute. Most PiPA partners are now giving a minimum of 48 hours notice for changes to scheules and many have committed to giving a weeks notice
- Regular Check-Ins: Set up regular check-ins with the rehearsal/ tour manager to address any emerging needs or adjustments throughout the tour.
- Preparation: Do you need support with pre rehearsal prep or practice? If you have children at home and need to be off-book before rehearsals, what kind of support could help you? Do you have the necessary time, mental space, or physical space to practice your instrument or prepare your creative work?.
Job Shares and Reduced Roles
- Job Sharing: Explore the option of job-sharing your role with another creative, allowing for reduced time on the road while still contributing to the project. We’ve seen successful examples of job shares across creative roles, from stage managers to actors to lighting designers.
- Reduced Responsibilities: If possible, negotiate for a reduced role or responsibilities on certain days to balance work with caregiving.
Touring
Touring can present significant challenges. Whether you need to bring a child with you on all, or part of the tour, or need to get home at key moments to provide care, think about what support you might need.
Support for Caregiving on Tour
- Bringing a Caregiver: If needed, negotiate the possibility of bringing a caregiver or family member along on the tour to assist with your caregiving duties.
- Childcare Provisions: Inquire if the company has any partnerships with local childcare providers or if they can assist in finding suitable childcare options at tour locations.
- Local Provisions: Does the recieving house or producer have a family friendly welcome pack that details local parks, amenities, doctors etc?
Family-Friendly Accommodations
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Ask if family-friendly accommodation can be provided, such as larger rooms or places that can comfortably host your family.
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Some PiPA partner venues have accommodation on site that they have worked hard to make family friendly and others have links to family friendly accommodation nearby.
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If feasible, request accommodations closer to home or in locations close to family or friends who can easily visit/ support. One of te key challenegs with touring is tyhat we are away from our networks
On-site adjustments
- Private Space: Request a private space for video calls, personal time, or caregiving tasks while on tour. If you'll with a baby, organise a time and place for breastfeeding. Is there a fridge to store breast milk in?
- Remote Work Flexibility: Depending on your role, discuss the possibility of handling certain tasks remotely during the tour to reduce time away from family.
These are just a few ideas to help you navigate conversations with your manager, aiming to find solutions that work for your unique situation.
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If the company you're working for isn't already a PiPA partner and is interested in learning more about PiPA or is interested in developing inclusive, accessible working practices for those with caring responsibilities, our Charter Programme will be able to help. PiPA offers hands-on support, guidance and access to over 100 Resources, Case Studies and How To Guides to help them better support you and their woder parent and carer workforce. For more information, contact our programmes team Programmes@pipacampaign.com