International Men's Day 2022: on becoming a 'working Dad'

It's International Men's Day.

Equality is extremely important to us at SVGC. We pride ourselves on our fair and robust recruitment process, development programme and treatment and support of our staff that provides opportunities regardless of gender identification, ethnicity and disability.

Which is why, this International Men's Day, we're celebrating the fantastic men working with us to execute projects that enable the public sector to make great decisions and get robust results. Please do head over to the interviews on our 'Meet The Team' page to read more about our colleagues, and learn a bit more about who these brilliant men are as people.

When we discussed how the world has changed over the years - both in and outside the workplace - the subject of working parents came up, and specifically, being a 'working' father.

As an article by the Harvard Business Review last year stated:

"while the transition that new moms face — everything from postpartum depression and career anxiety to a heightened sense of pride and purpose — has been deeply studied by academics and oft discussed in popular culture, the transition that new dads face has been woefully ignored by researchers and reduced to little more than a punchline in popular culture."

Thankfully, this is changing as more people begin to try to understand all perspectives and not simply ones that (sometimes understandably) get the most airtime.

Working and parenting can be a tough juggle and we wanted to do our bit to add to the growing voices in this space about 'working dads' with our very own Mark Tamba . Mark became a new dad this year, and he talks about his experiences:

"Becoming a father has been amazing, and it totally changed my outlook and shifted the landscape. I really enjoy my work and the fact that it can be busy and intense, and fatherhood has made me even more appreciate the time together as a family. Those moments at the weekend when I can totally switch off and be present are so important.

"Being able to work from home some days is a great help, as, instead of those 'water cooler ' moments chatting with colleagues, I can pop in and briefly connect with my wife and daughter. And its always a balance - even working from home, there are days when even that isn't very possible when things are very busy!

"Of course, there are the very real challenges that everyone relates to - the sleepless nights and the worries of parenting - but there's also a grace to it. And I am so glad to work in such a supportive environment - which we hope should be the case in all workplaces, but sometimes isn't. SVGC is totally for you - you feel protected as a person first, with work next, and you feel a real sense of being valued. And the understanding - whether that is for appointments or worrying times (like when my daughter had an allergic reaction) - is so valuable.

"The assurance, of knowing that the company is totally for you, makes being a new dad easier".

Our MD, Andrew Dixon , also offered us some words from his experiences:"I remember so well how tough it was at the beginning when I first became a parent. So, I always wanted to ensure that if I was ever in a position of influence, that I would provide a supportive work environment for our talented and hard-working parents - like Mark - as they navigate these life changes"

Whether you're a new working parent or have been doing this for years, the Harvard Business Review article has some tips for those on this exciting journey.?

And, on this International Men's Day, we celebrate you all.