When I began my job search, my parameters were strict but necessary: I needed a fully remote or hybrid role within a one-hour radius of home so I could effectively balance my career with parenting. While searching on LinkedIn, I came across GreenLancer, a Detroit-based clean energy company that provides engineering and permit design services for solar projects nationwide, and remediation and repairs for homeowners. Knowing how competitive the tech landscape is, I applied with managed expectations, but the company’s profile caught my attention.
When the team reached out and we sat down to interview, something stood out immediately. When I explained my year-long career break, the leadership team didn’t blink. In fact, they immediately empathized with my stage of life, and the topic of working-parent support came up naturally. Many of the team members were parents themselves, but they didn't reach for the usual language about being a "work family." Instead, they talked about being a united, supportive team.
Coming from Human Resources, I'm careful with the phrase "work family", as that language can blur boundaries. What I saw of life at GreenLancer felt healthier: people respected each other, helped each other, yet still understood that everyone had a life outside of work. I was happy to accept the role of People Administrator in October 2024, and now I contribute as People Operations Lead, taking ownership of our end-to-end people operations, which includes talent acquisition, benefits, compliance, and internal initiatives. It’s a broad, fast-moving scope of work, but navigating that responsibility gives me the perfect vantage point to help shape how we support our team.
I want to be realistic: the last year and a half as a working single mom has not been a walk in the park. Some mornings started with daycare logistics before my first meeting. Some weeks, I was learning a new system while also figuring out everything from managing pickup and appointments, all the way through bedtime routines. Moving from a legacy manufacturing background into an agile, fast-paced tech environment while navigating single parenthood was a lot to carry at once.
What made the difference was landing somewhere that measures performance by outcomes. In practice, this means the focus is entirely on meeting project deadlines, not watching a clock. For a working parent, that distinction is everything. It gives me the autonomy to structure my workweek around appointments or school closures, rather than being forced to drain a limited PTO bank for a two-hour doctor visit. That approach meant the learning curve was a challenge I could meet head-on rather than a source of anxiety.
There's a persistent myth that flexibility at work is a "perk" that trades off against productivity. My experience here has proven the opposite.
GreenLancer's hybrid environment is based on a flexibility-first philosophy and a progressive approach to time off, paired with true scheduling autonomy. There's no expectation of being "always on," and genuine respect for the reality that working parents are managing more than their job descriptions.
When my son dealt with recurring ear infections, I didn't have to choose between his health and my career. I took him to the doctor, shifted to a remote schedule for the week, and was given the autonomy to focus on my deliverables, all while leadership and a few close team members regularly checked in on his recovery. Daycare closures and school holidays are a reality, and here they're treated as exactly that — a reality, not an inconvenience. If I need to start late to handle a morning daycare dropoff hiccup, the conversation with my team is simple and welcomed - I just make up my hours later in the week. There isn’t a rigid handbook rule for every scenario; instead, it’s a mutually understood culture of respect.
The generous and flexible PTO policy also means sick days don't quietly swallow the rest I actually need. Despite the time away for my son's medical needs, I was still able to take relaxation time away with him and come back to work refreshed. That's not a small thing.
I didn't just “survive” the transition of getting back into the workforce as a mother, or moving from a traditional manufacturing environment to a fast-paced tech company. It was a massive lifestyle shift and a major learning curve, but I leaned into it completely. The trust and space I was given here allowed me to really find my footing and grow. Within my first year, I earned a promotion from People Administrator to People Operations Lead. The stability I found here also helped me purchase my own home and build a new foundation for my son and me.
That is what companies that trust their employees can make possible. When people are supported as whole people, they do better work. They stay engaged. They care about the mission because they know the company cares about them, too.
I am a team member, and I am a mother. At GreenLancer, both are recognized. For me, that has made all the difference.
If you're looking for work that supports both your career and your life outside of it, GreenLancer is worth a closer look.