Comments on: How Important is Workplace Flexibility to Dads? http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/06/17/how-important-is-workplace-flexibility-to-dads/ The quest for flexibility in a rigid world Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:54:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt Grawitch http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/06/17/how-important-is-workplace-flexibility-to-dads/#comment-477 Matt Grawitch Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:51:51 +0000 http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/?p=546#comment-477 I think workplace flexibility is great, but I also think too many people want flexibility without considering the downsides of flexibility. I have terrific flexibility. I generally take my kids to school, I can work from home, and as long as nothing is going on, I can leave when I need to leave. However, I work very much in a results-focused environment (which means there are times when I seem to work a bit too much), and the pay is not too great. But, for me, the flexibility is much more important than the pay and I do well in the results-focused environment. Yet, in this "I want it all" world, a lot of people say they want flexibility, but they don't want to exercise discipline when working from home, they don't want to lose the money that comes with shortened work weeks, and they don't want the hassle of having to demonstrate results. If you fall into any one of these categories, then that decreases your ability to function well in a flexible environment. I think in a perfect world, moms and dads would both work within a flexible environment of some sort (and I think nearly all occupations could provide some flexibility). However, we also have to make a conscious decision to live with the upsides of flexibility as well as the downsides. Everything comes with a downside (generally). Well, those are my two cents for this week. I think workplace flexibility is great, but I also think too many people want flexibility without considering the downsides of flexibility. I have terrific flexibility. I generally take my kids to school, I can work from home, and as long as nothing is going on, I can leave when I need to leave. However, I work very much in a results-focused environment (which means there are times when I seem to work a bit too much), and the pay is not too great. But, for me, the flexibility is much more important than the pay and I do well in the results-focused environment.

Yet, in this “I want it all” world, a lot of people say they want flexibility, but they don’t want to exercise discipline when working from home, they don’t want to lose the money that comes with shortened work weeks, and they don’t want the hassle of having to demonstrate results. If you fall into any one of these categories, then that decreases your ability to function well in a flexible environment.

I think in a perfect world, moms and dads would both work within a flexible environment of some sort (and I think nearly all occupations could provide some flexibility). However, we also have to make a conscious decision to live with the upsides of flexibility as well as the downsides. Everything comes with a downside (generally).

Well, those are my two cents for this week.

]]> By: Laurence Sax http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/06/17/how-important-is-workplace-flexibility-to-dads/#comment-466 Laurence Sax Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:59:00 +0000 http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/?p=546#comment-466 Flexibility in the work place adds a great deal to the quality of both my personal and professional lives. Professionally the constant change provides stimulation and intellectual challenge. In my personal life, a flexible workplace permits me to be a better husband and father. I highly value being able to accommodate my wife's business (and personal) travels, attending my child's doctor appointments, being able to take my daughter to school once in a while, etc. I think a flexible work life helps make all of us feel a little more balanced. Flexibility in the work place adds a great deal to the quality of both my personal and professional lives. Professionally the constant change provides stimulation and intellectual challenge. In my personal life, a flexible workplace permits me to be a better husband and father. I highly value being able to accommodate my wife’s business (and personal) travels, attending my child’s doctor appointments, being able to take my daughter to school once in a while, etc. I think a flexible work life helps make all of us feel a little more balanced.

]]> By: Ben Martin, TheFatherLife.com http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/06/17/how-important-is-workplace-flexibility-to-dads/#comment-448 Ben Martin, TheFatherLife.com Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:45:42 +0000 http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/?p=546#comment-448 Thanks for the link! Thanks for the link!

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