Are you interested in job sharing? Curious as to how job-sharing works in practice? What are the most significant challenges in sharing your role with someone? The best bits about splitting a role in two?
The idea of job sharing began to capture my imagination as I planned my return to work after maternity leave. I could see the appeal of working a technically full-time role and maintaining my rung on the career ladder, but sharing the workload and hours. Like so many people, I had lots of burning questions about job sharing and how to make it work.
Therefore, I was delighted when Clare Freshwater-Turner and Annabelle Richards, senior job share partners at Lloyds Banking Group (and the ladies behind the award-winning Job Share Coach), agreed to speak to me. They were delighted to answer all my questions about job sharing and explain why it could be the solution for a better work-life balance for us all.
Can you each talk me through your background?
Annabelle – After graduating from university with a degree in chemistry, I joined Coopers and Lybrand as a trainee accountant. Upon qualification, I relocated to Australia, where I caught the travel bug. For the next six years, I alternated between work and travel. Once travelling was out of my system, I found a permanent position with Lloyds Banking Group, where I have worked in various roles ever since.
Clare – I studied Business at University and then joined Vodafone’s Finance Graduate scheme, where I trained as a Management Accountant. I then moved to Lloyds Banking Group. As I also love travelling, I took a sabbatical working for the Red Cross in marketing and undertook workforce planning for the Queensland Government.
How did you meet?
We met when we were both on secondment to the Culture Change team within Finance. In this role, we coached teams in ‘ways of working’ and developed and delivered management training. It was great meeting a like-minded individual with similar career aspirations who worked part-time hours.
How did your job share come about?
An opportunity for some permanent roles arose. We both wanted to work fewer hours for various reasons, so we decided to apply for the job together as a job share. We gave our manager a heads-up that we would both be applying. It was suggested we try the new working arrangement. It was a great success—from both a business and personal perspective! This was acknowledged by a CEO award for our seamless ways of working!
That was five years ago. Two years ago, we had an opportunity for a promotion, which we applied for as a job share. We now manage a team (including a job share) in Cost Management.
How does it work in practice?
Clare – I work three and a half days, and Annabelle works three, so we have one and a half days of crossover a week. Pre-COVID, one of our cross-over days was in the office; however, since March 2020, we have been working from home. We have utilised different technologies to assist us in communicating and handing over work effectively.
Annabelle – Before starting, we drew up a contract outlining how we would work as a job share. We work as a team with no room for competition, and we get assessed as a unit. We still have individual email inboxes – colleagues have learnt to copy us both into emails.
Clare – We also line manage a job share. Overseeing a job share is no more difficult than overseeing an individual. The only difference is that there are two people in the HR system.
Annabelle – There are different types of job shares. For us, seamless stakeholder management is key, so we do not split our responsibilities; we are one unit covering one role. Other job shares may split responsibilities based on the role and the individuals involved.
What are the biggest challenges to working in a job share?
Like any relationship, make sure you have open lines of communication. Don’t play a blame game. You also want to make it seamless for colleagues. Ensure you have solid handovers and avoid duplicating work. Messaging needs to be consistent.
What are the benefits of job sharing?
There is always someone to cover, and you can deliver a full-time role while working part-time. Your employer also gets two brains, two skill sets, and double the experience. It has enabled us to achieve our career aspirations and have a great work-life balance.
How would you suggest someone find a job share partner and apply for roles together?
Don’t be afraid to let your colleagues know you are interested in job sharing. Someone on your team may be interested in becoming your job-share partner, or you may know someone else who could be perfect for you! There’s also a pinned post in the Facebook Group, Work It Like A Mum, for those looking to find a job-share partner.
What would be your key advice for implementing a successful job-sharing partnership?
Work together. You should communicate regularly to build deep trust. Solid handovers are essential to prevent duplicate work. You want your colleagues to see that your job share works seamlessly. Also, know your strengths and weaknesses and play to them.
So, there you have it. Hopefully, that answers all you wanted to know about job-sharing and more. To learn more about Clare and Annabelle, please visit their website – The Job Share Coach.
Want to know more about j0b-sharing? Then check out this podcast interview with Chloe Fletcher and Laura Walker, co-founders of The Job Share Revolution, for more practical advice about how to make your job share a success.
Clare Freshwater-Turner and Annabelle Richards run the Job Share Coach. Their mission is to empower you to job-share with confidence.
They offer coaching to job sharers at all stages of their job-sharing journey. They also provide a bespoke consultancy service to Line Managers of job sharers.
Clare and Annabelle aim to promote job sharing as a career choice for anyone wanting a better career/life balance.
They currently have limited Coaching for Charity slots available. They will give you their time in return for a charitable donation. How great is that?!?
Remember, the Investing in Women jobs board has a great selection of flexible, part-time, and work-from-home jobs listed—many of which will consider job sharing. To see the latest flexible and part-time jobs, click here.