Work-Life Balance Feature: Jessica Beatty (UG Admissions)

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Meet Jessica Beatty: Operations Coordinator (UG Admissions and Orientation)

Type of Work Arrangement: Telework

Length of Arrangement: Summer 2016-Present

As an employee who works from home, one day a week is what fits into Admissions schedule as well as my own. When we discussed working from home, my supervisor and I went over how many and which day of the week would be the best. For example, with my job duties, it would be hard to be out on a Tuesday since that is the day I get all of my letters out in the mail. We decided that Thursday would be the best day. However, if something comes up that I need to be in the office for I may pick another day with more availability.

When I telework my biggest focus is usually Residency. Residency tasks take a lot of concentration and review and so I find it helpful to do this at home. I also like to work on PMP's or other employee related items when I am home since there is more privacy. For the most part, I have more than enough residency tasks to keep me busy at home. However, if a letter needs to be printed or taken care of I also have the ability to send a print job to work from home which allows me to make my day really productive.

Why is this arrangement beneficial to your work life balance?

My teleworking days are beneficial to my work life balance because it cuts out any commute time. Right off the bat, I save an hour of my day, which means I can start dinner earlier and start my evening with my family just a little bit earlier. It also allows me to get things started or done on my lunch break. Being home without any distractions and minimal disruptions I am able to get caught up on things that require my undivided attention. I truly believe this makes me a better employee in office employee as well since other tasks are complete for the week. I find my work from home days to be less stressful and quiet.

How is your supervisor supportive?

I probably have the most supportive boss on campus when it comes to teleworking. Kristin Albright-Waters has done her entire dissertation on teleworking. She is always supportive of my telework day and we even will host our 1:1 time over gchat and video if it’s the only time that we have.

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Meet Chelsea Moyer: Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention, Shady Grove (Division of Professional Studies)

Type of Work Arrangement: Flextime

Length of Arrangement: Fall 2013-Present

Why is this arrangement beneficial to your work life balance?

I began working at UMBC-Shady Grove in November 2012 as a Program Coordinator. Shortly thereafter, in fall 2013, I began my graduate studies pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) in the behavioral health (clinical) track via the University of Maryland School of Social Work; a longstanding personal goal and dream. This 60-credit program requires both a foundation (16 hours a week) field placement followed by an advanced field placement (24 hours a week) as part of my degree requirements. In these placements, I am expected to practice and develop social work skills while being supervised by a licensed clinical social worker. As you can imagine, working full-time, completing classes, and balancing my field placement is challenging at times. Thankfully, with the support of my supervisor, Dr. Ashley Waters, UMBC colleagues as well as faculty and staff at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, I have been able to successfully manage my competing responsibilities. I am very lucky to have attained two social work field placements that take place primarily during evening hours.

I am so very thankful for the support I have been provided. Had I not had access to the level of scheduling flexibility granted through my supervisor at UMBC, it is likely that my MSW degree completion would be near impossible. I certainly would not have been able to balance full-time work with my graduate studies and, specifically, the required field placement hours. Additionally, as a result of the flexible scheduling options provided to me at work, I am able to maintain a level of self-care as well as mental and physical health during this somewhat stressful and often demanding time period balancing various work, school, and life responsibilities.

How is your supervisor supportive?

At UMBC, Ashley has allowed me the opportunity to flex my hours so that I begin work at 8am and leave at 4pm on days when I have my field placement in the evening. Alternatively, I stay at work a few hours later on evenings when I do not have my field placement to compensate for time spent in Friday morning MSW classes (9am-12pm) that I have taken over the past few semesters. Ashley has also fully and graciously supported my need to take four hours of vacation every Tuesday afternoon (1pm-4pm) since August 2016 to accommodate the requisite number of field placement hours I need to complete each week for my program. I am so very thankful for her willingness to provide options in regards to my work schedule. Her flexible approach makes all the difference in my ability to be successful both at work and in my graduate studies. She allows me the opportunity to flex my schedule, as appropriate, and has always been willing to approve vacation and/or personal time, as needed, to meet my multiple demands. These opportunities are granted, of course, with the expectation that the projects and work for which I am responsible will be completed in the same high-quality manner as if I were working a typical 9am-5pm schedule.