This week on Mum Means Business, I talk with Amy Grilli – former teacher and co-founder of The Five Hour Club, a movement challenging the traditional 9–5 workday and advocating for more realistic, family-friendly ways of working.
After taking five years out of paid employment to care for her children, Amy found herself staring at a large gap in her CV and questioning how it would be received. Her instinct was that being a “full-time parent” would be judged, dismissed or even criticised, so she left the gap unexplained and quietly withdrew, feeling insignificant and unsure whether she was still welcome in the professional world.
In frustration, Amy shared her story on LinkedIn in 2024. The post went viral, resonating with tens of thousands of mothers who felt seen and validated. That response prompted the launch of The Five Hour Club podcast and a professional job board promoting five-hour workdays to help parents maintain and return to meaningful careers after having children. What had begun as a personal frustration has grown into a powerful movement.
In this conversation, we explore why the 9–5 model no longer works for parents, the identity shifts that come with motherhood and what real flexibility could look like if workplaces were willing to rethink long-held assumptions.
Conversation Highlights:
• The emotional impact of stepping away from paid work to raise children
• Why returning to work after maternity leave can feel so daunting
• The hidden struggles of part-time work and so-called flexibility
• Balancing careers with school hours and school holidays
• How rigid working cultures push mothers out of the workforce
• Why flexible work must be a two-way conversation between employers and employees
• How the five-hour workday could benefit businesses as well as families
• The vision behind The Five Hour Club and its growing global impact
Listen If You’re:
• A parent struggling to make traditional working hours fit family life
• Feeling lost or undervalued after time out of the workforce
• Curious about alternative working models and flexible careers
• Balancing school schedules alongside professional ambition
• Passionate about changing workplace culture for future generations
Favourite Quote for Mums in Business:
“Mothers represent a huge talent pool who are highly productive and keen to work, but the 9-5 gives us no room to breathe.” – Amy Grilli
About Amy Grilli:
Amy Grilli is a former teacher and co-founder of The Five Hour Club, a global job board and podcast promoting five-hour workdays and flexible roles for parents. Her work is driven by a desire to normalise parenthood in the workplace and challenge outdated assumptions about productivity and commitment.
After experiencing first-hand the barriers parents face when trying to return to work, Amy now advocates for systemic change that allows families to thrive without forcing parents to choose between career and caregiving.
You can learn more about The Five Hour Club by visiting their website, following them on Linkedin, Instagram or by listening to The Five Hour Club podcast.
About The Host:
I’m Victoria Phipps – a Mum of two, analogue family photographer, charity co-founder, marketing person and now podcaster! My career has wandered all over the place and is becoming a bit of a complex tapestry as I head into this middle phase of life, but I can honestly say I’ve loved every minute of it so far.
I was raised by a nurturing Mother and an entrepreneurial Father and have inherited traits from both, so the tension between ambition and motherhood is one I grapple with on a daily basis! I’m fascinated to hear the stories of other women on a similar path, who are striving to build thriving businesses whilst being present for their children. It’s a tough juggle, but I hope the conversations shared on this podcast help Mums in business feel less alone and inspired to keep going in pursuit of their dreams!
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Episode Transcript:
Hello and welcome to the Mum Means Business podcast, where we shine a light on inspiring women who have one thing in common. When they’re not managing tantrums, homework, P.E. kits and play dates, they are busting their gut to create something from nothing, to turn their passion into a thriving business and build a better life for themselves and their families. We dig into what motivates devoted mothers to pursue entrepreneurship and how they integrate their work and family life.
I’m Victoria Phipps, your host, and if you’re an ambitious mum in need of some solidarity whilst navigating the messy middle of making your big dream a reality, then stick around. This is for you.
NOTE: This is the transcript from the original recording, rather than the edited episode so timings may vary.