Workplace Flexibility – Myths and Realities

When I tell people about the new business I’m starting, Career Life Connection, they smile and nod and say, “Of course, a job board for mommies working from home.” Which is not the specific audience my business is aimed toward. The canned version is: Career Life Connection is a meeting place for educated, experienced individuals and corporations who take their business seriously while understanding the need their employees have to balance personal commitments and passions.

I can see why most people think mommies. First, I am a mommy. Second it was the revolution of the 70’s when mommies started working en masse that brought about the 1980’s term “work-life balance.” But much has happened since then. And if mommies were the beginning, the mantel of wanting more flexibility in the workplace is being embraced by many more segments. Along with the 79% of moms who want to work less than full-time, 76% of baby boomers would like to work in some capacity in the first years of their retirement and generation Y (those born in the 1980’s and 1990’s) values workplace flexibility even more than financial gain and will not hesitate to jump companies to achieve it.

The other reaction I get to my business idea is a look of “isn’t that sweet and naïve” that workplace flexibility can become common enough to support a business. The HR folks believe it sounds great for other companies, but it cannot be a reality for them. Those looking for flexibility believe it’s an uphill battle and you need to prove yourself in your workplace first, you can’t just go looking for a flexible job.

I agree that that’s the norm these days. But there are some companies bucking the trend. In a 2007 article, CNN did a great job of outlining different workplace flexibility options and how they are currently being implemented at different companies. If you are in HR and your excuse is that your company is too small to be able to offer flexible work options, check out the Wall Street Journal’s Top Small Workplaces for 2008 – 13 of the 15 winners offer flexibile work arrangements.

Workplace flexibility will soon be what separates the companies that the best and the brightest want to work for and companies that wish they could attract that kind of talent. My new business might be ahead of the trend, but not by much.