Lone Parents

We have created a special area for Lone Parents on Mum and Working - inspired by the huge response we have had about work that is suitable for one parent familes.

Anna Sawicka - Cashier, HM Revenue and Customs

Anna is Mum to Jordan and Ilona and started working at HM Revenue and Customs eight years ago when a friend of her Mums told her about their great family friendly policies.

The Interview

Name - Anna Sawicka

Location - Edwalton, Nottinghamshire

Family - Jordan (13) and Ilona (5)

Job title: Cashier, HM Revenue and Customs

What does your job encompass on a day to day basis?

I work as a cashier in the department called Debt Management and Banking and my duties are mainly banking monies received on payment of Inheritance Tax.

What are your hours?

I work 16 hours per week over 3 days. Two 5 hour days and one 6 hour day. This allows me to drop my daughter off at her school every morning and pick her up nearly every day.

My son catches a bus to his school which is very close to where we live and gets home about the same time as we do. I am very lucky and happy with this arrangement at the moment because it allows me to be at home as much as possible when the children are at home.

How does your job fit round Jordan and Ilona? How do you manage in school holidays?

My jobs allows me flexibility as I work flexible hours! This also allows for when my children are off sick. I can phone work in the morning and take a day flexi to be with my sick child and make the time up when it suits me. This also works when there is something on at school that I want to attend.

School holidays are quite a challenge. I normally try to take my annual leave when they are off. I also try and build up some flexi to use and I have a very supportive family who have the children for me in the school holidays when I have to work.

How did you find your job?

A friend of my mother got me an interview at HM Revenue and Customs about 8 years ago. She had young children and told me that although the pay was not great it was ideal for parents wanting to work.

Have you ever found it difficult to find work which fits in well with the children?

I had found it hard before then to get a job that offered flexibility so that I could bring up my children the way I wanted. I feel that single parent families face extra challenges when looking for work for the simple fact that there is only one of you to work and look after your children and there is much pressure to succeed in both! It is difficult to get the balance right in two parent families and being on your own I think it is even more difficult.

Any advice for lone parents who haven't worked for a while, but would now like to get a job? or are hoping to move to a more flexible career?

My only advice to anyone who would like to start work or change jobs is to think hard before hand as to what you want from your job and how do you want it to fit around your home life, looking after your children. I took a job that is really good for me while my children are at school. It gives me plenty of flexibility and the hours that I work enable me to spend lots of time with my children after school, which is want I want from a job at the moment. In the future things will change as my children grow and I may look for different things in a job. What is important to me is that as much as I need a job to live I also want to have a life and be around for my children!

To find out about jobs at HM Revenue and Customs visit:www.hmrc.gov.uk/jobs/current-vacancies.htm