In the News

City offers flexible work schedules (Suffolk News Herald, Virginia)

The city of Suffolk plans to offer some flexible scheduling options to its employees beginning next month, the city’s human resources director said.  “We want to provide employees with what we call a work/life balance,” said Human Resources Director Ronnie Charles. “It helps them with child care, elder care, a number of different issues.”

Cisco Touts Telecommuting (InfomationWeek)

In a generally glowing report, the networking company found that telecommuting improved employee productivity, job satisfaction and work-life flexibility. The average Cisco employee spends two days telecommuting each week…While it’s implicit, Cisco didn’t state the obvious fact that increased workforce telecommuting would boost bandwidth usage, which in turn could stoke additional sales of networking equipment.[For Cisco]

Kelly Services Says Technology Drives How We Work and Where We Work (Ajax World Magazine)

The ability for employees to work anywhere, at any time is a motivating force behind improved employee engagement and a better balance between work and personal life. The findings are part of the Kelly Global Workforce Index, which obtained the views of approximately 100,000 people in 34 countries covering North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Work-Life Balance:  Ignore at Your Peril (About.com)

Today’s new article recognizes the most significant component of our June celebration of Professional Wellness Month: work-life balance. This topic has consumed my writing for several weeks because it is a major recruiting and retention factor for younger employees.

Microchip, Intel, CGCC win awards (East Valley Tribune, Phoenix)

The award, which is given to firms nationwide, recognizes them for offering excellent workplace flexibility policies.

Poll: Fewer fathers want to be stay-at-home dads (CNN.com)

Working dads, like so many employees in today’s workforce, are facing heavier workloads and longer hours as businesses struggle to do more with less. If you’re feeling pulled in opposing directions by your job and family, talk to your supervisor. Employers are more willing than ever to help employees strike a work/life balance that benefits both the individual and the company. Yet, nearly half of working fathers don’t take advantage of the flexible work arrangement they have available to them.

New-style dads: involved, cool and a little nervous (Courier-Journal, Louisville)

Those who study fatherhood say today’s dads are forging a new identity, as working women press for a more egalitarian home life, and workplace flexibility makes it possible for dads to have more time with the kids. Dads today aren’t the stuffy or clueless fathers portrayed on TV.

Metro Firms are Top Employers (New Brunswick Business Journal)

The top 25 were unveiled at a luncheon in Halifax with 11 new companies making the list. A driving force behind the recognitions were how the companies excelled in creating a healthy work-life balance for their employees, from letting workers bring their pets to the office on Fridays, to offering very flexible work schedules.

Bruce GM Tops Best Places To Work (Chronicle-Herald, Halifax)

A driving factor in this year’s roster is that most of the companies excel in creating a healthy work-life balance for their employees.

Exhausted, guilt-ridden, torn between career and children. No, not YOU, girls. Having it all is even harder for us men (Daily Mail, UK)

So can men have it all? The answer, for those of us who have to work for a living, is probably not. You’ve got to keep an eye on your BlackBerry while you’re at your child’s football match, and leave it on vibrate during a crucial meeting in case the babysitter calls. The notion of work-life balance appears as untractable as ever.   Of course, that makes us no different from the women who have been valiantly trying to keep the plates spinning for considerably longer. At long last we have equality  -  whether it’s the parity we’d all hoped for is another question.

Happy staff, happy days (Business Day – Australia)

The best staff will stick around if there are flexible conditions and they feel part of the decision-making process.

In the Blogs

Jumping Back on the Ladder: Talking With Harvard’s Christine Heenan (Huffinton Post Women and Work Blog)

“Our flex policy was fairly organic. When it was just me and my neighbor we traded off aspects of work and time with the kids. The way we ended up having so many moms working flexibly was that’s what we became known for. At any given time at the firm, there was at least 50% of the staff working flex schedules. It wasn’t always women- for example we had a male colleague whose new wife was beginning a brutal schedule as a resident in Boston, and he worked two days a week [from his home] in Boston.”

Are Dads the New Moms? (MediaPost Publications Blog)

This younger generation of dads is naturally more inclined to be involved with child-rearing than those before them. To many fathers today, sharing parenting responsibility is the norm rather than the exception. Working mothers expect it. Telecommuting and workplace flexibility have enabled it. And right now, the recession is making it almost inevitable.

Options, Not Obligations: Being a “Family First Entrepreneur” (Web Worker Daily)

Warnke says that Wal-Mart and Sam’s Warehouse Club Founder Sam Walton’s last words were, “I blew it.” How could one of the richest people in the world think this? According to the author, Walton wasn’t reflecting on his massive wealth and business successes, but rather on missing family time.

Interview with SHRM’s China Gorman: Workplace flexibility (Job Search Examiner)

On Friday I interviewed China Gorman, Chief Operating Officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), about her testimony in front of the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on June 11. China was called upon to discuss SHRM’s comprehensive plan for Workplace Flexibility.

Dads working longer hours and second jobs (Perfect Labor Storm 2.0)

Adecco Group North America offers the following tips for employers to reduce stress felt on their employees:   Focus on productivity over face time:  Employees should be evaluated by their work over simply the time they are in the office.  Allowing more flexible work arrangements will help working parents better manage their work-life balance.

Work. Life. Balance? (Meli-Mello 2009)

I’m starting to think I’m not great at this whole balance thing – it’s kind of all or nothing for me and I really need to work on that.

Three Lessons on Work/Life Balance, from a career-centric 22-year-old woman; or, how to choose the best sorority for you! (Ideaing’s Blog)

The silver lining here is that I’ve realized these work/life balance lessons at age 22 and not somewhere down the line.  Hopefully, when I’m older, I’ll still remember what a wise, kick-ass lady I was in my early twenties, and I’ll heed my own advice.

More Baby Time Costs Natasha Kaplinsky (UK News Anchor) £300,000 (BabyChums.com – UK)

A source said of Kaplinsky: “She knows that she will not keep her big salary and she is not worried about that. It’s about getting the right work-life balance.”

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

In the News

Survey reveals flexible schedules are employees’ most prized summer benefits (CCH HR Management)

Flexible schedules (38 percent) and leaving work early on Fridays (32 percent) are the most coveted summer benefits, according to workers polled by OfficeTeam.

Work-Life Balance Interview (MIT Technology Review)

Feld expressed equal skepticism towards those who say “here’s how you achieve work life balance” in a one-size fits all approach as towards those who claim “work-life balance is bullshit” and life is only about working hard. But the venture capitalist did draw a line in the sand by saying that balance is an important issue to consider at all ages, as many make the mistake in believing they will “get the balance on the back half of life” an find it shorter than they hoped (“you don’t know when the lights are going to go out”). With this frame of reference, Feld spent most of the hour discussing his personal journey towards better work-life balance over the past eight years.

Mothers’ Group To U.S. Senate: “We’re Trapped in the Last Century” (Public News Service)

The National Association of Mothers’ Centers this week told a bipartisan U.S. Senate working group that an outdated lack of flexibility in the workplace is punishing vast numbers of family caregivers. The group says these caregivers are victims of public policy and a corporate culture that was forged in the middle of last century, when fathers went to work and mothers cared for the kids at home.

The Business Case for Workplace Flexibility (Ezines)

If you’ve been intrigued by the idea of workplace flexibility (e.g., flexible schedules, working form different locations, flexible work days, results-only work environments), but aren’t sure it’d truly benefit your business, think again! Here are six benefits of workplace flexibility that will help you make the business case.

New daditude: Today’s fathers are hands-on, pressure off (USA Today)

Those who study fatherhood say today’s dads are forging a new identity, as working women press for a more egalitarian home life, and telecommuting and workplace flexibility make it possible for dads to have more time with the kids. Also, dads today are no longer the stuffy or clueless fathers portrayed on TV.

No. 1 Best Place to Work in IT: General Mills (Network World)

A quick scan of the company’s benefits package makes it clear that General Mills also believes strongly in helping workers achieve a healthy work/life balance. The list includes on-site, company-subsidized child care; an on-site fitness center offering free wellness and exercise classes; flexible working hours; and 15 days of vacation after one year of service, with an option to take two additional weeks unpaid.

The Increasing Call for Work-Life Balance (BusinessWeek)

Work-life balance is now the second most important driver of employee attraction and commitment, says CEB research

Being flexible Work arrangements can help with vacations, job satisfaction, recruiting (Winipeg Free Press – Canada)

This is where instituting flexible work arrangements can help. In fact, more and more workers are seeking flexibility and work/life balance as one of the key elements of their decision to take a new job. And, since those baby boomers are watching the retirement clock, flexible work arrangements might just be a strategy for retaining some of this talent in your organization.

Work-from-home program a hit in Calgary (Ottawa Citizen – Canada)

Myth: If I can’t see my employees in the office, then they aren’t really working.  Truth: Data consistently show that an employee who teleworks two days per week is 15 to 40 per cent more productive than his or her office counterparts.

A to Z of Gen Y (Financial Times – UK)

Flexible work is important to 89 per cent of Gen Ys and 87 per cent of boomers

You surely can’t expect people to work for free (The Independent – UK)

Walsh’s announcement is remarkable because of the number of people it affects, but employers all over the country are making similar requests of their staff. Accepting a pay freeze or giving up perks are the first steps. Then employees might be asked to work a four-day week (often “requesting” one day of unpaid leave a week to keep the lawyers happy). Later comes a call for volunteers to take extra holidays – unpaid – or even a mini sabbatical.  This works in some people’s favour. After the obsessive nose-to-the-grindstone ethic of the eighties and nineties, in the noughties, “work-life balance” has become the ideal to strive towards. Achieving it can be tricky, so many have welcomed the opportunity to take a breather for a few months.

In the Blogs

Employees have the last say (Tele-Tech Services)

“What a great honor that the staff here at KFR continues to value the workplace flexibility that we strive to provide our employees,” stated Co-President, Stephanie Fetchen. KFR has purposely and continuously worked to create a culture that is flexible and focused – a unique combination that provides an excellent environment for business and employees to achieve great things. Current flexibility programs at KFR include a flexible work schedule, pay increases for cross-training into other positions, the ability for employees to work from home – and pretty much a ‘dress-as-you-wish-code’ (uh, well there might be a couple of exceptions to that – but no one has pushed it). Also, team members who are new parents can bring their babies to work for the first six months.

Asking For Work, Life Balance In Your Next Job (Executive Careers – CNBC Blog)

You should absolutely take a stand for what you want. If work/ life balance is a deal-breaker for you, then you need to decide what exactly that means and pick your target companies accordingly. Do your research and networking to find out company culture and practice before you attach your hopes and dreams there. Negotiate for it when you get that offer. But don’t rely on a recruiter to do the work for you. It’s not their job, it cedes control to what others think work/ life means, and it’s presumptuous.

Hindsight is 20/20:  What advice would you give your younger self? (Write. Edit. Repeat)

I started working as a journalist when I was 16, when I landed my first paying job writing for the tiny, twice-weekly newspaper in my hometown. I didn’t really have a mentor, 20 years ago — or even 15 years ago, when I started working at The Boston Globe, and in retrospect, I could have used one — as a young woman, as a woman of color, as a journalist, as a professional. I could have used a primer on office politics (who couldn’t?), some guidance on setting goals, a reminder that work-life balance is important even when the only think on the “life” side of the equation is yourself.

HR as a Strategic Partner for Organizations of the Future (Coffee with Viktor)

Most progressive Best Employers have a corporate diversity policy that actively seeks to cross-pollinate people across cultures and business geographies, going far beyond merely transferring employees from one part of the world to another. These companies promote more women managers to management committees, accept and support work/life balance programs for both men and women, and at the very least, provide cross-functional exposure and movement. HR is the custodian of encouraging and fostering workplace diversity so you must encourage your organization to synergize diversity.

Fatherhood is Changing (The Father Life Blog)

Time Magazine just put out a cover story called “The Future of Work.” In it they delve into the fact that more and more of today’s workforce are demanding flexible hours, wanting to work from home, and basically getting the career and family balance that they want. And a lot of them are guys. That article wouldn’t have been on Time’s cover a few years ago. Fatherhood is changing.

Work-Life Balance Lawyer Blog Smackdown! (Litigation & Trial blog)

“Work-life balance” has never been about being lazy or overpaid — it was about matching what workers had to offer with what the market needed. Right, it seems a lot of firms “need” a lot less than they thought, something which many employees are more than happy to offer.

Finding your work/life balance (ER News)

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

Recently I was stopped in my tracks.  Someone I had been talking to about doing something – beat me to it.  What happened?  After all am I not a go getter? A doer? How could I possibly let this happen?  So I stewed a bit…and then I had other things to do that stole my attention away from my angst.

The next day I went to the Boston Social Media Breakfast, whose topic was all about how to make sense of all the information coming at us through social media at such a rapid pace.  It was interesting to hear the speakers but one in particular struck a cord.  Michael Durwin…I’ve been following him on twitter and I like what he has to say.  Even more so, I like the new website he is developing (gathr.me) and am interested to see how it will work.

And while I was pondering all the info flying through cyberspace that I’m sure I’m missing I had a revelation or even better, a sigh of relief:

1) It’s okay if you miss some of it.  If you’re a brand manager, you definitely want to know what people are saying about your brand and maybe your competitors but don’t sweat over everything.   You’re going to miss some things.

2) You don’t have to be first out of the gate.

3) Slower can be better – depending on your goals.

Here’s how I got there.  I have a lot going on in life…we all do.  If I focus on everything going on around me in Social Media I’ll never get out of the house and live my life – so some stuff is going to get missed.    There are plenty of tools to help me manage information…but bottom line…I’m not going to get to it all.  And I’d rather live my life than read about it online.

Also, I’m older now and slower.  I admit it.  I run slower, I take longer to get back to friends, I think things through more and I have more responsibilities day in and day out than I did in my 20’s.  It’s kind of nice…I think I prefer slower, actually and I don’t think I’m alone in that.

Now back to Michael Durwin…he’s got a great idea.  He’s talking about it, has put together a video promoting it and it will be launched….wait for it….in March 2010.  Not tomorrow, not next week not even in six months.  And the fact that he’s almost a year away hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the project, nor mine, nor many of the people in the room yesterday.

So the fact that a 20-something managed to reach a goal before I did is not a big deal.   I’m still figuring out the best way to accomplish my version of that same goal and I will, and I’ll do it well and if it’s a month from now…no biggie.  After all this isn’t rocket science…it’s workplace flexibility.

This weekend is father’s day and it’s nice to see Dads and workplace flexibility getting some ink already.  My question this week is how important is workplace flexibility to the Dads?  Please feel free to weigh in even if your kids are fully grown or if you haven’t decided whether or not you are going to have kids, yet.  Also, women feel free to weigh in for your husbands/partners/kids’ Dads.

As for my husband, I know having the flexibility to pursue a challenging career while also having his employer understand that time for our little one is extremely important to him is a must.  And not just for him but also for many of his colleagues.  They schedule playdates together, they compare notes about what’s going on with their little ones and they can’t imagine spending father’s day anywhere but fully engaged with the kids.   And unlike this father, they also understand that raising children is not something for their wives to do, but something for both parents to be part of – weekdays, weekends, all the time.

So if parenting is going to be the responsibility of all, then workplaces need to be more flexible for all.  Dads, do you agree?  Moms what do you think?  And how about all of you who aren’t parents…do you think parents get more flexibility at work or do you believe flex is available for all?

A gift card to your favorite coffee/iced coffee location will be given out to one of you who give your opinion here, or on CLC’s facebook page or on twitter by tweeting to @leanneclc.

Congratulations to my friend Stephanie for winning last week. She schooled me on the correct word to use for “coffee klatch” and commented on the weighty topic of donuts.  My thoughts are with her and her family this week as they continue to need workplace flexibility and lots of coffee while dealing with the health issues that arise as our parents age and we find ourselves in “The Middle Place.”

In the News

Work/Life balance issues (The City Wire)

Accenture surveyed 200 professionals in the U.S. and found that 79% said it is important to maintain a balance between their work and personal lives, yet 53% acknowledge that they work on vacation.

A better work/life balance is possible (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

In 2006, 53 percent of employees believed they had a good work/life balance. Only 30 percent thought so by the first quarter of 2009, according to research by the Corporate Executive Board. One reason might be that in today’s workplace companies and shareholders are expecting greater productivity with fewer employees

Whistle While You Work (Lawn & Landscape)

“Every employee must have certain needs met at the workplace such as safety, health, work/life balance and proper pay,” says Len Wysocki, a Connecticut-based psychologist, and representative of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program. “And all companies should strive for those goals.”  Wysocki says it’s not only the right thing to do, but a wise business decision, too.  “It’s not just about being a humanitarian, but about improving your business,” he explains. “If an employee feels they are offered a chance for development in the company and a safe and stable place to work where their needs are being met, they are more likely to be both physically and emotionally present at the job – and that makes them better employees.”

Workplace Flexibility versus Unpaid Leave (National Center for Policy Initiatives)

The FMLA was enacted with good intentions:  to help employees strike the right balance between their personal lives and careers without being penalized.  Unfortunately, it adds to the cost of employment, reduces the ability of employers and employees to make flexible workplace arrangements, and makes small businesses less competitive in the marketplace.

Anxious Japanese Are Working Themselves to Death (BusinessWeek)

For sure, the culture of hard work, even when it risks worker health, runs deep. One government survey found that nearly 90% of workers say they didn’t even know what the term work-life balance meant. And 4 out of 5 say they would cancel a date if asked by a superior to work overtime, according to a poll by the Japan Productivity Center for Social-Economic Development, a Tokyo think tank.

Situation Re-evaluation:  creating balance (Examiner)

Part of self-knowledge is the ability to achieve balance, and job-seekers rank work-life balance as second only to compensation, according to a 2009 Corporate Executive Board survey. The board surveyed over 50,000 global workers and results indicated employees who feel they have achieved work-life balance work, on average, 21 percent harder than employees who feel they have not achieved work-life balance.

Columnist Sue Shellenbarger answers readers’ questions (Wall Street Journal)

Fathers are taking more responsibility for child care, says a recent Families and Work Institute study of about 2,800 U.S. workers. The proportion of men reporting work-life conflict has risen sharply over the past three decades to 45%, surpassing the 39% of women who say they experience some or a lot of work-life conflict.

Economic Downturn Rattles Younger Workers While Older Employees Tough It Out, Boston College Study Finds (SOA World Magazine)

Looking across different generations of workers, researchers found employees of all ages reporting a drop in employee engagement, a measure of how invested and enthusiastic employees are in their work. While employees overall report declining engagement, older workers in this study appear to be weathering the economic storm better than their younger peers.

Seniors as Entrepreneurs: Their Time Has Come (Business Week)

A combination of economic volatility as well as the growing number of baby boomers with time, energy, and money on their hands has redefined the starting age for new startups and has led to a surge in senior citizen entrepreneurs.

Work-Life Balance a Challenge for Canadians (Canada.com)

Forty-four per cent of Canadians say their work has a negative impact on their family and interferes with the time they spend with their children, the report found, while 26 per cent of fathers and 33 per cent of mothers suffer excessive stress from lack of time.

Small Talk: Economy makes some company owners rethink vacation (Salt Lake Tribune)

How small business owners are grappling with whether they can afford to take a vacation this year or not.

How to keep working remotely during a transition (Examiner)

“I have been working remotely as an individual contributor for a company headquartered in San Jose for the past 5 years. The company recently announced that it will start to require all employee to work on-site a couple of days a week. Can they make me drive to San Jose to work? Help”

In the Blogs

SHRM is advocating a 21^st Century workplace flexibility policy that meets the needs of today’s employers and employees.  SHRM believes that employers should be encouraged to provide paid leave without new federal rules and regulations.  Under SHRM’s proposal, employers that offer a certain amount of paid leave voluntarily would be deemed to have met all federal, state and local leave requirements.  We believe this approach will lead to more paid leave for employees and more predictability for employers.

5 Barriers to Workplace Flexibility (Ezine Articles)

Here are five barriers to workplace flexibility that may be holding you and your organization back from fully embracing the flexibility you want and need.

Corporate Voices’ Study Demonstrates Benefits of Workplace Flexibility to Hourly Employees and Businesses (Sloan Work and Family Research Network blog)

When Michelle Obama attended the Corporate Voices for Working Families Annual Meeting in early May, she talked about the importance of work-life programs to working families and to the competitiveness of American business.
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.

Jumping into the Get-A-Life Fray (Open Source WorInProgress Blog)

Review of the “Get a Life” conference targeting the law profession.  Funny quote from blog:  Diversity: The majority of lawyers in attendance were bankruptcy lawyers. Seems as if the first step into getting a life is to not practice bankruptcy law.

Press Releases

Staffing Firm Hollister, Inc. and NEHRA Congratulate the 2009 Best Places to Work and Ask What it Takes to Create an Award-Winning Work Environment

“Hollister has chosen to sponsor the Best Places to Work event since its inception in 2003 because we recognize the value in creating an attractive work environment. Today’s job seekers are looking to work for companies with personality and that put employees first when it comes to daily office life,” said Kip Hollister, Founder and CEO of Hollister, Inc. “The companies that the BBJ recognizes annually understand that each employee is integral to their success and therefore an asset. They are committed to nurturing a stimulating, positive work environment, as a means to retain and attract quality employees.”

Munger, O’Melveny, and Oaktree to Open Child Care Center for Employees

MTO associate Kate Anderson developed the idea for the center as she struggled to find quality child care for her twin daughters post-maternity leave. MTO’s managing partners provided resources and encouragement to help bring the vision into fruition. MTO also sought like-minded firms to partner with, and invited O’Melveny and Oaktree to join them. The center will serve the three firms, with limited public availability.

Events

How to Eliminate Stress from Your Work – Free Teleclass (Wed, June 17th)

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

Or my alternate title “I can’t believe I’m writing this post.”  I saw the Charlie Rose interview.  I read the GMA story online and watched the clip.  I was enthralled. And then I started reading the book.  While I agree with much:

“most educated women don’t want to quit work altogether even if they could” (agreed)
“the situation is so dire that a majority of [women] will opt for less responsibility,” (agreed)
“[women] have more degrees than men do and there is an approaching talent shortage especially of educated workers,” (YES!)
“retention of valuable talent is key in tough economic times” (absolutely).

Some gave me pause:

“Women top every company’s most-wanted list” (really? – I’m not so sure)
“Businesses with more women in sr. positions make more money” (don’t think cause and effect has been proven on this one)
“we [women] have the power to demand that companies adapt to us” (hmmm…I don’t think twisting arms works very well)

And then it happened:

“I think it’s about women, even more about Gen X and Gen Y” (NO!)

So here goes:

For many the epiphany comes with motherhood -  I don’t think so, and I did a teleseminar and have many blog posts about this on my site.  Motherhood doesn’t explain Gen Y who don’t have kids yet, but both men and women in Gen Y demand more flex in their work life.  In fact they feel that work has to fit into their lives, not that their life should fit into work.  That’s a fundamental shift in thinking…and it’s not based on giving birth.  Also, how do you explain the redefinition of retirement for the boomers?  Their kids are grown up.  They don’t have to bend their work lives for kids lives but they are also changing the face of work.  And it’s all not all about economic pressure…they want to keep working.

Finally,  a recent study shows mothers make on average $11,000 less per year than their non-mom counterparts, so I’m not so sure we want that group leading the workplace revolution.  I know I am willing to make less money to get more flexibility…but that’s a personal choice, not one I want to advocate for all.

Women will lead the charge – Workplace Flexibility isn’t about women.  Read the facts and check out the real-life stories I’ve come across like Mike Owcarz who had a nice job at PCRecruiter.  Then his wife got a great opportunity in another part of the state.  He really liked his job, and he really likes his wife and so he had an issue.  He went to his employers, explained his situation, and while both parties were skeptical of how it would work, they all embarked on a flexible work arrangement so Mike’s wife could go pursue her opportunity.  That’s right – they’re Gen Y, and he changed his work situation for her…Boomer and Gen X women are amazed and very jealous! Which leads me to point #3…

Asking husbands to stay home isn’t a solution -  I think this is not a gender issue but a personality issue.  Take this  father for example.  While it doesn’t seem he was asked to stay home…he is…because it makes sense for he and his wife and their family.  The fact that there are blogs, and articles and comments on other blogs about stay-at-home dads tells me that is absolutely a solution people are turning to.

More flex at work lessens mommy “guilt” – Nope, I disagree.  Being honest with yourself and honest with each other about motherhood is the solution.  You are the only one who can let the guilt go…work can’t do that for you.  So let’s all be honest about it…it’s great that we get to go to work and don’t have time to play that 10th game of CandyLand.  Oprah recently had an episode about motherhood that was the most honest I’ve seen yet.  It got a little silly at times…but mom’s were honest with each other.  In “Womenomics” there is the anecdote about the Mom who has a baseball game to go to, but gets the plum project as she’s about to walk out the door and is racked with guilt about it.  My take is that she really wants the plum project and while she loves her kid she knows there will be another baseball game (or 500) but maybe not another project like this.  Let’s be honest that’s the problem.  We want the project.   So skip the baseball game…why not?  I’m not saying skip them all or skip the important ones, I’m saying my parents didn’t come to all my athletic events and it wasn’t that big of deal.  So let go of the guilt, it’s all within your control.

We can have it all – I agree that we can…I just don’t think parents (note, I didn’t say “women”) can have it all, all at once.  Again I think if we’re honest with ourselves we would love to be working at the same clip we did when we were younger.  Learning and growing constantly with new challenges coming to us constantly.  As a mom I simply couldn’t handle that right now…as much as I’d like to, I’d fail miserably as the mom I want to be while working at that pace.  As my child grows and changes so will the amount of professional responsibility I can take on. I look forward to all those stages yet to come!

There are no “mommy wars” – I definitely disagree on this one.  I don’t like them, I try not to participate in them, I think everyone’s choice is their own and we should celebrate the fact that we have a choice but there is a bit of a schism between stay-at-home moms and working moms.   I’m still mad at myself for letting the words “well, then again, you do work” get to me at my child’s last birthday.  You see apparently we now have to celebrate our kids birthdays multiple times instead of once like when I was a kid.  I was going to forgo the make-your-kid’s-birthday-a-big-deal-at-pre-school until another Mom I was talking to said that phrase.  I can’t believe I let it get to me and let down my guard enough to do the silly pre-school cupcake thing.  (Oh and when the cupcakes were store-bought…I heard that phrase, yet again!) So the mommy wars do exist…we just need to opt out of them if we can.

I’m glad I bought the book and I’m glad I read it.  There is a lot of great information there to use to forward the revolution for workplace flexibility.  And I certainly encourage everyone (men & women) to read it and see what they think.  But I also think changing Corporate America is a tall order…and it can’t be done by just 50.7% of the population.  It needs to be an “all hands on deck” sort of effort with people understanding each others’ needs and working together.

In the News

No Business is Safe While the Legislature is in Session (Kitsap Penninsula Business Journal)

On a federal level, there are many bills being introduced that require paid family leave. The breadth of these bills and the cost to business is staggering. On a positive note, the Society of Human Resource Management, in collaboration with other interested stakeholders, has introduced the 21st Century Workplace Flexibility Policy. This voluntary policy advocates employers implement a leave policy built on five main principles, which would provide a safe harbor for employers who participate.

Pushed to the Brink (Success Magazine)

These business owners fell out of whack in one or more areas and paid the price. But through vigilant, conscious living, they reinvented themselves and reconnected with what matters.

The Case for Womenomics (Washington Post)

Workers who put a value on their time don’t have to work 60-hour workweeks, Shipman says. “It’s not only a male-female issue. Younger workers — Gen X and Gen Y — all want a much broader life. They want more time. They’re not willing to be slaves to the corporate ladder. They value things outside of work and see themselves as more balanced, family-oriented human beings.

Womenomics: Can Women Blend Work and Family Better with Flextime? (ABC News)

Womenomics is the notion that women can have great power in the workplace, and that their desire to work differently is finally bringing down the old order and creating huge new opportunities based on newer, more flexible rules.

KPMG recognised amongst top employers for working parents and carers (Consultant-News.com)

KPMG has been named on Working Families’ first ever list of employers that do most to support their working parents and carers today. KPMG is the only Big Four firm to be named in ‘Top Employers for Working Families’ list.

Get A Life:  Marley and Life (Federal Computer Weekly)

Private companies striving to retain and recruit valuable employees recognize the need for work life balance. The key benefits are flexible hours and flexible workplaces such as telework.  Government is catching on. Legislative proposals being considered by the Congress this week would provide paid parental leave for birth or adoption of babies. Another would expand telework, a benefit that the Office of Personnel Management is also promoting.

Investing In Balance (Business Report)

“In the future, I think we’ll see even more family-friendly policies at all companies,” says Donna Bodin, the hospital’s vice president of employee services. “Employers are realizing that employees need more work-life balance to be the most productive.”

A place for kids (Akron Beacon Journal)

InfoCision opens new child-care facility to retain its valuable employees

For InfoCision, which is the second-largest privately held teleservices firm in the country, the turnover meant looking for new talent and the expenses of training the new person.  But a new child-care facility, InfoKids Early Learning Center, which opened two weeks ago, will help the company retain and recruit mothers and fathers seeking a work-life balance, Albright said.

Job Sharing That Works (The Lawyers’ Weekly)

It’s mind-boggling, how a young mother can work full-time in the demanding legal profession. But Jessica Yeung and Anne Lau have managed to find an ideal work-life balance. The two lawyers at the Vancouver office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) share everything except their name-plates and in-trays: They have the same assistant, computer monitor and desk. And their clients are happy with the set-up as they are billed for the price of one lawyer, but have access almost 24/7.

She works too hard for the money (Salon.com)

The authors of “Womenomics” challenge professional women to say no to overly demanding jobs — even in a recession.

In their book, the news veterans call for women to say no to 60-plus-hour work weeks and overly demanding jobs that yank them away from their families. Instead, they urge working women to use their clout in the workplace to demand fewer hours at the office, turn down non-family-friendly assignments, and take control of their time by working from home more, checking e-mail less and avoiding meetings whenever possible.

Work/Life Balance … I’m Working on It (The CPA Technology Advisor)

Is it Work/Life balance or Life/Work balance? I guess that’s the question. Work is definitely a big part of my life, but I heard once that we should engage in our work in order to support our life, family and the causes that are important to us.

Older employees valued in fast-paced IT world (Computer World – New Zealand)

The engineer’s retirement “was going to leave a significant gap, because he had a lot of valuable knowledge that could not easily be replaced”.  The answer was an arrangement whereby he is available to IBM on a casual basis when required.  “There are certain times of the year when he isn’t available, due to his new lifestyle, but the rest of the time we can continue to tap his unique skills and knowledge by being able to offer him the flexibility he really wants”, Hellyer says.

In the Blogs

Is clocking out by 5 p.m. back in style? (NW Jobs Blog – Seattle Times)

According to a recent Forbes piece by Hannah Seligson, some burned-out executives have gone from considering 2 a.m. “prime e-mailing time” and vacations “a different setting in which to work” to reclaiming the 8-hour workday.

Audit Report Says “Could Do Better” (Safety At Work Blog)

The white collar public service, in particular, has a high incidence of stress-related claims.  The reality of the hazard has been acknowledged through preventative guidance notes from the OHS regulators and the general growth in the work/life balance movement.  Yet in 2009, the workers’ compensation agents  are criticised for giving this hazard insufficient attention.

Flex Work for Whom? (Economix, NY Times blog)

While the report is chock full of good ideas, it doesn’t directly acknowledge that what some workers call “flexibility”, others might call “vulnerability to pay cuts.”

Goodbye Economy, Hello Balance (Law.com)

It may seem counterintuitive, but flexibility and balance-oriented policies are tools that can help firms survive the conflagration. “Eat what you kill” is traditionally associated with the most cutthroat, ­internally competitive firms. A compensation system where one’s career survival depends directly and constantly on the dollars one brings in the door has been seen–historically, anyway–as inflexible. But “eat what you kill” and “work/life balance” (with its “work less, make less” compensation system) share one goal: to pay lawyers only for work that enhances the bottom line. As a result, the two systems can live together very well.?? Layoffs cost firms, both financially (the lost investment in laid-off lawyers, and the premium often paid in ramping back up) and in terms of reputation (from “They’re going under” to “Remember what they did to associates back in ‘09?”). When those costs are taken into account, scaling back lawyer hours starts to look better and better.

Press Releases

WorkSmart Wins 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Workplace Flexibility

WorkSmart, a leading provider of Information Technology services and solutions in North Carolina, has announced that the company was selected as a winner of the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for the greater Durham area.

Hughes Named One of Maryland’s Excellent Places to Work

For the ninth consecutive year, Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, has been named one of Maryland’s excellent places to work. The company was recently awarded the ‘Workplace Excellence’ Seal of Approval and the ‘Wellness Trailblazer’ award from the Alliance for Workplace Excellence.

Durham’s Partnership for Children wins Sloan Award

Durham’s Partnership for Children, a Smart Start Initiative, announced Monday, that the organization was named a winner of the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility distinguishing the early childhood organization as a leading practitioner of workplace flexibility in Durham and across the nation.

Events

Flexible Work Options: How To Maximize The Benefits And Overcome The Challenges (June 29 2-3:15p) Audio Conference

In tough economic times, flexible work options can be quite compelling for both short-term and long-term success, especially as companies embrace work that’s more results-based and less rooted in face-time.

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

I’ve had a pretty heavy week and I just didn’t have a serious question in me this week.  So did you partake in National Donut Day on Friday? And if so, which chain or non-chain did you choose?  And finally did you know bringing donuts to an interview at one company may be a deal breaker?

I did not partake.  I have nothing against donuts I was just busy with other things.  I’ve celebrated my love of donuts on many days in the past and will again in the future.  I don’t need a special day to do so…I’m a fan from way back…in moderation of course.  Also for the record, I’m a Dunkin’ Donuts gal…maybe it’s because my home town is also the company’s HQ and where Dunkin’ Donuts University is – really!

It also appears that I would not have actually been able to partake in any promotion for that day as well, as I don’t drink coffee – cold caffeine is my drug of choice.  So I’ll be happy to head to Dunkin’ Donuts and fork over my .89 for a chocolate glazed  (or maybe even a chocolate coconut, or if I’m feeling truly indulgent a chocolate butternut) next week.

Also, “thank you” is inadequate for all the wonderful feedback and wishes regarding my last post.  I was resistant to starting this blog and I was wrong in so many ways…it is clearly one of the best things I have done professionally and personally.  While it is a lot of work what I get back is so very worth it.

Matt Grawitch – you win coffee again for your response to last week’s question – congrats on 2 weeks in a row…your super-sized Starbucks card is finally in the mail.

If you’d like to give your opinion on donuts, you can answer here, or on CLC’s facebook page or on twitter by sending a message to @leanneclc.

One participant will be chosen at random to win a coffee gift card for KrispyKreme or Dunkin’ Donuts or your favorite donut place provided it sells gift cards online or over the phone. Or if you’d like to save the calories and get coffee, Starbucks cards are easy to come by.

Enjoy the donuts and the conversation!

I am lucky enough to have a great group of friends and family who read this blog to support me.  So if they read a November post they learned that my daughter had a heart murmur and were understandably concerned (I have quite a family history with heart disease.)  That was a tough couple of days…and then we had more in January.

You see pre-schoolers aren’t the most cooperative patients sometimes.  They don’t really like to sit still and for some tests you can’t be crying…well…she wouldn’t stop crying.  So in January we spent lots of time in the Cardiac wing of Boston’s Children’s Hospital (3 separate 1/2 day appts in all) to try to get an echocardiogram to find out what was up…finally we knocked her out and got some pictures.  Then there was the 2nd opinion appointment which thankfully was in the same hospital as the doctor’s office I needed to drop off the pictures for our 3rd and final opinion.  (Did I mention my scary family history with heart disease?)

Now it is June and we spent 1/2 day yesterday meeting all the great people who are currently fixing my daughter’s heart as I write…it will be another long day.   Today is the procedure followed by a lot of laying around without moving…again not my little one’s forte so I hope they have some sedatives standing by…for both of us!  And tomorrow we’ll need to keep her fairly calm as well…clearly another day where work productivity will suffer.

What is my point other than a pity party or a parental pat on the back? Actually, it’s neither, it’s to thank my lucky stars that I make my own hours, am accountable to me only and can spend my time being exactly where I need to be throughout this process.   I cannot imagine how people who do not have understanding workplaces or paid sick time could go through something like this.   And while this is an incredibly major event in our lives, it is a minor procedure compared to some of the other comings and goings in this hospital today.

I also thank my lucky stars for my husband and his career choice.  He is a financial consultant and because of some recent news stories, it may surprise you to know that he has an amazingly flexible work life.  Yes, when he is needed for the client he is on and works upwards of 70 hours/week, often in a different city than the one we live in.  But there are also weeks when he is between clients and while he may have a meeting or two, or some work to do…he is home, at the playground, on a date with me, or hanging out with friends just enjoying his free time.  And he has not missed 1 minute of the tests, doctor appointments, or hospital meetings during this whole process.

Of course, our child’s welfare is a priority in our lives…that is not a surprise…the surprise is that we do not feel pressured by our work lives to do anything other than be right here, right now as needed with no repercussions.  Don’t get me wrong…our life has tradeoffs – but that’s why I really don’t like using the term “work life balance.”  Because it isn’t about balancing…it’s about being able to manage our commitments and working in a supportive environment that trusts we’ll know how to choose what is needed of us…both personally and professionally.

——————————————————————————————————-

Now for all of you friends and family…we just saw the Doctor and heard “It went fine.”  She’s sleeping it off and will be out for us to make a fuss over her very soon.

What’s next? Next Sunday my family and I will be participating in the 7th Annual Harbor Walk/Run in memory of my father and as thanks to the amazing heart transplant team that made it possible for him to meet his granddaughter.

And then? In about a month we’ll have at least one more 1/2 day appointment for an echocardiogram check up.   Who knows if it will take as many tries to get the test done this time.   If it does…we’ll be there every step of the way…with the encouragement of our employers.

In the News

Shodor Recognized as a Workplace of Excellence (HPC Wire)

Shodor — a nonprofit serving students and educators nationwide — was one of six greater Durham area employers recognized as winners of the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. This is the third year Shodor has won the honor.

On the Home Front, a Twist of Candor (New York Times)

But since she arrived in the White House four months ago, she has told People magazine that her marriage isn’t perfect. She has told young women that she wonders whether she is doing what’s best for her children as she balances her work and motherhood.

Financial Careers Come at a Cost to Families (New York Times)

On almost every aspect of work-life balance, finance and consulting look pretty bad. People who take time off in those fields suffer large penalties, both in terms of money and career opportunities, once they return to full-time work. And part-time jobs are hard to come by, which often forces people to make a choice between working a 70-hour week and leaving a job entirely.

Valerie Jarrett’s Inside Take on First Lady Michelle Obama (US News)

But Michelle’s bright, she’s a quick study, and she had a clear idea of what her priorities would be in terms of the family and the kinds of issues that she was going to be involved in: work-life balance, military spouses, national service, nutrition and health, and the garden that she’s planted. These are all priorities that she’s had for a long time.

From the Mouths of Young CPAs (Accounting Tomorrow)

We were surprised that work-life balance was ranked as low as fifth (tied with benefits).  It was ranked No. 1 last year. CPA firm partners commonly believe that work-life balance is as important as anything to the staff. When we probed this issue, the staff shared with us that, due to the recession, they weren’t as concerned about work-life balance as much as in the past. At this point, the staff were glad they had good jobs; many of their friends are unemployed.

Get a Life: Not very family-friendly (Federal Computer Week)

The new director of the Office of Personnel Management has his work cut out for him if he is as family friendly as his previous experience suggests. The 2009 Best Places to Work survey showed that employees gave agencies the highest scores for using their skills well and the lowest scores for having a family-friendly culture.

Report on flexible work arrangements sets the stage for national conversation, calls on federal government to lead by example (Aspen Publishers)

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, released a new report outlining the most comprehensive set of policy solutions to expand Americans’ access to flexible work arrangements (FWAs) such as compressed workweeks, predictable schedules, and telework.

Poor economy makes physicians less inclined to leave a practice (American Medical News)

An AMGA survey finds turnover has declined, and retirement is being delayed. But work-life balance remains a big issue.

Perfectionism Hits Working Women (BBC News – UK)

A study of 288 adults found that a higher proportion of women felt they did not meet their own high standards with family and workplace commitments.  Such perfectionism can have a negative effect on the work-life balance, the authors said.

Employees praise advantages of working at home to family life (Wales News – UK)

WALES has the highest percentage of employees working from home, research published today has revealed. A study of more than 4,000 people provides a unique snapshot into the lives of British workers.  It reflects a growing commitment to flexible shifts as nearly a third – 29% – of people working in Wales said that they operate from remote offices at home.

Working from home will leave you isolated, bizarrely dressed and a little bit crazy (Times Newspapers – UK)

Comic take on the downsides of working from home including dehydration…

Female executives battle on beneath glass ceiling (Singapore Enquirer)

Respondents cited the male-oriented nature of management and a shift in priorities towards attaining a better work-life balance as reasons for their pessimism about advancement opportunities.

In the Blogs

Women Redefining the Workplace (Corporate Voices for Working Families blog)

This article in BusinessWeek discusses how women are looking for creative and more manageable work schedules so they may tend to family needs and have better work/life balance. In “Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success” due out June 2, the two female authors cite studies that show the increasing impact of professional women on companies’ bottom lines and gives practical advice on how to create a more sane work life.

Report Highlights Benefits of Flexible Work Arrangements (JobsintheMoney’s CareerWire)

“…We believe the current crisis underscores the need for, and value of, flexible work arrangements,” writes the National Advisory Commission on Workplace Flexibility. “Flexible work arrangements give workers a fair chance to juggle the competing demands of personal life and work successfully, particularly during the time when older workers need to work longer to secure retirement and women’s labor force participation is on the rise.

The Best Career for Work-Life Balance (The Stash)

Finance, on this score, is worse than law and worse than academia. It is far worse than medicine, which emerges from the research as the highly paid profession with the most flexibility.

Flexible Work Public Policy Platform (MomsRising.org blog)

On May 13, Workplace Flexibility 2010, an organization at Georgetown University, released its summary report: Public Policy Platform on Flexible Work Arrangements.

Five Ways Millenials Can Prepare to Change the Legal Industry (Fearfully Optimistic)

We know that the lockstep compensation model is reeling. It’s possible that the up-or-out model is going to be under attack next. That means that there will be opportunities to choose between different types of work-life balance.

Press Releases

Work-Life Benefits Key to Employee Satisfaction, Retention During Credit Crunch

Many employees are feeling the pressure to work harder than ever in an effort to please managers and ensure job security. But as workplace anxieties rise and employees have less time for family and personal commitments, benefits that promote work-life balance play an increasingly important role in morale, productivity and ultimately the company’s bottom line.

Primitive Logic Ranked 2nd in The Business Times “Best Places to Work”

Primitive Logic, the San Francisco based employee owned, premier business consulting and technology services firm, was ranked 2nd in The San Francisco Business Times “Best Places to Work in the Bay Area” survey; in which employees complete an anonymous survey to qualify for the nomination.

5th Annual ‘Leave the Office Earlier Day’ Asks Employers to Cut Workers Some Slack; Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports U.S. Worker Productivity Increasing as Layoffs Continue to Climb

As workers across the nation make plans to participate in the fifth annual Leave the Office Earlier Day, June 2, which is listed in Chase’s Calendar of Events, many of them are feeling the added stress of increasingly heavy workloads and responsibilities because of the layoff-laden recession.

Resources

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