Workplace Flexibility in the News for the Week Ending May 20, 2009

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The National Association of Mothers’ Centers this week told a bipartisan U.S. Senate working group that an outdated lack of flexibility in the workplace is punishing vast numbers of family caregivers.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