News

Nanette Turner Kalcik Interviewed by Wichita Business Journal on Achieving Work-Life Balance During the Pandemic

Wichita, Kan. (January 18, 2022) - Wichita Partner Nanette Turner Kalcik recently spoke with the Wichita Business Journal (WBJ) for an article titled, "Boundaries are Key to Maintaining Work-Life Balance at Home, Career Women Say." The article includes perspectives from women who participated in the publication's Career Women program, which addressed the unique challenges that women face with respect to establishing a work-life balance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the article describes, many of the women professionals who participated in the Career Women program described that working from home has caused difficulties for women who are managing both work and parenthood. These program participants agreed that although setting boundaries has been more difficult when working from home, doing so is imperative to maintaining a work-life balance.

Ms. Kalcik told WBJ, "We expect mothers to mother as if they don't have jobs, and we expect women to work as if they don't have kids." She added, "It's easier to draw boundaries in the office because I can leave it, but now that it's steps away ... I can put my kids to bed and walk four steps and be back at work, where it would be very unlikely that I would put my kids to bed and drive across town to go do something."

Ms. Kalcik has continued to work full-time during the pandemic, through court, office, and school closures. While working remotely, she homeschooled her kindergartener for a period of time with her one-year-old twins also at home. As a result, she brings to clients an understanding of how the added demands of the pandemic have forced individuals to become efficient and creative with how they invest their time. “I was fortunate enough to have periods of help, which I know is a luxury not all parents are afforded," she said. "I think that companies need to acknowledge the multiple roles that parents have been asked to take on during this unprecedented time.” 

Ms. Kalcik is a member of Lewis Brisbois' Labor & Employment and Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practices. As an experienced litigator and trial attorney, Ms. Kalcik has represented a wide range of clients in a variety of matters, including complex civil litigation, commercial litigation, medical malpractice disputes, tort and personal injury actions, oil and gas litigation, employment disputes, class action claims, municipal law, financial services litigation, and consumer and mortgage finance law. Most recently, Ms. Kalcik has guided Lewis Brisbois' clients and their businesses successfully through the uncertainties and impacts of the pandemic.

You may read the full WBJ article here (subscription may be required).

Related Attorneys