I was shopping recently for a kids birthday party and I stumbled across a 35th anniversary edition of the book “Free To Be You and Me” by Marlo Thomas and Friends.  I can remember the pink album jacket to the companion record from when I was a kid…mostly because I played it incessantly.    I truly think later generations are short-changed by not having full-size album covers containing lyrics and liner notes to ponder over for hours while laying on their bed and listening to the music…c’mon Sgt Peppers’ album art on a tiny disk insert?  A travesty.  But I digress.

I had forgotten how much I loved not only the stories and the music but the lessons I learned from “Free To Be You and Me.”  Those lessons have helped shape who I am today and are in part why I have started this website.

1) You don’t have to change who you are for anyone or anything.  This should include your workplace.   But in many workplaces there are strict rules about how you can adorn your cube or desk, including pictures of your family and friends.  They take all of the “you” out of  you.  They would also prefer that you stick only to work…don’t talk about family, hobbies, your weekend…it is seen as unprofessional and supposedly it shows that you are not dedicated to your work.  Being allowed to be who you are is fundamental to happiness.  Of course you need to get your work done, too.  But you shouldn’t have to stifle who you are to do it.

2) Moms and Dads can be “anything they want to be” for a profession.  That was a pretty strong message to little girls in the early 1970′s.  I’m not sure the message resonates as strongly in 2009, but I also don’t feel that we’ve achieved a place where women can be anything they want to be.  There has been much news lately about women lawyers opting out of the law profession because of it’s rigidity and their desire for more flexibility.  The concept that Mommies can be “doctors or teachers, or cleaners or bakers” or even lawyers is great in concept…but sadly in 2009 we are still working too hard on the reality.

3) Boys and girls identities should not be tied to their gender.  In 1974 I’m not sure how many girl geeks there were.  But I have proudly attended a “Geek Girl Camp” full of them in 2009, and I have friends who work in science and engineering.  Again we haven’t come as far as I’d like, but girls can be geeks and boys can be flight attendants or nurses or really anything they want to be.

4) Should vs. could.   Marlo Thomas says she put the book and album together because of the silly bedtime stories available for her niece.  Most were full of what boys and girls should be, not what they could be. I believe “should” is a dangerous word and I think the work world has used “should” for far too long.  The work day should be from 9a to at least 5p.  People who work should come to a central location or office each day.  You should stop working and retire sometime between the ages of 55 and 65 (but most definitely by 65).  You should segregate work and personal life.  I don’t believe in the work world of should.  I believe in what the work world could be.  And that is a place where people are judged by what they can accomplish not by filling a chair for a certain number of hours in a certain location.

One of the reasons I felt the need to leave my last employer is I no longer felt free to be me.  I was holding my tongue in meetings far too often and I felt my opinion was not valued.  Thankfully “Free To Be You and Me” taught me well…and the rest is history.

Apparently June 2nd is the 5th annual “Leave the Office Earlier” day. Leave it to me to learn about this “holiday” when I own my own business, instead of the 4 previous years when I worked in an office for someone else.

I understand the premise and I know that Americans have struggled with working long hours for years…but I really think making work be about watching the clock is very counter productive.  Don’t we want to get away from watching the clock?  Don’t we want to be appreciated for doing a good job regardless of the amount of time it takes us (hopefully less…but sometimes deservedly, more.)

I know what you’re thinking…what about industries like retail and manufacturing where everything is based on the clock.  Or how about those tried and true clock watchers lawyers, consultants and agencies who have to account for every 10 minutes of their time and charge it to a client.  Perhaps this day is specifically geared to them.

Perhaps, but that’s not what the press release says.  And as for hourly industries not being able to be flexible, Corporate Voices for Working Families would disagree.  In a study released recently, it was found that hourly workers benefit from more flexibility at work as well as their salaried co-horts.

So what do you think?   Should there be a “leave the office earlier” day each year?  And if there is will you and your workplace participate?

Congrats to Doc Grawitch who answered last week’s question on twitter and won a coffe gift card.   If you’d like a chance to win simply answer this question here, or reply @leanneclc on twitter or posting on the Career Life Connection facebook fan page.  Good luck!

In the News

COFFEE BREAK: Rutgers study offers insight on why female lawyers leave firms (NJ.com)

The glass ceiling may still be an issue, but for many women, a flexible work environment has become a leading issue.  Many women lawyers opt to trade in a prestigious firm for one that offers them enough flexibility to balance their work with their lives outside the office.

Corporate Voices for Working Families Study Links Workplace Flexibility for Hourly Workers with Attainment of Business Financial Goals and Core Objectives (Fox Business)

Workplace flexibility initiatives for hourly employees are as successful as those designed for professional staff. And businesses that offer hourly employees flexible work options find that they are critical management tools that enhance recruitment, retention, engagement, cost control, productivity and financial performance.

QUALITY: Workplace Wellness Linked to Flexible Work Arrangements (New America Foundation)

Over time, employees with flexible work arrangements are less likely to experience a decline in their physical or mental health.

HR Trade Group Opposes Mandatory Paid Sick Leave (Health Leaders Media)

The Society for Human Resource Management has come out against a proposal that would require companies with 15 or more full-time employees to provide seven days of paid sick leave each year. Instead of the mandates set down in the recently introduced Healthy Families Act, SHRM says Congress should craft consensus legislation on workplace flexibility.

The Best Places to Work in Gov 2009 (OhMyGov!)

Using a set of 53 questions in 10 different categories (such as Employee Skills/Mission Match, Pay and Benefits, and Work/Life Balance), they take the responses and then sends them to the Partnership for Public Service, who uses a statistical analysis developed by the Hay Group (the most trusted name in job evaluation) in order to come up with an agency index. Then, each agency is put in a Large, Small, or Subcomponent class and the agency indexes in each class are compared against each other. Now, for the results!

Break the Habit (Philadelphia Inquirier)

Everyone prizes “work-life balance” these days, but the term is problematic. It implies that work and home life are separate realms positioned at opposite ends of a scale.

In fact, family and work relationships overlap, says Sylvia Lafair, author of “Don’t Bring it to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns that Limit Success,” (Jossey-Bass, 2009). And it’s not just spats with a spouse or fallout from a rebellious child that follow people to the office.

A Healthy Balance: Can you have work-life balance? (Ballard News Tribune)

How is it possible to balance work, family, friends, community and personal time?

There are some simple steps that can go a long way toward helping us all find balance in our busy lives. The key is to assess whether you are living consistently with what you believe to be important.

Flexibility in the Workplace – Five Success Strategies (E-Zine Articles)

Flexibility is essential to the effectiveness of any workplace and companies utilize it to maintain or improve their employee engagement and retention as well as to manage workloads. Research shows that flexible work options boost productivity, enhance efficiency, and drive business results.

Women Will Rule Businesses (Time)

So, what if we renamed work-life balance? Let’s call it something more masculine and appealing, something like … um … Make More Money. That might lift heads off desks. A few people might show up at a meeting to discuss that new phenomenon driving the bottom line: Women, and the way we want to work, are extremely good for business.

Report urges government to focus on flexible workplace (The Colorado Springs Gazette)

A report by a public policy group calls on the Obama administration and Congress to make the federal government “a model employer” by increasing its support for flexible work arrangements such as compressed workweeks and telecommuting.

Better work-life balance wanted (Straits-Times, Singapore)

WOMEN in the accounting and finance sector want a better work-life balance and a more level playing field with men when it comes to promotions.  The findings stem from a survey of more than 700 female professionals in the public and private sectors in Singapore.

The Women Who Want to Save Banking (BBC News)

Audur Capital is already turning a “healthy” profit. And, unlike many others in the sector, they say they work nine or ten hours a day, no more. They want their staff, and society, to have a better work-life balance, with time for family as well as the office. Anything else would just lead to burn-out and not be sustainable.

Aramark sets up parenting classes to help staff with work-life balance (HR Magazine – UK)

Robbie Wheeler, HR director at Aramark, said: “We want to demonstrate to our employees that their welfare is important to us and part of this is making sure they know that they are valued and to show we are listening to them.  “We are aware that juggling work and family life can be a struggle, particularly in these stressful economic times, so we want to provide coping techniques to make employees’ lives easier, both at home and at work.

Massaging a New Career (Irish Times, Ireland)

THE DESIRE to spend more quality time with her husband and two young children was the spur for Patricia Murphy to leave behind the tough, long hours of the retail world and retrain in an area that has given her much more control over her life.

In the Blogs

Baby Boomers Find Options with The Green Group (Sarah Sellers’s Blog, ERE.net)

The Green Group is a service offering that utilizes Green HR initiatives to retain and foster top talent. Their knowledge management solutions provide a combination of work life balance, efficient human capital utilization, and outsourced benefits management which help corporations lower human capital cost while retaining valuable experience and knowledge capital.

Women Docs Get Job Satisfaction from Blazing New Trails (Opposing Views)

“As a group, more than 90% of female physicians, medical students and premeds reported being concerned (with 64% being very concerned) about balancing family responsibilities with a medical career.”

Towards a “New Normal” in the American Workplace – A Public Policy Platform on Flexible Work Arrangements (Today’s Workplace) *Note – this is the second story down.  The direct link to the story does not work currently*

On the heels of First Lady Michelle Obama’s challenge to find ways to encourage employers to provide more flexibility to employees, Workplace Flexibility 2010, a Georgetown Law-based think tank, has released a new report outlining a comprehensive set of policy solutions to expand Americans’ access to flexible work arrangements (FWAs) such as compressed workweeks, predictable schedules, and telework.

Personal Branding Interview with Louise Weir [Career Services, London Business School] (Personal Branding Blog)

Take the time to explore the economic, political and cultural structure and stability of each market, as well as the implications your dream job abroad will have on your work-life balance, and your career itself.  If working an 80-90 hour week in China is definitely not something you are willing to attempt, are you in return eager to spend your weekends gold panning in Canada? Will a job in New York allow you a fantastic opportunity to reap the awards you dream of on paper, but mean a seven hour flight from your family? Is the relocation package being offered enough for you to relinquish one of your top five “must haves”?

May Challenge:  Becoming a Boundary Hunter (The Career Consultant)

Well, I’ve finally come to the epiphanal conclusion that what I seek isn’t balance at all. It’s harmony. Harmony denotes a “pleasing arrangement of parts; an inner calm.” As administrative professionals, we pride ourselves on giving our very best to everything we do. But, sometimes, the speed of life makes for fuzzy boundaries between work and personal lives. This month’s challenge is all about starting a revolution – a revolt against the notion of balance and a new look at embracing harmony.

The just shoot me vacation: Stay tethered; Forget two weeks; Install a fax in your room (Between the Lines, ZDNet blog)

This in from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas: You must bring your smartphone, laptop and every other work-tethering item on your vacation. If not you’ll just worry about being laid off.

Here’s what America has come to—a two week vacation is deemed too long and you have to at least look like you’re working. Hell, why bother with the vacation at all?

Bosses and Workers Disagree on Social Network Privacy (Digits, a WSJ Blog)

Another difference of opinion expressed in the survey was how social networks affect work-life balance. Less than a third of employees (31%) agreed with the statement “Using social-networking sites helps me achieve better work-life balance,” with 19% strongly disagreeing. More than half (56%) of executives said a little Facebook time improves work-life, however.

Goals for Using Kanban (AgileManagement Blog)

Work/life balance isn’t only about balancing the number of hours someone spends at work with the number of hours they have available for their family, friends, hobbies, passions and pursuits. It is also about providing reliability. For example, a team member with a passion for art wants to take a painting class at the local middle school. It starts at 6.30pm and runs every Wednesday for 10 weeks. Can your team provide certainty to that individual that they’ll be free to leave the office on-time each week in order to attend the class?

Providing a good work life balance will make your company a more attractive employer in your local market. It will help to motivate employees and it will give your team members the energy to maintain high levels of performance for months or years. It’s a fallacy that you get top performance from knowledge workers when you overload them with work. It might be true tactically for a few days but it isn’t sustainable beyond a week or two. It’s good business to provide a good work/life balance by never overloading your teams with too much work.

Getting Flex-Able (Finding the Work You Love)

Computers and the Internet have created new ways to work–and think about work. Flextime, as the name implies, allows employers and employees to carve out nontraditional work arrangements. For many older workers, including those juggling childcare, eldercare, or other needs (including a simple desire to work flexible hours), flex-time may be the ticket to greater satisfaction and work-life balance.

Pic of the Week (The DVE Chronicles)

This photo is of our President, Barack Obama enjoying his daughter Sasha’s soccer game. Its good to see that our president presents a good work/life balance.

So What’s the Big Picture Now??? (Marquis’ Weblog)

Eventually, something major happens to make you understand how the weight of it all is affecting you, but, by then, who knows if the effects of that stress can be undone. Now that I’m in an environment where I have work-life balance, I can’t imagine what it would be like to give that up and go back to my former life. I’m not bringing this up to complain about working hard or to judge anyone who relishes that lifestyle because there are merits to having this type of experience. Rather, I want to encourage people to think about both the short-term and long-term implications of the paths they choose.

Working From Home: 10 Unconscious Cues to Create a Work-Life Balance (Awake at the Wheel)

Working from home sounds like a very simple concept. But there are a lot of built-in structures and boundaries inherent in a going-to-the-office job that we often take for granted.  Recreating those boundaries when our home and work is one and the same is a crucial part of achieving a work-life balance.

Your Job is Not Your Life (FP Posted)

First of all, get a life! Have meaningful purpose, activities and pursuits that are as important as work. Develop a healthy work life balance, where you are not emotionally tied to work 24/7. Redefine achievement and accomplishment.  When people gather at your graveside when you’re life is over, it’s unlikely they’ll be talking about what a hard worker you were or refer to your resume.

Plannng Your Day (Startup Blog)

Diagram author uses to keep work and life flexible each day

ONE in six workers would take a pay cut to work from home, new research shows.

Workers give up pay to work from home (Business Opportunity Startup – Australia)

Independent research commissioned by Citrix Online found 16 per cent of Australian workers and 17 per cent of small business owners would give up 5 per cent of their salary to work from home one to two days a week.

Press Releases

Healthcare Jobs Firm Focuses on Healthy Work-Life Balance

CHG Healthcare Services, a leader in providing healthcare jobs, knows a strong balance between work life and personal life leads to happy, productive employees. Because of this, CHG helps their employees develop a well-rounded approach to overall wellness.

Resources

A Conversation on Workplace Flexibility part 7 (Student Scholarship)

Panel conversation on what Workplace Flex means to younger workplace flex scholars

Worklife Balance Resource Articles (Monster.com)

A list of links to articles to help workers/managers better balance work and life

Career Life Connection News and Events

Small Business Expo and Career Fair, May 21, Quincy, MA

Leanne Chase of Career Life Connection to speak on Social Networking:  Linked In, Facebook and Twitter

Career Life Connection Founder featured on Workplace Flexibility teleseminar

Flexibility Isn’t All About Mommies: Why Flex is a Cross-Generational and Gender-Neutral Issue; summary of teleseminar discussion on Workplace Flex.

Advice Isn’t Always Good For You (MSNBC)

Leanne Chase, president of Career Life Connection, was excited about attending a SCORE meeting in Boston, but didn’t end up with much help. Despite that, she plans on attending again next week.

New Nanny Math (Forbes)

Leanne Chase, 40, mother of a 3-year-old and owner of a business, Career Life Connection,

Twitters Work-Life Balance Tips (BusinessWeek.com)

It takes many villages – 1 at home to help with family life, 1 at work to fill in as needed, 1 full of friends to keep you sane #worklife

Career Life Connection on You Tube

Last month I was at a networking event, a “tweetup” for all you twits, and I met a fun, energetic woman.  As we were talking it became clear to me that she was apologizing…for working and being a mother.  I stopped her mid-sentence and explained to her that there is no need to apologize, that it is perfectly okay to work and be a mom, that I have a whole contingent of friends who feel the same as her.  We are thrilled that we work.  We are also thrilled that we are mothers.  And we do both extremely well part-time.

I remembered this conversation last week when in Las Vegas on work and play.  I was having a great time.  I had a girls weekend in Las Vegas, then went to the Kennedy Info Recruiting Conference and spent some time with really fun, interesting people…who are very smart.  But I sort of felt like I was cheating on someone…my daughter.  The feeling was not self-imposed.

It was society-imposed.  “Do you miss your little one?”  The truth of the matter is, I didn’t.  Go ahead…I am an awful mother, how can you not miss your daughter, why did you even bother to have a child…I’ve heard it before and it won’t work on me.

This trip was carefully planned and thought out.  It took some arm twisting and eye-opening efforts on my part to get my husband to understand that this was as important to me as his career is to him. (He makes the big bucks…so of course his career should be more important, right?  No fair!)

I knew how much time I had away from my little one and I had set up a great weekend of fun for her, followed by some normalcy at home with grandmothers and my husband and our amazing nanny to take up all the mommy slack.  On the last night of my time away, I was still having a wonderful time.  I knew I would see her the next day and I had no desire to get home any faster than planned.  I mean c’mon the number of nights away from her since birth is a grand total of 15…in 3 years!  Why is it not okay for me to admit that I’m having a great vacation and making some really great business contacts and while she enters my mind at times, and I’m certainly checking in on her…I do not wish to be anywhere but where I am?

We’re home now and my husband is out with her on a playdate…it’s a wonderful thing.  I don’t miss her this afternoon…in fact I hope she’s having a great time without me…not because I’m a bad mother, but because it should be normal for her to have adventures without me and for me to have them without her.  And for neither of us to feel badly about it.  I do not apologize and am happy to give up my “mother of the year” award in exchange for this honesty.  I work, I’m a mom, I enjoy having the flexibility to do both – if only society would get on board with that…

I know many of you have strong feelings about the government getting involved in workplace issues.   And we’re talking about it again this week.  Should the government mandate sick pay for employees or should they encourage employers to come up with a more comprehensive plan for workplace flexibility that answers more issues than just sick time?  The Society of Human Resources Management has an opinion…how about you?

If you answer this question here, or replying @leanneclc on twitter or posting on the Career Life Connection facebook fan page you could win free coffee.  So far lots of Starbucks fans, not so many Dunkin’ Donuts, but some very loyal to their favorite local cafe.  Good luck!

In the News

Workplace Flexibility Adds to National Debate (HR News – SHRM)

A new report from Workplace Flexibility 2010 outlines a comprehensive set of policy solutions that the Georgetown University Law Center-based think tank hopes will serve as a blueprint to expand Americans’ access to flexible work arrangements (FWAs).

Paid Sick Days Bill Teed Up; Groups Start Dialogue on Flexibility (Workforce Management)

The advent of the bill is part of a flurry of recent Washington activity on flexible work. On May 7, the Society for Human Resource Management issued a set of workplace leave principles that it hopes will form alternatives to bills like the paid sick leave measure.

On Wednesday, May 13, a group called Workplace Flexibility 2010 released a framework to guide the development of flexible work policy.

Governor Names Work-Life Balance Awards (Northwest Arkansas Times)

Winners of the Governor’s Work-Life Balance Awards were recognized at a luncheon this week at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.  Nineteen Arkansas employers received awards in the seventh annual ceremony, formerly named the Governor’s Family-Friendly Awards.

UH grads heed advice of ‘Oracle of Omaha’:  Aspiring entrepreneurs among college students nationwide who met with Buffett (Houston Chronicle)

He talked about the need for work/life balance. You can’t just work.

You have to have a personal life and balance the two.

Report Urges U.S. Government To Boost Workplace Flexibility (Washington Post)

A report issued yesterday by a public policy group calls on the Obama administration and Congress to make the federal government “a model employer” by increasing its support for flexible work arrangements such as compressed workweeks and telecommuting.

Leading Multiple Generations (Business Lexington)

Research surveys have shown that Gen Y has continued the shift toward an improved balance between work and family or leisure life that was begun by Gen X. Couple the Gen Y comfort with technology and this desire for a better work/life balance, and you get a strong desire to work remotely.

Why Women Lawyers Leave: A Quest for Flexible Work and Supportive Environments (ABA Journal)

Dissatisfaction with work-life balance is pushing women lawyers in New Jersey out the door and into new jobs, a survey has found.

Working Moms Have Advocate In Michelle [Obama] (USA Today)

President Obama is off to a positive start, but his 65% approval rating is a distant second to Michelle’s 79%. Her public appearances — focusing on military families, work-life balance, healthy eating and literacy — have been engaging.

What Gen Y Really Wants (Time)

With 85 million baby boomers and 50 million Gen Xers, there is already a yawning generation gap among American workers–particularly in their ideas of work-life balance.

Having It All:  Special Section on Work-Life Balance (CNN)

Calling For More Work/Life Balance (Human Resource Executive)

In a recent speech, First Lady Michelle Obama called for flex time, paid leave for family illnesses and life events, and work-site childcare. While she says such work/life benefits result in increased productivity, some observers say the timing isn’t right for new initiatives — especially if they are forced upon businesses by government mandates.

Working Mother Marks Three Decades of Change (Philadelphia Inquirer)

The magazine used to not pay attention to part-time workers or those who dropped out of the workforce for a few years. “Then we started to embrace all kinds of working mothers. Generation X, for example, wanted to move in and out of the workplace. Flexibility didn’t just mean going in early and leaving early. It meant that you could turn down a promotion because of home responsibilities but still be ready for it in five years.”

Is It Time for a New Workplace Structure (FP Posted)

For many dual earner families, being able to work remotely from the office is a desirable way to achieve work-life balance. Many executives and professionals testify that they are more productive when they occasionally are out of their office environment.

Satellite Telework Center opens in downtown Felton (The Mercury News)

Last month, the director of the federal Office of Personnel Management announced a plan to boost telecommuting by federal employees. That move came soon after First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to that office about the importance of work-life balance.

EEOC Recommends Employer “Best Practices” to Promote Work/Family Balance (FindLaw.com)

Recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency charged with implementing key federal civil rights laws, issued a “best practices” document for employers on work/family balance. This “technical assistance” document is designed not only to promote compliance with antidiscrimination laws that relate to or affect employees with caregiving responsibilities, but also to encourage employers to adopt policies that go beyond legal minimum requirements.

Companies Recognized for Offering Employees Work-Life Balance (Arkansas Business)

Those firms that make it possible for employees to balance the needs of work and family were recognized Tuesday at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock with the 2009 Arkansas Governor’s Work-Life Balance Awards.

Legal Talent at the Crossroads – Women Lawyers in New Jersey (Rutgers)

New research from Rutgers’ Center for Women and Work finds that women lawyers are taking control of their lives by choosing employers that support flexible workplaces.

Juggling Career and Parenthood (Boston Globe)

I often say there’s really no such thing as work-life balance; it’s more of a juggle and, from time to time, you have to forget about keeping all of those balls up in the air and just try to catch them as they fall.

Career Woman, Remade (Wall Street Journal)

As you move forward with your reinvention, keep in mind that you don’t have to emulate superwoman. While you are setting up a situation that will provide you with better work-life balance in the long term, your focus may need to be primarily on your career. You shouldn’t feel guilty about asking for help.

New Jersey Women Lawyers Choose Flexible Workplaces (Rutgers)

“In the past, so many studies have shown that women were leaving law firms, or the legal profession altogether, but this study provides a new perspective: that women are taking action by seeking and finding better work/life balance at firms that provide flexibility and a positive environment for women,” says Dianne Mills McKay, chair of the council.  “In a field where women make up half of the talent entering the workforce, retaining and advancing women must be a priority for those firms who want to have the best talent.”

Release of Groundbreaking Report on Flexible Work Arrangements Sets the Stage for National Conversation (Earth Times)

On the heels of First Lady Michelle Obama’s challenge to find ways to encourage employers to provide more flexibility to employees, a new report from Workplace Flexibility 2010, a Georgetown Law-based think tank, provides the most comprehensive set of policy solutions to expand Americans’ access to flexible work arrangements such as compressed workweeks, predictable schedules, and telecommuting.

It’s Important to Have a Good Work Life Balance (Tampa Tribune)

It’s an ongoing struggle in the workplace: Striking a healthy work-life balance. Whether you’re prone to perfectionism or feeling pressured by a thinner staff and fear layoffs, here are seven tips to keep in mind.

Fixing the Leaky Pipeline: Work-life balance key to retaining women scientists (European Commission)

Already in 2003, the EU teamed up with businesses and universities in a working group looking at how to attract and retain women in science. According to the latest report, women abandon careers in research mainly because they find it too hard to balance work with personal life, especially if they are mothers.

Bullying at High Levels In County Police Force (Northhampton Chronicle & Echo, UK)

“However, over a period of time, such strong levels of commitment are unlikely to be sustainable if excessive workloads and lack of work-life balance prevail.”

Legal Eagles Find Ways of Riding Out Recession (Career FAQs, Australia)

Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a multiple award-winning law firm, understands the importance of workplace flexibility well. In 2004, it launched its Making work work, together initiative – a program which formalised flexible working options. Staff are able to work part time, work flexible hours, job share, swap pay for leave, telework from home or combine these options. This is an excellent example of how law firms can adapt to changing times and thrive as a result – and it certainly seems to have paid off for Mallesons.

Work-Life Balance (Guardian, UK)

Special Section with digest and links of several recent articles on Work-Life balance

How Expats Work and Balance Life (Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

Three-quarters of those surveyed believe that their organisation was not committed to helping expatriates achieve a healthy balance between work and home. Some flexible working practices were available to expatriates. For example, 44 percent reported having the option of working flexible hours or taking compensatory time off for working long hours; however, two-thirds believe their organisations expect them to work outside of normal hours. Over half (55 percent) did not take all of their annual leave entitlement.

June Cleaver Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (Lancaster Sunday News)

Kibler said that Americans don’t want to think of mothers as a collective group, lest they need to provide that group with societal supports, such as subsidized child care and workplace flexibility.

In the Blogs

Friday Wrap Up (World At Work Blog)

In other total rewards news, Workplace Flexibility 2010 released its Public Policy Platform on Workplace Flexibility.  WorldatWork was pleased to be able to participate in the process of drafting and review of the platform and will continue to participate with Workplace Flexibility 2010 in the public discussions of the platform ideas.  The document has some great ideas on workplace flexibility public policies and looks towards innovation, best practices and training in a blueprint designed to provide guidance to policy makers.

One Day We’ll Rule the Population (On the Record)

Dayton thinks the fundamental disconnect lies in the older generation’s “work comes first” mentality and the Millenials’ demand for work-life balance. As a hard-working member of Gen Y – who strives for that ‘balance’ – I agree.

Flexible working arrangements as the “new normal” in the workplace (WorkLife Nation)

The think-tank based at Georgetown University Law Center issued a report yesterday outlining a policy blueprint to “expand Americans’ access to  flexible working arrangements such as compressed workweeks, predictable schedules and telework.” Essentially, the goal of the non-partisan group is to make the implementation of Flexible Work Arrangements the “new normal” –  instead of the stepchild of the traditional workplace.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Work-Life Balance (Rejuvenation Lounge)

Now, almost eight hundred years later, people are still committing these seven sins in Work Life Balance. So let me share with you the Seven Deadly Sins of Work Life Balance … and how to avoid them.

Will Obama tackle entire spectrum of Workplace Wellness? (WorkLife Nation)

How Workplace Flexibility Arrangements might allow for a less stressed and more productive employee

News to Know:  A Change Will Do You Good (ShAARP Session AARP Blog)

The study shows that amongst those who switched careers after age 50, 91% of people enjoyed their new jobs. Researchers attribute the increased happiness to a reduction of stress and greater workplace flexibility.

Hiring a VA – Regain Your Work-Life Balance (Business Protocol)

This is really a very common scenario. Any form of work-life balance is very hard to achieve if you’re stuck between ‘a rock and a hard place’. You want to get out of it, yet you feel like you can’t because there is just too much on your plate at the moment, or you simply can’t afford to be taking the time off.

Corporations, Obama and Health Care Reform (Live Journal)

Oh, I think there’s no doubt that health care companies are scared. For another great example of industry being scared, take this press release (pdf) from the Society for Human Resource Management, in which they say that workplace flexibility and paid leave are the wave of the future.

Michelle Obama and Work-Life Issues (PR on the Run)

The First Lady talked to the gathering of primarily business managers about a host of issues about how working families — men, women, single parents and so on — have to struggle these days to balance responsibilities at home and on the job. She is an advocate for working families — and most likely work-life are the issues that she will tackle most directly and personally during the next few years.

Corporate Voices: Workplace Flexibility Benefits Hourly Workers/Businesses (Corporate Voices for Working Families)

In conjunction with Mrs. Obama’s talk, Corporate Voices released a comprehensive study that looks at workplace flexibility options and programs involving hourly employees, Innovative Workplace Flexibility Options for Hourly Workers.

The 21st Century Mom Lawyer: A Life Without Seams (Myshingle.com)

Today, my behavior seems silly, but for that era, compartmentalization of work life and home life; the professional and personal was common place for lawyer-moms.   Work meant business suits and talking shop, home meant babies and juggling play dates and park outings and other kinds of child-related activities.  Rarely, if ever did the twain meet.

Where Do People Feel The Most Positive About Life (Talking Stuff)

Another factor in the study was work life balance. While countries such as Denmark with a high score of 90.1 boast a high GDP per capita of $68,000, the average workweek in that part of the world is no more than 37 hours. But in countries such as China which received a low score of just 14.8, the workweek is 47 hours and the GDP per capita is just $3,600.

Met among four police forces slammed for failing to improve officers’ work-life balance (Personnel Today, UK)

The Metropolitan Police Force has been ‘named and shamed’, together with three other forces, for failing to improve officers’ work-life balance.

Finance Professionals Hit Pavement to Beat Stress (Let’s Grow Dynamic Business, Australia)

“These survey results suggest that many of our candidates are striving to have a good work/life balance,” says Aequalis Consulting Director Simon Boulton.

“Creative hobbies and individual pursuits are a great way to de-stress outside working hours. They can also assist with performance.”

Press Releases

Bright Horizons Recognized As One of the ‘Best Places to Work’ by the Boston Business Journal

The Best Places to Work list is based on surveys completed by employees who live and work in Massachusetts. The survey assesses employee opinions of work environment, work/life balance, job satisfaction, advancement opportunities, compensation, and benefits.

Access Development Joins Utah’s Best Places to Work

The highly competitive award is bestowed by the Utah Department of Workforce Services Office of Work & Family Life and is heavily based on employee feedback. Winning companies create exceptional workplaces that effectively balance employee work/life needs.

Career Life Connection News and Events

Small Business Expo and Career Fair, May 21, Quincy, MA

Leanne Chase of Career Life Connection to speak on Social Networking:  Linked In, Facebook and Twitter

Career Life Connection Founder featured on Workplace Flexibility teleseminar

Flexibility Isn’t All About Mommies: Why Flex is a Cross-Generational and Gender-Neutral Issue; summary of teleseminar discussion on Workplace Flex.

Advice Isn’t Always Good For You (MSNBC)

Leanne Chase, president of Career Life Connection, was excited about attending a SCORE meeting in Boston, but didn’t end up with much help. Despite that, she plans on attending again next week.

New Nanny Math (Forbes)

Leanne Chase, 40, mother of a 3-year-old and owner of a business, Career Life Connection,

Twitters Work-Life Balance Tips (BusinessWeek.com)

It takes many villages – 1 at home to help with family life, 1 at work to fill in as needed, 1 full of friends to keep you sane #worklife

Career Life Connection on You Tube

Guest blog post by:  Karen Corday, Information Services Specialist, Sloan Work and Family Research Network of Boston College

Leanne Chase of Career Life Connection asked me to join her in speaking at the first in a series of teleconferences from Ashley Acker of Work Style Design: Flexible Work: Stretchy Strategies for Worn Out Work. Leanne’s topic was Flexible Work: Not Just About Mommies; I shared and discussed some research on the use of flexible work by older and younger workers as well as return on investment for businesses using flexible work schedules.

In a 2007 survey by Ranstad Work Solutions, 76% of the Mature workers surveyed, born between 1900 and 1945, agreed that “Freedom to set own hours if work gets done” was appealing to them. In this survey, 74% of Boomers, 73% of Gen X, and 63% of Gen Y agreed, making Mature workers the most enthusiastic about flexible work. Furthermore, according to the 2001 Current Population Survey, 31.2% of workers aged 65 and up used flexible schedules for their primary jobs, which is nearly identical to the percentage of workers aged 25 to 34 using flexible schedules, and greater than the number of Older Gen X and Boomers using them. That data is nearly 8 years old now; older workers have been working flexibly for several years now along with workers of all ages.

Phased retirement has become a popular option for older workers, who often want to decrease their work hours and responsibilities gradually, rather than just abruptly stop working at the age of 65. According to a 2005 survey from AARP, 78% of the workers who expressed interest in a phased retirement program said the ability of this benefit would encourage them to work past retirement age. This is not just a “nice thing to do” for older workers; it cuts down on turnover costs and facilitates knowledge transfer from seasoned employees to younger workers.

Speaking of younger workers, a 2007-2008 survey by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work found that access to flexibility was on of the main drivers of engagement among Gen Y workers. Engagement refers to an employee’s connection with work that motivates them to work with “excellence,” as opposed to just getting the job done.

In 2008, PriceWaterhouseCoopers surveyed over 4,200 recent university graduates from around the world who either worked for or were about to work for them. They found that while only 3% of respondents expected to work mainly at home, 66% expected to work regular office hours with some flexible working. Keep in mind that presumably most of these workers do not yet have family responsibilities competing with their work responsibilities; they see flexible work as the way in which they want to conduct their working lives from the beginnings of their careers.

Several studies have discussed the return on investment that can result from flexible work options and other family-friendly benefits. A 2000 study by the Boston College Center for Work & Family surveyed 6 large corporations and found that 70% of managers and 87% of employees reported that working a flexible arrangement had a positive impact on productivity. Similar percentages reported positive impacts on quality of work and employee retention.

In the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce, 73% of employees with high availability of flexible work arrangements reported a high likelihood that they would stay with their current employer for the next year. Retaining employees translates to saving money on turnover-related costs. In a 2007 survey for Corporate Voices for Working Families, 150 senior-level executives from large corporations reported by a 9-to-1 ration that flexible work strategies had a positive effect on helping organizations reach their business goals.

FlexPaths published a report in which they interviewed executives from several organizations to establish flexibility as a human capital strategy, Real-life examples of return on investment include:
•    Ernst & Young estimated a savings of $17 million in turnover-related costs during 1997-1998, which they attribute to flexible work arrangements and a work culture that encourages both work and personal success. Ernst & Young also encourages virtual work and was able to eliminate 1 million of the 7 million square feet it rents nationwide.
•    Corning’s employee turnover numbers were cut in half after they adopted family-friendly policies such as more part-time work and job-sharing opportunities, saving them $2 million in turnover costs.
•    Aetna began allowing part-time return after family leave, saved $1 million a year in turnover costs, and cut their attrition rate by 50% over five years.

For more information on these topics, please see the Sloan Work and Family Research Network’s Topic Pages on:

•    Older Workers
•    Phased Retirement
•    Generation X/ Generation Y
•    Return on Investment

We also have several Work Flexibility Case Studies of companies that have successfully implemented flexibility into their policies and cultures.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Here is the contact information for all the speakers on the 5/11 Teleseminar along with links referenced:

In the News

Resilient To Recession (ForbesWoman)

“The recession is not having an impact on the progress of women in business,” said one woman surveyed. “To the contrary, talent is now valued more than ever, in whatever form it presents itself.”

Some downturn opportunities cited were the rising demand for “typical female strengths” like flexibility and collaboration; a refocusing on work-life balance and quality of life across both genders, which may help women going forward; and a higher retention of women, who may be more likely to stay and advance at a company due to a husband’s uncertain job stability.

Women tout work flexibility: Bank, law firm give staff family options (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Two businesses with Chattanooga ties recently won accolades for being good workplaces for women — Baker Donelson, which was recently named among the top law firms in the country for women, and First Tennessee Bank parent company First Horizon, which was named one of the top 50 companies for women executives.

First lady pushes for work-life balance (UPI.com)

First lady Michelle Obama drew on her experience as a working mom to urge U.S. corporations Thursday to help working families balance work-home demands.

Sarah Jessica Parker : Sarah Jessica Parker worried about work-life balance (Entertainment and Showbiz)

“Hopefully, our son is feeling loved and taken care of. I can’t really complain because it’s my choice to work, but that doesn’t mean I don’t spend a better part of the day worrying about whether my family is getting enough [time] from me,” she added.

Corporate Voices for Working Families Study Links Workplace Flexibility for Hourly Workers with Attainment of Business Financial Goals and Core Objectives (MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal)

Workplace flexibility initiatives for hourly employees are as successful as those designed for professional staff. And businesses that offer hourly employees flexible work options find that they are critical management tools that enhance recruitment, retention, engagement, cost control, productivity and financial performance.

Bright Horizons Unveils Workplace Flexibility Study Results with First Lady Michelle Obama (Earth Times)

At the meeting the First Lady urged, “We need to discuss quality on-site child care, something that keeps many of us up at night as families, just wondering where are we going to put our children…This isn’t just about family balance. This is about making workplaces stronger and more effective and keeping and attracting the most qualified people.”

10 Best Places to Be a Working Mom (Smart Money)

Whether they want to work – or have to – the daily juggle of challenges in the office and at home is a reality for most mothers in this country. Nearly two-thirds of women in families with children under the age of 18 and 73% of single moms are employed, according the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.

Work-Life Balance a Challenge, Says Michelle Obama, But Having White House Staff Helps (The Washington Post)

During her 10-minute speech, Obama advocated for sick leave for parents, flexible work hours for employees and on-site child care, which she said “is something that keeps many of us up at night….You’re just wondering where are we going to put our children where we feel like that they’re being safe, that they’re safe and being loved. That will relieve many of the stresses that parents feel on the job throughout the day.”

Corporate Culture in Current Times – Seeking the Right Fit (Science Times)

Corporate culture is one of those nebulous terms that conjures up a variety of images. Some of them may be positive: a welcoming environment where people feel secure in their jobs, where independent thinking and work-life balance are encouraged. And some may be not so positive: excessive work hours or unexpected changes in job description.

31st Annual “Outstanding Mother Awards” Honored Excellence in Work-Life Balance (Earth Times)

he National Mother’s Day Committee, an entity of the National Father’s Day/Mother’s Day Council, Inc., today announced that it honored five exceptional women for balancing accomplished careers and the demands of motherhood…

Dominion Digital, SnagAJob, Wyeth win employer awards (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Six companies also won the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility.

Those winners are: Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Capital One Financial Corp. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Rink Management Services Corp., accounting and consulting firm BDO Seidman LLP and recruiting and consulting firm Vaco Richmond LLC.

SHRM Calls for New Policy on Workplace Leave to Ensure Flexibility and Predictability for Employees and Employers (Ajax World Magazine)

In a letter to all U.S. Senators and Representatives, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) today announced its commitment to leading all stakeholders in the debate over a 21st Century workplace flexibility policy that meets the needs of both employees and employers.

OPM director calls for regulatory reforms, announces work-life pilot programs (Government Executive)

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry said at a Tuesday reception kicking off Public Service Recognition Week in Washington that he will move quickly to remove unnecessary regulations and work with the Interior Department and the General Services Administration to create a model series of work-life balance programs at the campus the agencies share in Foggy Bottom.

RI SBA Names 2009 Award Winners (Providence Business News)

Harrington described herself as “thrilled and honored” to receive the SBA award. She also has been a three-time winner of the Sloan Award, which is presented to companies that are committed to workplace flexibility.

House Panel to Take Up Parental Leave Act (Washington Post)

Federal employee unions also argue that while their members can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, many cannot afford to do so. The measure would help establish a stronger work-life balance for federal workers, a stated goal of the Obama administration, they said.

Outside [magazine] taps Smith [Sports Optics] as “Best Place to Work” (Idaho Mountain Express)

Of course, as befits Outside magazine, the definition of “best company” has to have some particular ingredients.

“We at Outside have our own slant on life,” Roberts said. “To us, balance is important. You need to have a work-life balance.”

The companies selected, Roberts said, share the common belief that employees who have that sort of balance in their lives will boost the company’s bottom line.

MCCA Reports Big Law Firms Make Diversity Strides Yet Disparities Still Persist (The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel)

Minorities and women reported lower satisfaction levels than white men regarding the work/life balance in their law firms. However, the perspectives shared by female associates were much closer to those of male associates than they were to female partners, illustrating that generational differences regarding work/life balance now appear to be more significant than gender differences, with younger male attorneys’ views aligning more closely with that of younger women attorneys.

Caregivers at Work (Human Resources Executive)

In a  technical assistance document , the EEOC says that adopting more flexible workplace policies can help employees achieve a work/life balance and enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower costs and decrease discrimination claims.

7 Tips for Striking a Better Work Life Balance (The Associated Press via Syracuse.com)

It’s an ongoing struggle in the workplace: Striking a healthy work-life balance. Whether you’re prone to perfectionism or you’re feeling pressured by a thinner staff and fear layoffs, here are a seven tips to keep in mind.

Consultant:  Challenging Work Needed to Keep Younger Employees (Web CPA)

“They want flexibility in work hours and working arrangements,” he said. “You may soon see the virtual office where everybody works remotely. These younger employees don’t refer to it as work-life balance. They now call it life-work balance.”

The Variable in Work-Life Balance (MIT Technonology Review)

A crowd developed and our conversation eventually turned to Work Life Balance. Josh made a comment and provided me with an insight I’d never considered before.  Josh lives in Philly but spends a bunch of time in the bay area and other places.  He was describing his typical “red eye” flight pattern – early Monday morning flight to the bay area, work like a dog, redeye home on Thursday night – chill with the family on Friday through Sunday.  Repeat.  His defined his unit of “work life balance periodicity” as “a week”.  Basically – four days of incredibly intense work followed by three days dominated by time with his family (although plenty of email during these three days.)

The female advantage:  A new reason for businesses to promote women: it’s more profitable (Boston Globe)

According to much of the scholarly literature, women struggle with a number of disadvantages, such as discomfort with promoting themselves. They are much more likely to report lacking access to the informal networks that spread crucial information and advice. Disproportionately responsible for child care, they require more flexibility. As a result, many exceptional female employees languish in middle management and eventually leave in frustration.

Men and Women and Work Life Balance (Corporate Social Responsibility, Asia)

Managers are reminding many of their staff that they are lucky to have a job in the current economic crisis. And in many cases that is translating into a hidden demand to work longer hours, sometimes for less money. In some cases work-life balance could be seriously deteriorating, particularly in those sectors hit hardest by the economic downturn. But whether the recession is impacting men and women equally is an interesting question.

In Low Times Anxieties Run High (The Globe and Mail, Canada)

There has been a sharp spike in the level of recession-related stress, with working Canadians shouldering heavier workloads and experiencing greater anxiety about job security and personal finances, according to a survey released yesterday.

“Employees appear to be working longer hours, as 54 per cent feel the current recession is having an impact on their work/life balance…”

Question of the Week:  Should Employers be Forced By Law to Become More Family-Friendly (The Guardian, UK)

If we have learned anything from the 20 years since the last major recession, it is that treating people well works. There are two key issues at stake. Will we emerge with a stronger and more productive economy, or return to the dark ages? Do we believe in work-life balance, or is caring about family life a luxury for the good times?

Stressing the Need For Breaks (The New Zealand Herald)

Around 23.6 per cent were doing more than 48 hours, compared to 20 per cent of Australian workers. The work-life imbalance may be making us stressed and sick, and affecting family life.

Press Releases

One-Third of Working Moms Are Burned Out as They Struggle to Provide for Their Families in a Tough Economy, Finds CareerBuilder’s Annual Mother’s Day Survey

Quality time with family is the most important “to-do” on working moms’ lists this Mother’s Day. In fact, some working moms report struggling to find work/life balance as they take on additional hours and second jobs in tough financial times. Thirty percent of working moms, whose companies have had layoffs in the past 12 months, are working longer hours and 14 percent of working moms have taken on second jobs in the last year to help make ends meet.

In the Blogs

The First Lady Listens to Corporate Voices (Success Starts Here)

Mrs. Obama has been a working mother herself, describing herself as a “120 percenter”, so she understands firsthand the challenges that come along with working and raising a family.

Michelle Obama on work life balance (momstowork.com)

Full Transcript of Michelle Obama’s Speech

Work-Life Solutions Make Stronger Employee Connections (Management-Topics.com)

Do hourly employees benefit from workplace flexibility initiatives? Definitely … and sometimes more so than management employees. That’s according to the new Corporate Voices Innovative Workplace Flexibility Options for Hourly Workers study

Let’s Honor Mothers Every Day (Huffington Post)

Challenges facing women to balance work and family are exacerbated in a downturn, which calls for greater workplace flexibility. Simply put, the workplace should be as adaptable as working mothers have become. This is why I am working to pass the Working Families’ Flexibility Act — a bill I have sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy which would provide job protection for working parents who request flexible work schedules from their employers. Nearly 80 percent of workers say they would like to have more flexible work options and would use them if there were no negative consequences at work, according to the Families and Work Institute. However, close to 40 percent of workers surveyed believe they would be less likely to advance in their career is they asked for flexibility.

Flexibility: A Top Value for Technical Women and Men (Fast Company Blog)

However, we are doing ourselves a disservice by framing flexibility as a women’s issue and an exceptional “perk.”

The “Millennials” Are Coming (Startup Professionals Musings)

The next generation of managers, comprising many millennials, will likely be more adept at managing in a changing, global, and networked environment. They will do it with a greater emphasis on teamwork, facility for the use of technology, and sensitivity to needs for work/life balance.

First Lady Promotes Aid for Working Families (The Caucus, New York Times)

First Lady Michelle Obama discussed her own struggles as a working mother on Thursday, and urged the nation’s corporations to help working parents balance the demands of work and family.

Swineflu and Workplace Flexibility: Families and Businesses Need “COGS” (The Religious Center Blog)

Workplace flexiblity can help.  There is already a major and growing need for workers to have more ability to work remotely and for businesses to develop flexible work arrangements.  The potential outbreak of flu in America punctuates the critical nature of workplace flexibility plans to allow workers to work from home, stay in touch with family members and be attached to work even if something terrible happens with the flu outbreak.

Mother’s Day Gift? More Time…(Why Can’t We…You Tell Me:  Policies that Work for Americans Who Work)

This Mother’s Day our policy makers can give all mothers, especially working moms, a lasting gift – policies that make balancing work and family easier.

More and more women are successfully balancing work and family – many because they have to, some because they want to.  In 1955 only 27 percent of mothers in the workforce had kids under the age of 18, today that number is over 70 percent.

Watch Closely For Burnout In Top Performers During Tough Times (Bait, Tackle, Ice, Advice, Beer)

Work life balance wasn’t attainable for most professionals a year ago and it sure doesn’t seem to be in reach now.

To Hell For a Burger (PR on the Run)

The First Lady is expected to speak at the Corporate Voices’ meeting this morning — in conjunction with the release of a major new research report involving workplace flexibility options for hourly employees.  The report looks at the benefits to individuals and working families and to businesses — and the value all around is considerable.

Job satisfaction – inadequate measures to protect workers (The Online Citizen)

What are their reasons for the low rate of job satisfaction?

The top factors are lack of appreciation by the employer (78.2%), the government is not caring (72.7%) and poor work life balance (72.7%). This is followed by long working hours (61.8%), wide wage gaps (60.0%) and unfairness in the workplace (60.0%).

Think Again on Work-Life Balance (gather.com)

That’s why there has been so much focus, in recent years, on willingly helping people achieve a “work-life balance.” The term implies that work is a negative activity that has no personal value other than a paycheck which is almost always less than what we want or need. We must balance our day-to-day experience in the workplace with activities that occur someplace else and do have enduring value. Furthermore, sadly, surveys after survey confirms that balance is exactly what a growing number of Americans are struggling to achieve in their lives.

From One Mother To Another: Women And Work In The Age of Michelle Obama (HYEB)

Women need family and career lives to work instead of just hang in the balance. According to some important research, the AFL-CIO says women now outnumber men in the occupational labor category, comprising 56.2% as of 2008.

Why Don’t We Have Better Maternity Leave Policies? (Pregnancy Buzz at CafeMom.com)

Did you know that only five countries in the world don’t offer some sort of paid parental leave, and the United States is one of them? (We’re joined by Australia, Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea.)

Can Stress Be as Deadly as Smoking? (Love and Blueberries)

His website is a great reference point for tips on work-life balance and working smarter, dealing with deadlines and learning to say ‘No.’

Work-life Balance:  Is there an answer? (Ginny Wilson-Peter’s Blog)

Work-life balance is an ongoing conversation we’re having in the MBA Leadership class I’m teaching right now. The students are working full-time and taking courses at nights and/or weekends. Ages range from mid twenties to mid forties, with the majority in their late twenties and thirties.

The Generational Puzzle (Austin Human Resource Management Association)

Four defined generational groups work together in almost every organization.  Each group has unique values, needs, perceptions, and work styles that have been shaped by their own world experiences. [including their different takes on workplace flexibility]

[Microsoft] New Employee Orientation ’93 vs. NEO ’09 (Suzi’s Political Observations & Experiences)

Work/Life Balance – ‘93 – they shared that “Microsoft will take 120% of you 150% of the time if you give it. Your job is to make sure that you give enough that you’re still excited to come in to work every day”.  ‘09 – it’s recognizing that it’ll never be a real “work/life balance”  – but it’s critical that employees take ownership for their  own work/life plan – knowing that the company recognizes the importance for it.

How the Swine flu scare can monkey with your work/life balance (NW Jobs Glob at the Seattle Times)

If you’re more concerned with what swine flu could mean for your bank account or job security than your health, you’re not alone.

For many employees, the federal directive that those with flu-like symptoms stay home from work and King County’s latest directive that flu-ish kids and teachers do the same — for an entire week — are easier said than done.

Witness this assortment of work/life dilemmas that the latest pandemic scare has brought to light:

Work Life Balance (Legal Careers Blog on About.com)

Long hours, high billing quotas, and unpredictable schedules are common complaints in the legal industry today. Recent layoffs are heaping even greater workloads upon legal professionals and many employees are calling for a better work life balance.

Job Sharing as an Alternative Work Option – The Delaware Law Employment Blog

Flexible work schedules come in every shape and size. Job sharing is just one type of work arrangement that offers employees flexibility and, in turn, the opportunity for an approved work-life balance. But what exactly is job sharing?

Time to Move from “If” Flex, to “Why” and “How” Flex...(Experts Blog, Fast Company)

The findings also point to an opportunity to broaden the business case for work life flexibility especially since 9 out of 10 people surveyed said they would accept a change or reduction in their schedule or take a pay cut to avoid layoffs. Those strategies are also traditional types of flexibility, but here they are initiated to deal with a business challenge that otherwise would mean job cuts.

Time Off For Military Families: An Emerging Case Study in a Time of War . . . And The Tipping Point for Future Laws Supporting Work-Life Balance? (Rutgers Law Record)

This country has seen a number of calls for the government to get involved in addressing the work-life balance needs of society. After explaining the law’s provisions and legislative history, this piece explores whether the new FMLA provisions have helped the work-life movement reach its Tipping Point.

Career Life Connection in the News and at Events

Career Life Connection Founder featured on Workplace Flexibility teleseminar

Flexibility Isn’t All About Mommies: Why Flex is a Cross-Generational and Gender-Neutral Issue

Advice Isn’t Always Good For You (MSNBC)

Leanne Chase, president of Career Life Connection, was excited about attending a SCORE meeting in Boston, but didn’t end up with much help. Despite that, she plans on attending again next week.

New Nanny Math (Forbes)

Leanne Chase, 40, mother of a 3-year-old and owner of a business, Career Life Connection,

Twitters Work-Life Balance Tips (BusinessWeek.com)

It takes many villages – 1 at home to help with family life, 1 at work to fill in as needed, 1 full of friends to keep you sane #worklife

Career Life Connection on You Tube

I’m not a fan of cubeland.  Hey, I’m not a fan of 9 to 5.  Any of you who read this blog know that already.  And my trouble with cubeland is that if you are on deadline and really need to concentrate it is nearly impossible.  And if you’re not on deadline and want an excuse not to concentrate they are abundant.

So as someone who has traditionally had jobs with lots of deadlines, and as a world champion procrastinator…cubeland is not for me.  Or is it?

I’ve been working on my own now for nearly a year.  I work where I can, but I often work from home.  I sit in my living room or my bedroom with my laptop.  TV is not a distraction…we killed cable long ago and I’m not much for daytime shows…so I should be hyper productive…right?

Well lately I’ve found myself procrastinating.  This is not unusual for me, but I’ve been a bit indecisive on my next business move and the deadlines I have are pretty far out, so the procrastination on two tasks has continued for well over 2 weeks now.  I’m still doing the things about my work I like but I’m definitely ignoring that which I don’t want to do.

So I’ve been happily distracted with having coffee and lunch meetings.  And in an effort to better use my time, I’ve tapped into my wireless vendor so that I don’t need to travel all the way back home before continuing work.  I get to work in lots of places, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Marriotts, etc.  So this week I took advantage of it.

And I found something fascinating…changing my lattitude, definitely changed my attitude.  At a crowded McDonald’s in Somerville, Ma I was more productive in 2 hours than I had been in days.  At a bustling Starbucks near South Station I cut through the clutter and accomplished some of the tasks I’ve been whining about.  So maybe it’s not cubeland that was my problem…maybe it was the routine…sameness…rut.

Perhaps I was more productive on my telecommuting days in my former job simply because it shook up how and where I worked.

One of the things about workplace flexibility is that it’s different for everyone.  And it will change as the company/employee changes.  My company needed me to change some things as an employee.  I was slacking.  My workplace flexibility unexpectedly allowed me to snap out of it…in places I never would have guessed would work.

Part of the goal of this blog and website is to forward the conversation on working more flexibly.  Through the discussions so far, I’ve found that Work Life Balance is not an ideal term, but there also is no consensus for an ideal term.  (I am enamored with “Alternate Workplace Strategies,” currently as well as workplace flex.)

We’ve also had great opinions on whether or not the issue of flexibility should still focus on mommies and whether or not it should be subject to legislation.

There is a series of free teleseminars happening next week on the subject of work-life/life-work.  The seminar features some very smart people who have been working and researching this issue.  My particular segment on May 11th will feature a speaker from the Sloan Network, the premiere online destination for information about work and family, to provide facts and figures as well as 3 real life examples (gen Y, gen X and Boomer).  The guest speakers are a nice mix of mommies and non-mommies.

I know when I started this adventure I had lots of questions.  I would have liked the experts to help me answer for myself.  Do you have any questions for them?  Either as an employer dealing with workers wanting more flex or as an employee looking to increase flex?  This issue is not one-sided and it is not cut and dried.  Each situation may be different.  Let’s talk about it next week…the good, the bad, the difficult, the seemingly insurmountable.

I look forward to your questions and to the answers from those who study the subject as well as those who live it everyday.

So fare Starbucks is winning…3 lucky commenters have requested a Starbucks card…1 local favorite was also picked.  You can get in on the coffee clatch by commenting here, or replying @leanneclc on twitter or posting on the Career Life Connection facebook fan page.  Thank you to all who answered last week’s question…winner to be announced later today.