The thirty year old minister has worked from home ever since the birth of her second son Oscar in February. Although Sweden has liberal maternity leave of 365 days which is shared between both parents,the nature of the job means government ministers aren't able to share that luxury. Undaunted

Ulrica turned to teleworking to enable her to fulfil both roles as minister and mother.

Ulrica said;" I currently work at home about two days a week and it's my intention to do so in the months to come. Working from home gives me a great freedom to work when it suits me and my family. I think that it's practical and a great advantage for someone like me who lives 175 kilometres from my office in Stockholm. There is one problem that some people don't think that you work when you are not in the office, sometimes I also miss the social contacts."

Videoconferencing equipment is set up in Ulrica's study at her home in Gavle with similar equipment in a meeting room at the Ministry of Labour. Her computer is also linked to the Government's internal e-mail system."

The videophone is used now and then for internal meetings and processing of government proposals, but the equipment has also been used for external conferences. But many people are still sceptical and mistrust this way of holding conferences." In Sweden ministers attend parliament when they have government bills to propose and defend and also go there occasionally to answer questions from MPs. But although Ulrica was elected as a member of parliament ministers are not required to be MPs and fellow party members take their place.

Ulrica Messing -
Leading by Example

Her partner, Anders Uhlander who is an electrical engineer with Ericsson will be the primary carer taking the complete quota of a year's "maternity" leave. Ulrica may have made history by taking her young son to the first European Union Ministers for Women Conference in Belfast, but in Sweden she is not alone.

" She is the fourth woman minister to have a baby
while in office, " said her press secretary Erik Svanfeldt  " But the other  three ministers all live in Stockholm so it was much easier for them to combine the two jobs."

Sweden's government ministers have set something
of a trend in using teleworking to enable them to combine family life and a career in politics.

Industry and Trade Minister Anders Sundstrom and his colleague Margot Wallstrom Minister of Labour both have young children. Three years ago they started teleworking part-time and have helped to make it an acceptable option.

This article first appeared in Teleworker magazine the periodical of the TCA - The Telework Telecottage and Telecentre Association (www.tca.org.uk)
Writer : Felicity Goodall