Read on Twitter
I’m always open for debate, Twitter is a great platform for that. Tonight’s debate was around flexible working and the various initiatives to assist women in policing. A thread.
When people think about flexible working, the first thing that comes to mind is part time working. Flexible working is so much more than that, it includes varied rosters, compressed hours and of course part time.
There is often a misconstrued belief that those who are part time are a detriment to the force, to those who are full time because of their WFD. We mustn’t forget that those people don’t get paid for those days so of course they’re not open to being warned for aid on those days.
Part time is so varied. I was part time, but I was 97% others due to needs can be 50% and everything in between. Regardless of the difference in %, everyone contributes to the daily working of our organisation. Everyone has their role to play.
Are there more women on flexible working patterns than men? Probably. But why? Because, generally, when it comes to childcare it’s us who take the hit, us who want, to take the hit. A personal discussion will’ve taken place and a decision made based on your personal family needs.
Let me be clear, I’ve been a full time female officer on a response team with no children, I’ve been a part time female officer on response team with 2 children. I’ll be going back as a full time response team officer with 3 children. My husband will be going on a flex pattern.
When I was a full time PC on team, did I resent those that had responsibilities that meant they needed flexi working? No. When I was a part time sergeant on team, did it have an overall negative impact on the other skippers? No. I pulled my weight when I was there.
I have been an A/Ps on compressed hours - did this affect my team?
No. Because I worked really hard and ensured all my tasks were complete.
No. Because I worked really hard and ensured all my tasks were complete.
I’ve been pregnant 3 times and apart from going out and about I have taken on all the other roles that needed to be done to pick up the slack for those that could.
There are many schemes out there at the moment to support women in joining difficult strands. We don’t want it to be easier, we want it to be accessible. As a mum of 3, a 16 wk residential course to be an AFO wouldn’t work. I welcome schemes in place that offer an alternative.
Women don’t want to given an easy ride. I don’t want to get a role over a man, simply because I’m a woman. But there are barriers. The Met is acknowledging that and I really don’t think that can be seen as anything as positive.
The Met #HeForShe 
campaign is about men empowering women. It’s about bridging the gap. It’s about equality. I’ll end this thread with one of my favourite quotes from Mary Wollstonecraft...
campaign is about men empowering women. It’s about bridging the gap. It’s about equality. I’ll end this thread with one of my favourite quotes from Mary Wollstonecraft...
