Atypical Parenting Schedules in Family Law

When 9–5 Doesn’t Work: Parenting Schedules for Families with Non-Standard Work Schedules 

This workshop explores the unique challenges that atypical work schedules create when developing a parenting schedule. An atypical (or non-standard) work schedule refers to employment that falls outside the traditional Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. structure and may include evening or overnight shifts, 12-hour shifts, rotating schedules, weekend work, or on-call responsibilities.  

In Canada, these schedules are increasingly common, with nearly 40% of families with a child under five having at least one parent working non-standard hours. Yet fewer than 2% of childcare centres offer care that accommodates night shifts or extended workdays. As a result, many families rely on complex and informal childcare arrangements. These complexities become even more pronounced when parents separate, as traditional parenting-time templates rarely account for rotating or unpredictable work patterns. 

In this workshop, participants will learn how atypical schedules affect family functioning, why conventional parenting-time templates often fail in these situations, and how to apply a practical framework for adapting parenting arrangements. The workshop will emphasize keeping children’s needs at the centre of decision-making and will distinguish between healthy predictability for children and rigid schedules that do not reflect the realities of modern work. 

Dr. Rana Pishva, PhD. Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Sorted-Mind.com

Dr. Rana Pishva is a clinical psychologist and founder of Sorted Mind. She conducts court-ordered parenting assessments and supports parents as they navigate major role transitions and changes in their relationships with both young and adult children. Dr. Pishva writes about timely mental health issues, provides professional consultation and supervision, and delivers tailored workshops to mental health professionals. Dr. Pishva is a member of the AFCC-O task force updating the Ontario Parenting Plan Guide, and a Board Member of the AFCC-O.  

Meeting link and materials will be sent a day prior to the event.