This is the inspiring story of Alex and Jessie Gafford, who live in Mississippi US with their 3 children. Jessie is a stay-at-home mum and Alex supports his family fully, by working a Five Hour Workday for his company Blue Street Capital (who have been working in this way since 2016).

This is an excellent example of how the Five Hour Workday can support the family both financially, physically and emotionally, and we hope you enjoy learning how it can be done as much as we do!

You can learn more about how to do a Five Hour Workday with Alex on the The 5-Hour Formula Podcast [https://5-hourformula.com/]







We're Alex and Jessie and he works a Five Hour Workday to support our family

In this Club Chat, we talk about "Mum" guilt - what it is, why we feel that way and what we can call it instead (hence the "!)

We share how often you feel that way, what makes you feel most/least guilty and tips and tricks for making us feel it less. 

If you want to be part of the next Club Chat join us our community on Instagram @FiveHourClub [https://instagram.com/fivehourclub]

Club Chat: "Mum" Guilt

This is the story of Katie Elliot (also known as HR Katie [https://instagram.com/hr.katie]), mum of 2 who understand what it means to be flexible. She shares what it was like to commute full-time with young children, the problem with part-time work and how she made the most of a perfect storm to set up HR Katie [https://hrkatie.co.uk/]. to help other small businesses

Find HR Katie here: www.hrkatie.co.uk [https://hrkatie.co.uk/]



I'm Katie, I'm a HR leader, and I know why flexibility works both ways

Emma and Amy discuss the current problems with part-time work: the lack of jobs, the part-time culture, the loss of progression and the impact it can have on family life. We also share some solutions and ways you can get around this problem that so many of us face.

Have a problem with part-time too? Join us at www.fivehourclub.com [https://fivehourclub.com] or be part of the conversation on Instagram @fivehourclub [https://instagram.com/fivehourclub]

Sources:

Timewise: Flexible Jobs Index (2023) [https://timewise.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Timewise-Flex-Jobs-Index-2023.pdf]

How Do Parents Share Childcare That Interferes With Paid Work? Work Arrangements, Flexible Working, and Childcare: University of Southampton (2025) [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jomf.13112]

The Flexibility Paradox: Why Flexible Working Leads to (Self-)Exploitation - Heejung Chung (2022) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexibility-Paradox-Flexible-Working-Exploitation/dp/144735477X]

Club Chat: The Problem with Part-Time

This is the story of Stacey, who after a thriving career working in fashion, was made redundant 5 weeks after telling her employer she was pregnant with her third son. She now works as PR and Digital at Working Families [https://workingfamilies.org.uk/], where she is part of a team who supports other families who need help like she did.

This is a story of red flags, redundancy and resilience.

If you need help or advice around your rights as a working parent or carer you can contact Working Families Advice Line here. [https://workingfamilies.org.uk/contact-us-for-advice/]

Or contact their Helpline: 0300 012 0312 [tel:+443000120312] Weekdays 11am - 2pm (See exceptions [https://workingfamilies.org.uk/advice-information/free-parents-carers-helpline/])

Follow Working Families on Instagram @workingfamuk [https://www.instagram.com/workingfamuk/] to find out more about the work they do.



I'm Stacey, I was made redundant and now I help working families

In this anniversary episode to mark one year of Five Hour Club Amy shares her full career story, before and after children, and where the idea for the Five Hour Club came from. 

To celebrate, we asked parents to stand up and share their stories to remind others that #ParentsBelong in the workplace. 

Follow us on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/five-hour-club] and Instagram [https://instagram.com/fivehourclub] to hear more stories.

Find your own Five Hour Workday on www.fivehourclub.com [https://fivehourclub.com/] 





Five Hour Club is One! Here's our story

This week on the Five Hour Club podcast, we’re joined by Naomi, a mum of two girls and Head of Resourcing and Information at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

Naomi opens up about her unique career journey, from working in recruitment to retraining as a primary school teacher during maternity leave, and finally returning full circle to take on a senior, fully flexible role in the NHS.

In this episode, Naomi shares:

 * Why she pivoted careers to support her family
 * How KMPT is leading the way in inclusive and flexible working
 * What annualised hours actually look like in practice
 * Why her team signed up to be pioneers in the Five Hour Workday Pilot

It’s a story of determination, trust, and building a career that works around life - not the other way around.

#FiveHourClub #Podcast #FlexibleWorking #ParentsBelong #NHS #WorkLifeBalance #CareerAfterKids

I'm Naomi, I qualified as a teacher during mat leave and now I'm a senior leader in the NHS

In this Club Chat, we talk about part of our story which so many of our community resonate with: the loss, the change, the reform of our identity after having children. We share our own stories of identity loss, how it changed and ways in which we can get it back again.

If you want to join us in our next Club Chat, join our community on Instagram @fivehourclub. [https://instagram.com/fivehourclub]



Club Chat: Identity

This is the story of Harleen, who after becoming the default parent to a son with Autism, has struggled to maintain her career as a recruitment manager ever since. 

After only part of her story was aired BBC Panorama documentary about working from home, we wanted to share her full story, including why remote work is so important for parents, what it means to sacrifice your career for your family, and the loss of identity that comes with it. 

It was a hard one to listen to, but we hope reassures those who feel the same, that you’re not alone in this.

Hear more stories at @fivehourclub [https://instagram.com/fivehourclub] on Instagram.

I'm Harleen, I gained a son with Autism and lost my career

Emma and Amy discuss one of the problems that most women face after having children: The Motherhood Penalty.

We talk about what it is, how it can impact us and what we can do about it. It's a meaty one, so get ready for some shocking data...

Here's the sources:

 * Motherhood Penalty & Fatherhood Bonus (including the graph) – World Economic Forum [https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/06/multinationals-can-close-parenthood-wage-gaps/]
 * Research from Pregnant Then Screwed [https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/74000-women-a-year-lose-their-jobs-for-getting-pregnant-or-for-taking-maternity-leave/#:~:text=Up%20to%2074%2C000%20women%20every,State%20of%20the%20Nation%20report.]
 * The Motherhood Penalty in job quality – King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership [https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/who-can-have-it-all-job-quality-and-parenthood-in-the-uk#:~:text=King's%20College%20London,-Go%20to...&text=This%20research%20shows%20that%20mothers,motherhood%20penalty%20in%20job%20quality'.]
 * Stats mentioned from the Fawcett Society [https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/paths-to-parenthood-uplifting-new-mothers-at-work]

Our Book recommendations:

 * Invisible Women – Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez.
 * Pregnant Then Screwed – The truth about the Motherhood Penalty and how to fix it by Joeli Brearley

Follow us on Instagram @fivehourclub [https://instagram.com/fivehourclub] to get involved with our next Club Chat

Club Chat: The Motherhood Penalty

For parents returning to work after children. Amy Grilli and Emma Harvey discuss how they, and other parents, navigate life between school runs.

Join the revolution at www.fivehourclub.com [https://www.fivehourclub.com/] and @fivehourclub [https://www.instagram.com/fivehourclub/] on Instagram to help us shape the Five Hour Workday. 

Because working 9-5 doesn't work for parents.

Five Hour Club Podcast