Let's be honest, when it comes to job sharing, the first thing that comes to mind is an office setting and a tandem in chic business attire. Nothing could be further from the truth! Today I am visiting the jobsharing hub way out in the sticks in Brandenburg, on the idyllic grounds of the Sinalkol e.V. therapy center. I am surrounded by almost one hundred hectares of fields, flowerbeds, meadows and many animals. Katja Holz and Melanie Bock keep everything in good shape. The special thing about them is that the two female farmers are jobsharing! In the midst of the fresh country air, I spoke with them about their tandem work.
How did you end up job sharing?
Katja: It wasn't originally planned that way. We both applied for an advertised full-time position, and the model wasn't even mentioned during my interview. Then I got a call from the boss asking, “Would you be willing to share the position?” He obviously liked us both very much and it also became clear to him that the position was simply too extensive and varied for one person alone.
And then everything took its course. The two got to know each other on a joint taster day, liked each other and liked the idea of sharing a position. So they accepted and started their job sharing together. They have now been working together in tandem for 9 months.
How do you divide up the working hours?
Melanie: At the beginning of the month, we always plan out who will take time off on which days. This way, we stay flexible and can also take a long weekend off with 4 days off. At the beginning of the week, we create a weekly plan and discuss what needs to be done.
How has your work environment received the model?
Katja: At first, they thought it was a bit strange that there were two of us, and that only one of us would be there twice a week. We divide the residents and the staff for the work and are their points of contact. They approached us and asked, “Why isn't Melli here today?” “Well, because it's her day off,” was my answer. At first, they wanted a fixed point of contact for fixed days. But we discussed it and now everyone has got used to it: there is a fixed person for certain topics and if one of us is not there, she represents the other. For example, I am more responsible for the animal sector and Melli for the plant sector. That means for the asparagus you go to Melli and for the pigs to me!
You must have a good relationship with each other. How do you manage that?
Melanie: We make sure that we never have our days off in a row. So first one and then the other. Then we always write down exactly what the important things were and what she has to consider the next day. Or we briefly talk on the phone to each other for a handover. So far, this has always worked well. But there is still room for improvement so that our handovers get even better. Sometimes, when it's really busy, I find myself thinking, “There was something I really wanted to tell Katja.”
Do you have any kind of regular format in which you discuss your collaboration rather than specific tasks?
Katja: Hmm, not at the moment. But there's really potential in that! That we take specific time to talk about things like that.
The job of a farmer is about the opposite of an office job, do you think there is a difference to job sharing in an office and in agriculture?
Katja: I don't think so. You also have different contact persons in the office and you have to divide up and organize yourself well in job sharing.
What do you consider to be the biggest advantages of your job sharing?
Katja: I can learn a lot from Melli. She really knows a lot about plants, so I automatically learn something new.
Melanie: That's the same for me! You learn so much from each other and you can always exchange ideas. It's much easier to make important decisions together. We recently bought 10 new cows, which involved a lot of money. We went to the farmer together and thought about which cow would suit us best. And we are still very happy with our decision; now we have 10 great cows!
Katja: And the day off! I am much more refreshed and relaxed and have more energy at work. And recently we got our trailer license on our day off. Otherwise it would all have had to happen after work. I have a long commute to work and I don't know if I would have made it.
Melanie: It's clear that the pressure on the job alone would have been just too much. I get an idea of that when I'm here alone one day. It's much better this way.
So you learn from each other automatically and for free, and you have time to recover and educate yourselves in your free time. Plus: together you make important decisions better. That sounds great! And what if one of you is sick or on vacation?
Melanie: When one of us is on vacation, the other is there for 5 days, but shorter, so that we get by with the 32 hours. And if one of you is sick? Neither of us has been sick yet. But if one of us were to be sick, the other would of course step in and take care of the most important things.
And so your position is always covered even when you are on vacation or sick?
Melanie nods: “That's why job sharing is so great in agriculture: there's always something to do. The pigs are being loaded, the grass is being brought down, now the asparagus has to be harvested and the strawberries picked. Something has to happen every day, nothing can wait. If there is no contact person, it's disastrous.
So it's a huge advantage for your employer. If everything comes to a standstill, it means economic damage. With only one person on the spot, this risk would be significantly higher. Do you have any advice for job sharers, or for those who want to become one?
Katja: Above all, be open and communicate with each other.
Melanie: Exactly, even if you don't like something. Just say it before it builds up and then explodes elsewhere.
Katja adds: As an ego type for whom personal success is most important, it doesn't make sense. So you have to bring sensitivity and team spirit with you. And distribute the roles well.
So not everyone is suited to job sharing, which is an important point for companies that want to fill job-sharing positions. I have one final question. What do you like most about each other?
Katja: I think it's great that Melli knows so much about the arable land.
Melanie: While I'm more of a quiet type, Katja is much more communicative than I am. I really appreciate that about her.
Thank you both for the interview!
And then we take a long walk around the grounds, past large hay bales and geese, to the two sows with their little piglets. Melanie and Katja explain everything to me and seem totally at ease and relaxed. Honestly? At this moment, I would immediately swap my co-working space in Berlin for Melanie and Katja's workplace. Oink oink.
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