Workplace Flexibility News for the Week Ending 5/8/09
May 10th, 2009 | by admin
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
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
