Question

Case Study
Work and family
Marys a fast track graduate employee and a rising star in a management consulting company. She has
two children, one nearly 4 years old and the other 18 months old Her marriage has run into difficulties
and her husband has recently left her and taken a job overseas. Mary works hard and is ambitious, but
she also cares deeply for her children and she has told her colleagues that she will only be available for
meetings during the official office hours of 800 AM 4:00 PM and will not be online or available for
conference calls between 4 00 PM and 8.00 PM Her team colleagues were initially sympathetic,
but after a couple of months they are beginning to get annoved and concerned that her lack of
availability will impact on team performance and thus on their own career success. They come to you, as
you are their manager, and request you take action.
Question
What action would you take and why?​

Answer 1

Work and family

Marys a fast track graduate employee and a rising star in a management consulting company. She has

two children, one nearly 4 years old and the other 18 months old Her marriage has run into difficulties

and her husband has recently left her and taken a job overseas. Mary works hard and is ambitious, but

she also cares deeply for her children and she has told her colleagues that she will only be available for

meetings during the official office hours of 800 AM 4:00 PM and will not be online or available for

conference calls between 4 00 PM and 8.00 PM Her team colleagues were initially sympathetic,

but after a couple of months they are beginning to get annoved and concerned that her lack of

availability will impact on team performance and thus on their own career success. They come to you, as

you are their manager, and request you take action.

Question

What action would you take and why?