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It seems natural that Jenny Patterson and Robyn Boone would job share for a company providing geographical information. One lives at Latitude Close and the other at Longitude Place in Porirua.
They are still settling into their new office assistant jobs, which they started in August, at Explorer Graphics. Patterson takes the morning shift from 8am to 1pm, and Boone covers from 1pm to 5.30pm.
Patterson says they heard about the position, originally a fulltime post, by word of mouth. "I was in the right time at the right place."
They have had no problems sharing the job. They have a catchup at 1pm when Boone comes in for her shift, email each other and keep a notepad on the desk so they can jot down anything needing to be followed up.
Rae Denize, office manager for the company, says the arrangement "definitely works for us. They have fitted in so well".
The role grew out of the company's expansion, as Denize's administration role had grown too big for one person to cope with. The firm had thought the position would be fulltime but decided a job share would work better as some aspects of the job are tedious. She knew the two women and preferred to take on mature workers rather than school leavers. Plus the women cover for each other during holidays and sick leave. "We don't ask for total cover, just the busy periods," say Denize.
Each woman has different responsibilities outside the shared normal front-office duties.
"Robyn has good MYOB skills so she is responsible for some of that role within our business. And Jenny is getting to use Excel. I also want to expand their knowledge base," says Denize.
Kensington Swan in Auckland is another firm to embrace job sharing. Laurie Finlayson, HR administrator, says they have the arrangement across all levels of the law firm, from receptionists through to senior associates.
"It illustrates that we put job share across most levels, which is relevant these days when time and job prospects are as important as money," says Finlayson.
Some people opt for job share "because they have dependent children, or they may want to achieve in other areas of their life such as sports. Or they may be at a stage in their lives where they want to enjoy life outside work as much as they can," says Finlayson. "They may want space to spend time with their friends ... isn't that what we all want?"
Once a job share is in place, whether it is a new position or filling half of an existing job share, there needs to be a settling period. Little things such as how a desk is arranged can need negotiating.
"It's a minor thing that needs to be sorted out between them," says Finlayson. "It's important that the job sharers meet and discuss the arrangement. If the day is split between job sharers, ideally time should be allowed for a catchup between shifts."
The firm sees job sharing as beneficial to workers and to the business. It is a way to retain skilled employees and raise moral and productivity in the workplace. Finlayson says the firm is lucky to have an environment to accommodate people's needs.
Flexibility is a bonus as job-sharers can cover for each other on leave or sick days and adjust their rosters for special leave.
"For instance, their mum might be coming to visit," suggests Finlayson.
Job sharers also need to discuss how work is handled with the person they report directly to, so that documents are presented in a consistent way by both workers.
Marion van Melle job shares her job as a legal secretary for the law firm with Rebekah Smith, working 8.30am to 5pm Wednesday to Friday.
The reduced hours are a lifestyle choice.
"I find Auckland a rat race and it wasn't my choice to come up here. I worked fulltime but I found I had no life as I spent half my life travelling and the other half at work," she says.
She and her co-worker work for six people in the firm - a partner, a senior associate and four lawyers. She says legal work procedures are standard and this makes it easier to share the job. "You don't get a lot of variance in what you're doing."
Good communication is vital. "You have to be practical and onto it, have good communication and make it work."
"I send Rebekah an email on Friday to keep her up to date and we have each other's phone numbers. You have to take responsibility for what you do and not leave things to the person coming. She also logs on to her work email when she is at home. They don't ask me to this. I log on and check my emails and respond to anything that needs doing. It's just making the effort to make it work."
These firms both recognise that job sharing is a way for business to acknowledge the varying needs of employees. By splitting responsibilities and hours of a full-time position between two people, the workers benefit and so does the company. When an employee achieves a more balanced life through job sharing, their anxiety and stress levels are greatly reduced.
Parents especially face the choice of continuing their careers or raising a family. Working fewer hours within a job sharing arrangement provides the opportunity to do both. And the reduced hours allow individuals to create a sense of balance in their lives, while maintaining career skills and status. Other people it suits are those wanting to study part-time or to retain some paid hours while they start their own business.
Many advertisements offer job share positions but applicants can join together to apply for a job or to push for their existing position to be turned into job share. Splitting a wage or salary based on the percentage of time each person works is the easiest part. Holidays and sick leave are allocated on a similar basis
Finding a compatible work partner is the most crucial aspect. As well as having the right skills and experience, you have to find someone who doesn't mind sharing, who doesn't get proprietary about their work, communicates well and is a good team player. Both must know what the other has done and plans to do.
Without the right people in place, the arrangement won't work.
Finding a job sharing partner
1. Your workplace: A former colleague or a temporary worker who has filled in while you were on leave are possibilities. Pairing two valued employees, whom your workplace would rather not lose, is a favourable proposition.
2. Advertisements: Classified situation vacant ads.
3. Networking: Put the word out about your partner search to contacts at work and in your personal life. You never know, the woman next to you on the yoga mat might be or know the perfect person to job share with you.
4. Student job search: Often mature university students are looking for part time hours.
5. Employment agencies: Let employment agencies specialising in your profession know about the job opening.
