How to Negotiate a More Family-Friendly Work Day

Wilcox next recommends taking a hard look at your job responsibilities and skills set. Determine what tasks you can do alone, which ones are collaborative, and how accessible you need to be to clients. You'll also want to consider what tasks you might have to relinquish and the impact that could have on your career. Shelley MacDermid, a professor and Director of the Center for Families at Purdue University, notes that while an alternative work arrangement sometimes can slow career progress, it doesn't completely rule out opportunities for advancement. "Employees who aren't as visible in the office, such as part-timers or telecommuters, need to keep a sharp eye out for challenging assignments or they risk getting passed over," says MacDermid.