4 ms·

I've always wanted to do this, but the objection raised is "how does this work for people with families?" (partner with a job is one thing, let alone kids).

by rdl 12y ago

bart42_0 12y ago
In most cases the kids will have a ball in a different country
- Hytosys 12y ago
  I predict there is much more to parenthood besides fostering adventure, unfortunately. Educational and social stability come to mind. Relocating your family for two entire months is easier said than done.
  - obstacle1 12y ago
    The kids get two months off every summer. Take them then. Consider it a vacation. The most capable, adaptable, and accomplished adults I know moved around a bunch as kids. It forces you to learn how to live in the world and get out of your comfort zone. The most anxious, bitter, and underperforming adults I know grew up in the prototypical suburban bubble environment. End meaningless personal anecdote.
    - gbog 12y ago
      Well, I know of some people whose parent moved from one city to another every year, for professional reasons. And they had hard time building long term relationship with kids of their age, which means having a childhood with mostly adults "friends", and it is not good for everyone apparently. I still agree, and in fact kids are often more adaptable than adults. Usually they can handle change, and it is good for the mind to experience different worlds.
    - pyre 12y ago
      > The kids get two months off every summer Depends on the country / school system. Not all kids have 3 months of "summer break."
    - xj9 12y ago
      I can vouch for the moving thing. I haven't lived in one place longer than two years since I was eight or so. It wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't grown up that way.
    - Hytosys 12y ago
      It seems that if there's anything to be taken from all of our anecdotes, it's that all families and circumstances are different. People need adversity, challenge, and adventure to grow. You shouldn't let your children control your lives to the point where they don't need to experience change. I guess there's a happy medium. I've heard horror stories from both ends of the stability spectrum.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
- mosburger 12y ago
  I'm sure they would, but it's often a little more complicated than that. Who will pay for the wife and kids to move along w/ the office? Will you take the kids out of school for two months? They're not unsolvable problems but as someone with a 10 and 12yo kid it's definitely a legitimate concern. And saying "just say home, it was your choice to have kids" is a valid response, but that means you're forgoing the team building and being a "good fit" with your colleagues, which isn't awesome either. :-/
znq 12y ago
So at Mobile Jazz we made it a voluntary thing. After all you cannot force your employees to go anywhere ;-) To Thailand only a few of us went, mostly for the family reasons. However, to our most recent trip to the Austrian Alps we had almost everyone in the company head over there. In general we're actually very pro-family. We do have a main office in Barcelona, but everyone is allowed to work from virtually anywhere. Some of us travel and work from remote locations, but for those with families it's also a great benefit to work from home and have more time with their families.

I've always wanted to do this, but the objection raised is "how does this work for people with families?" (partner with a job is one thing, let alone kids).

by rdl 12y ago

I've always wanted to do this, but the objection raised is "how does this work for people with families?" (partner with a job is one thing, let alone kids).

bart42_0 12y ago

In most cases the kids will have a ball in a different country

Hytosys 12y ago
I predict there is much more to parenthood besides fostering adventure, unfortunately. Educational and social stability come to mind. Relocating your family for two entire months is easier said than done.
- obstacle1 12y ago
  The kids get two months off every summer. Take them then. Consider it a vacation. The most capable, adaptable, and accomplished adults I know moved around a bunch as kids. It forces you to learn how to live in the world and get out of your comfort zone. The most anxious, bitter, and underperforming adults I know grew up in the prototypical suburban bubble environment. End meaningless personal anecdote.
  - gbog 12y ago
    Well, I know of some people whose parent moved from one city to another every year, for professional reasons. And they had hard time building long term relationship with kids of their age, which means having a childhood with mostly adults "friends", and it is not good for everyone apparently. I still agree, and in fact kids are often more adaptable than adults. Usually they can handle change, and it is good for the mind to experience different worlds.
  - pyre 12y ago
    > The kids get two months off every summer Depends on the country / school system. Not all kids have 3 months of "summer break."
  - xj9 12y ago
    I can vouch for the moving thing. I haven't lived in one place longer than two years since I was eight or so. It wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't grown up that way.
  - Hytosys 12y ago
    It seems that if there's anything to be taken from all of our anecdotes, it's that all families and circumstances are different. People need adversity, challenge, and adventure to grow. You shouldn't let your children control your lives to the point where they don't need to experience change. I guess there's a happy medium. I've heard horror stories from both ends of the stability spectrum.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
mosburger 12y ago
I'm sure they would, but it's often a little more complicated than that. Who will pay for the wife and kids to move along w/ the office? Will you take the kids out of school for two months? They're not unsolvable problems but as someone with a 10 and 12yo kid it's definitely a legitimate concern. And saying "just say home, it was your choice to have kids" is a valid response, but that means you're forgoing the team building and being a "good fit" with your colleagues, which isn't awesome either. :-/

znq 12y ago

So at Mobile Jazz we made it a voluntary thing. After all you cannot force your employees to go anywhere ;-) To Thailand only a few of us went, mostly for the family reasons. However, to our most recent trip to the Austrian Alps we had almost everyone in the company head over there. In general we're actually very pro-family. We do have a main office in Barcelona, but everyone is allowed to work from virtually anywhere. Some of us travel and work from remote locations, but for those with families it's also a great benefit to work from home and have more time with their families.