Career and flexibility

Flexibility key in return to Navy

In a write-up to the Navy Today editor, Chief Petty Officer Medic Jo Dixon warns that her rambles on ‘how the Navy has changed’ are a product of a sailor left to her own devices during two 14-day isolation periods.

It’s a great opening line, and prompts a phone call from the editor. CPOMED Dixon, the Navy’s Fleet Operational Safety Officer (FOSO), explains how she’s just arrived back in New Zealand from Canada, having helped oversee HMNZS TE KAHA’s Sea Acceptance Readiness Checks. She has some good yarns on the effects of a double isolation, mainly involving Netflix, Spotify, impressive fitness regimes and really perfecting that uniform ironing routine. But she also reflects on how lucky she is to work for the Royal New Zealand Navy, having left to become a mum, and now returned to an exciting new role. So when asked, ‘what’s changed’ in the Navy, it’s the increased flexibility of working arrangements she notices the most. She’s close to that concept, having left the Navy after 18 years to go on maternity leave, and then give birth to her son George. After four years away, she’s returned to the Service, commuting from Nelson where her husband is a stay-at-home father on their lifestyle block. “I had no idea I would come back,” she says. “I stayed in the Reserves – HMNZS PEGASUS – but I thought I had done my dash.” She says being a mum, you can lose your identity a bit. “You become George’s mum. You lose a lot of confidence about work, because you’re just at home, talking to a toddler. It was just him and me, shop, cots and child. I know I’m a Chief Petty Officer, and I’m proud of being George’s mum. But you question who you are, just a bit. I didn’t expect that.” She saw the role of FOSO advertised through the reserves. As it happened, she had re-qualified in Occupational Health and Safety up to a Level 6 diploma, using the Defence Force Voluntary Education Study Assistance scheme. “I saw the FOSO role and thought, that’s what I’m looking for.” The support for her return has been positive and ongoing. “I will be honest with you here and admit that it has not been easy returning to work after being a stay-at-home mum, especially when that requires leaving my son and husband behind to commute. It has, however, been made much easier due to the support of... well, everyone. The encouragement, guidance and even patience from my Commander, Manager, work colleagues and friends (past and present), Captain Fleet Operational Readiness, Maritime Component Commander and Chief of Navy has been overwhelmingly amazing. Comradeship within the Navy is as strong as it has ever been, and I know this to be true, as I have been on the receiving end of it and cannot be more grateful.” She also praises the increased flexibility of working arrangements in the Defence Force. She works from Monday to Thursday in Auckland, works from home in Nelson on Friday, and goes back to Auckland on a Sunday. Other times, she’s had a solid two weeks in Auckland, and taken a week off at home.

“It appears to me that there is a higher appreciation of the personal sacrifices sailors make for the Navy. There is a real sense of compassion and genuine attempt for personnel to really have a work-life balance. COVID-19 has taught us that we can still achieve a lot at home. And when I’m in Auckland, I’m happy to do longer hours; there’s no point just sitting in my cabin. So I maintain all my outputs.” Other changes she has noticed in her time away is leadership and communication. “There’s a shift in the way sailors think, show initiative and ask questions. Two-way communication is encouraged by Command, moving from what has been a traditional one-way system, and it’s achieved without loss of respect. For me, it makes things safer. The Safe Sailor Policy encourages their right, regardless of rank, to raise a safety issue. That’s empowered them.” She says she loves what she does, and where she does it. “I always thought the Navy was good, but it’s way better than it used to be. It’s fabulous. It’s good to be back!”

Not long to go

HMNZS TE KAHA’s Ship’s Company pose for a photograph in Esquimalt, Canada.