Evening Texts from "the Boss"

Submitted by Jessica Duff

"You know you should respond because, well, it's your boss!"

​It happens to most of us working parents; the dreaded after hours text question from your boss. Or worse yet, a group text conversation with several managers. You know you should respond because, well, it's your boss!

As a parent, you weigh the cost of losing precious time with the kiddos knowing that your response will likely get you involved in a 20-minute back-and-forth conversation as you strive to hash out an "urgent matter". Or should you ignore the conversation in the short term so that you can deal with it later, after the kids are in bed?

I've faced this dilemma quite a bit lately. I strive to deliver high value at work to help my company succeed, but balancing my career with my role as mom can be so tough! 

One of the more valuable benefits a company or manager can provide to working parents is to respect their work at home. A manager who understand when an employee needs to say "no" to work and "yes" to cuddles, bath time, reading, bedtime prayers, and other memories and feelings children will draw upon in the future will usually cause an employee to develop a strong sense of loyalty to the company.

Because, when it’s all said and done, being a parent is the best and most important job of all.

​Jessica Duff is a mother, wife, and senior account executive at Team SI. She earned BS degrees in Sport Management and Communication, Journalism and Related Programs. You can follow her via Twitter @jduff84.

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