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For a long time now, The Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger has done a terrific job of writing about the many, many creative ways time-strapped workers try to eek out some balance between work and family. Recently, the columnist wrote about moms who have stepped out of the workforce to take care of their kids who are putting their toes back in by taking consulting jobs that take a fraction of the time -- and offer a fraction of the pay -- as their former full-time gigs.
I'm all for the rise of firms like MomCorps and Flexperience that connect talented, highly skilled women with part-time and contract work. But in addition to tossing around yet another ridiculous and patronizing moniker that boxes women into bite-sized marketing units (SWAT: Smart Women with Available Time!!!), the Journal piece hints at the fact that some women are doing project work on the cheap. (By the way, check out Charlene's take on SWAT in Parenting, and sound off on what you think about the many labels assigned to moms.)
Shellenbarger writes: Skilled workers taking temp projects isn't new, of course. What's different about these teams is that they're available on short notice because the women are usually at home; they tend to work cheap because their main motive is to keep their skills fresh; and they're often extraordinarily well-qualified, having left the work force voluntarily when their careers were on the ascent.
Why would keeping skills fresh be a reason for being paid less than their rich experience warrants?
A team of remarkably talented women, including a neuroscientist, an attorney, and a former news executive, came together to help The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School to teach leadership skills to MBA candidates -- at a rate of $21/hour for each woman, the WSJ column notes. Now, you just know they commanded far higher hourly rates in their former jobs.
I am going to follow up with the women who run firms like MomCorps to see how they set pricing to make sure women are paid well for what their time is worth. In the meantime, if you're considering consulting work, don't fall for being grateful for the work and any pay coming your way. Take steps to make sure you are getting the market value for the work you will provide.
Do some research with trade groups and colleagues to see what and how others in your profession charge for their time. This Consultant Journal article is a good starting point to explore strategies for setting consulting fees, including hourly rates, day rates, and per-project rates.
I have a little dream and it goes like this: A woman with talent and skills who takes on a consulting gig will not be considered "a stay-at-home-mom filling an executive niche." She'll be a considered a talented, skilled professional taking a consulting job, and she'll get paid what she's worth. No exceptions.
