I talk a lot about understanding when work takes precedence vs. when other interests take precedence and having the flexibility to be able to move between them.  But what about the conviction? When does something other than a great work opportunity take precedence?

In the intro to the book “Womenomics” there is the scenario of going to your kid’s baseball game vs. a plum assignment.  For me that’s a no-brainer…plum assignment (provided of course it’s not a “championship” game of some sort).  But what about an unbelievable career opportunity and a personal invitation that you hold very dear?  What to do then?  Penelope Trunk writes about just that in her most recent Brazen Careerist blog post.   I love that for a while she was living in the fantasy world of being able to do both…I’ve certainly been there.

I also think this kind of decision-making  and brazen choice is what employers need to pay attention to.  We value our careers, but we also value many other aspects of life and Gen X and Gen Y are more than willing to say “no” or “your rules don’t work for me.” And I think employers who stick to their out-dated rules will find that they can’t hire the kind of talent they need to achieve great results.

How about you..what tough “choices” have you made in career vs. personal life?   How do you feel about those choices now?  Would love to hear from the men on this one…you all make choices regularly, too.

As an entrepreneur you have your good days and your bad.  On a good day your website ranks high on page 2 when you search  “key”words…on bad days it has disappeared from the Google rankings altogether – or at least past the point where you have the patience to keep looking – say page 6.

I feel it’s the same way for work/life flexibility.  For instance one day you read about how the recession is crushing balance for lawyers, an industry that had been ahead on this issue prior to the downturn.  Then another you see a report that says, in fact, workplaces are increasing flexibility during these economic times.

Today is a good day.  The federal government has been talking about work/life throughout the spring and had some very interesting news today about 4 federal agencies working together on work/life programs and to create a campus center focused on work/life issues for over 6,000 employees.  Workforce Management magazine believes the work being done here may have more far-reaching results for work/life than just for federal employees and I tend to agree.  I’m not sure what they will be yet, but am glad it’s being worked on.

Another bit of news today also made me smile.  I confess when I began this website, blog and journey I had in mind people like myself who worked in an office environment in a cubicle from 9 to 5 (or more).  I wasn’t thinking of the plight of those in retail, manufacturing or non-exempt workers on the whole.  A non-exempt worker is one who is paid hourly at least at minimum wage and gets paid overtime for more than 40 hours of work.

Just because you work in a non-exempt position doesn’t mean you don’t need to go to the doctor, see your kid’s school play, further your education, or help out your parents.  So I am happy to see that flexibilty for this sector is more prevalent than previously believed.   And that there have been 2 studies issued since May about this portion of the workforce.

It’s a good day for workplace flexibility…let others know…goodness knows if it’s a bad news day that information travels fast!  The Jack Welch brouhaha for instance.  And if you are afraid you’ve missed some news in this sector…check out the resources section on www.careerlifeconnection.com.  We are updating them as fast as we can for news, research reports, and events in  work/life.

In the News

Work-life ‘balance’ laid bare (Miami Herald)

These days, which partner schedules the plumber or attends the parent-teacher conference may have less to do with gender than with job flexibility.  But a truism remains: the more time devoted to your job, the less time you have for the spouse and kids.  This isn’t a gender issue; it’s a mathematical equation. No matter how you dice and slice the day, it has only so many hours.

Employers Maintain Workplace Flexibility During Recession (Hr.blr.com)

A vast majority of employers are either maintaining the workplace flexibility options they offer (81%) or increasing them (13%), according to a report by the Families and Work Institute. Only 6 percent said they have reduced such options.

Study: Flexibility Programs Gain Ground in Hard Times (Workforce Management)

Among employers with more than 1,000 workers, there has been a 25 percent increase in flexibility programs, a survey finds. The study was the centerpiece of a Thursday, July 23, hearing of the congressional Joint Economic Committee.

Nine Rochester area businesses honored for workplace flexibility (KTTC.com)

Nine area businesses are being honored for their efforts to create workplace flexibility by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce.

Families and Work Institute Releases Findings on Impact of Recession on Employers (Sun Herald)

How is the economic downturn affecting the American workplace? A new study released today by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) finds that in the face of recession, and at a time of cost cutting, the overwhelming majority of employers (94%) are maintaining or increasing their workplace flexibility programs. In fact a quarter of the employers (26%) specifically used flexible workplace options — from reduced work weeks to telecommuting — to minimize the need for layoffs.

69% employers eliminating salary increases to beat downturn :FWI study (The Business Age)

“It is hardly surprising that our survey finds that 77% of employers are cutting and controlling labor and operational costs during the recession,” said Ellen Galinsky, co-founder and president of FWI. “What is surprising is that that between 34% to 43% of employers are actively helping employees weather the recession, that employers are largely retaining or increasing workplace flexibility as way to manage through a difficult economic environment, and that 57% of employers are giving employees some or a lot of input about the flexibility they use.”

Federal Government recognizes the importance of work life balance for federal employees (Examiner.com)

To do this, Mr. Berry indicated that the Federal Government needed to assist  federal employees in managing their work life balance.  Some of the policies that need improvement are:

• Working environments
• Flexible work schedules
• Respecting and understanding the personal demands that federal employees juggle
• Assisting federal employees with living healthy lifestyles

Is Job Sharing Right for You? (About.com)

In its best form, job sharing is much more than splitting a workweek between two employees. Imagine two minds working as one unit, seamlessly passing the job responsibilities back and forth. The person who’s not on duty can truly relax and enjoy her family, knowing that the job-share partner has it all under control.

Work-life balance discussion popular on Web (Smartbrief)

How people, and especially women, make choices to try to balance their work and home lives is the subject of a lot of media discussion and has become an “official cultural preoccupation.” Many Web sites and blogs have sprung up in recent years dedicated to recording and discussing the juggling of day-to-day work and home life.

Boulder explores work weeks of four 10-hour days (DailyCamera)

Working fewer, longer days each week could mean big savings for Boulder’s energy bills, and happier workers, according to some city employees advocating for such a change.

In the Blogs

Recession makes work/life flexibility possible for working moms (Examiner.com)

But getting a flexible work schedule isn’t as easy as popping into your boss’ office with the request. You’ve got to do your homework and it begins by following these three steps:

Walking the Talk (Working World Cafe)

Nice post from inside a company on workplace flexibility and why they value it

Ozzie and Harriet Work Outside Home: Nation Needs New Laws to Balance Work and Family (Labor Union Blog)

A hearing by the Joint Economic Committee on “Balancing Work and Family in the Recession” examined the current recession’s impact on trends in the workplace that help employees meet the dual commitments of work and family life.

Are You a Best Company for Hourly Workers? (WorldatWork)

“Best Companies For Hourly Workers Survey,” which went live on July 17 (the application period ends October 16). The application measures both the availability and usage of programs that support hourly workers and, to be eligible to apply, companies must have at least 500 employees in the US and 50% of their US employee base must be nonexempt. If you do apply and don’t make the list, you will receive feedback showing how you compared to all other applicants and, if you do make the list, you will be featured in the May 2010 issue of Working Mother magazine, and on workingmother.com.

Communication Breakdown? (BNET – Australia)

Includes an interesting grid on the different generations that shows the differences on their feelings on work and life.

5 Family Friendly Careers (Breaking the Chains that Bind)

If your company doesn’t offer a flexible or alternative schedule to help you work around your family commitments, maybe it’s time to think about working in a family-friendly career. Here are five to consider:

No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance (Science – Career Blog)

This issue is particularly meaningful to scientists, who find themselves wanting to start families at the same time in their careers (graduate school, postdoc, or early academic or professional post) when they are expected to have high research output. Juggling these demands is a continuing interest on Science Careers. We most recently looked at how balancing career and family affects women physician-scientist trainees.

Does Blogging Ease Work Life Worries? (BNET, UK)

But these blogs say a lot about the workplace and the working world. It’s telling that one of the ongoing obsessions of the modern-day blogger is work-life balance — whether juggling work and home life is damaging to your job, or family, or both.

A Bigger Company Doesn’t Guarantee a Better Working Experience (WorkLife Nation)

Instead, she’ll focus her job hunt on companies better known for treating their employees well  - while keeping an eye on the bottom line. Signature components to what some define as a “Great Workplace.”  She’s onto something according to the Q2 Workplace Layoffs and Employment study byGreatPlaceJobs.

Is There Such Thing as Work-Life Balance for Lawyers? (Slaw)

Just as Allison Wolf shoots some holes in the myth of work-life balance in her recent Slaw column “The Tyranny of Performance,” the Canadian Bar Association has launched a new Work-Life Balance Resource Centre in the CBA PracticeLink section of their website.

Work or Life Mr. Welch Says, “Choose” (Stroller Derby)

Once upon a time “work-life balance” meant men “worked” and women took care of “life”–including their husband’s “lives”–especially, of course, their children.  Now things are different.  (Actually, things were always different for most everyone but the middle class and higher, but this fairy tale is about the middle class.)  And now we are obsessively asking how are they different, how ought they to be different and how will the actual structure of our economy need to change in response to this difference?

jack welch says there is no such thing as work-life balance and i agree (workitmom)

” Some think I have it all. I don’t. I’ve come to peace with having one of it at a time. Right now, it’s my career. Before, it was being a mom. Perhaps in my next phase it will be being a mom again.”

United States is expected to face a shortage of millions of workers within the coming decade (ruralanimals)

“At the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, we have spent 10 years and $60 million researching families and work,” said Kathleen Christianson, director of the Workplace, Workforce and Working Families Program. “It has become clear to us that the aging workforce is an important factor in understanding how workplace flexibility can be a win-win for businesses and their employees.”

Employee Loyalty & Productivity Soars With Workplace Flexibility Tips from 2009 Sloan Award Winner (The Closing Touch)

This prestigious award recognizes organizations that continually strive to find new ways to make work “work” in today’s challenging economy and successfully use workplace flexibility to meet both employer and employee goals.

Career Life Connection News and Events

Career Life Connection at ERE Expo Sept. 10-11, Hollywood, Florida

Career Life Connection will be in booth #205 at the ERE Expo.  We will be talking about workplace flexibility and video taping interviews with companies and workers who flex.

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

This week’s coffee klatch is a matter of opinion.  Sodexo today announced a new product called ToLive.  According to the press release ToLive is “designed to positively impact employee health, morale, attendance, retention and organizational effectiveness.”  But the release goes on to tout the work/life balance portion as being made up of a “personal concierge” for employees.

My immediate reaction was that that kind of benefit is a way to keep workers working more and longer on site.  A true worklife benefit to me is having more autonomy over where and when I work.   A recent article in the Wall Street Journal’s career blog “The Juggle” talks more about this issue of worklife benefits and employers blurring the lines between work and life.

What do you think?

Answer here, or on CLC’s facebook page or on twitter by tweeting to @leanneclc and you could win some iced coffee (if you’re celebrating summer) or regular coffee (if your weather isn’t as summery as you’d prefer like in my hometown of Boston)

I was thinking about the great debate on who needs more flexible work options, how old they are and why they need them recently.  Probably mostly because of the great Jack Welch brouhaha that has taken the focus of flexibility at work and put that focus squarely back on why women don’t succeed in the world of work…raising a family is bad for your career.  I want to be clear once again.  The ability to have a flexible schedule at work so you can manage your life whether because of family issues, hobbies, education and other interests is not for parents only.  It is for all, young, old, mommies, daddies, Double-income-no-kids couples, singles, all!

So just a reminder why people flex…with a walk through my varied flex paths.

In my 20′s…

To take care of life (go to the doctor, dentist, grocery shopping, schedule the cable guy) – I was lucky enough to have an insane job in an ad agency that gave me every 3rd Friday off.

To attend graduate school – I wanted to get my Grad degree but the University I chose did not have a part-time program.  Many classes were only offered during the business day.  I worked it out with my supervisor that I could take time off to attend classes as long as my work got done.  And it did!

Because the nature of work demands it - I worked at a small independent TV station.  We had 2 edit suites (way back in the non-digital stone age) and everyone needed to use them.  You scheduled you work time for when you could get the interview, book the production team to shoot it, book the edit suite to use it.  Work included many nights, weekends, and regular days.  No one watched clocks, we had shows to produce…they got done well and aired live at the scheduled times…that was what mattered.

In my 30′s

Because clockwatching is not a profession – I worked on the Olympics – it was  10-month gig that probably should have been a 4 month one.  My company was a group of clockwatchers, but honestly in production, there isn’t much to do if there isn’t anything to produce daily.  And all of our production was scheduled for a couple weeks in February.  So I took flex upon myself.  By taking very long lunches.  When it was time to work, I worked my tail off and often didn’t take lunch but when it was slow, I took full advantage and flexed as I saw fit.

To reconnect with priorities – Just after my Olympic gig, my husband sold a retail company he had started not long after we had met.  For 8 years we had been running in different directions.  We took a year off, traveled the world and spent lots of quality (and sometimes not-so-quality) time together.  It was wonderful.

To care for a parent – Then my Dad who’d had heart issues for much of my life received a life-saving heart transplant.  The first year after transplant is hairy, and critical.  I took a job at a non-profit where I was able to work part-time and work almost entirely from home, with no one watching the clock.  This way I could help out with my father’s care as needed anytime that did not interfere with work.

To have a child – Dad was stable, my husband and I having slowed down a bit decided it was time.  I decided temping was the way to go as I could dictate my own terms.  Turns out while temping for a company, they wanted to hire me…while I was pregnant.  Before being hired I made it clear I would only work part-time and flexibly once the child was born…if that didn’t work for them, they should not hire me.  It worked, I was hired.

40′s

Because they refuse not to – Sadly, Dad took a turn for the worse (inevitable in these kinds of cases) and I was back to helping mode with my Dad, plus I was a Mom who likes having time for her little one and my husband was looking into a job at much bigger firm than one he was currently at, and finally my flex got taken away at work.  I sucked it up for a bit, but finally decided no way.  Flex was more important…I left and started my own business.

I’ve had only one job in my work life that has not included working flexibly and I can not imagine working without flex ever again.  These are not mommy/women issues.  These are issues many people face throughout life.

In the News

Jack Welch and Work-Life Balance – My Week of Trying to Do It All (About.com)

I don’t regret my choices of the past four days , but in trying to do it all and ‘balance’ my daughter’s needs with my own, I am physically exhausted. This week has shown me that ‘doing it all’ takes its toll. I’m glad I’m only called upon to make this kind of choice once or twice a year. To live like this every day? Well, that would be inhuman. Impossible.  Unbalanced.

‘No such thing as work-life balance’: Do you agree? (Times Union)

I think you can still have a successful career and be a successful mother at the same time, but can you get to the top and still make your child top priority? I don’t think it’s realistic. Maybe if we had a different attitude about business and you didn’t have to devote almost every waking hour to it in order to advance. Or maybe if we lived closer to our extended families, and there was more support to working parents available, it would be a different story.

Work and Life — and Blogging the Balance (Wall Street Journal)

The challenge of the finding the work-life balance — sorry, of making “work-life choices” — is now an official cultural preoccupation, the subject of regular Web sites, blogs and newspaper columns. It is a part of the political debate, too. In his profile of Sonia Sotomayor this week — titled “The Way We Live Now” — columnist David Brooks fretted about whether Ms. Sotomayor’s marriage ended because of her long hours at the office. And of course it was a matter of national import, not so long ago, whether Sarah Palin could really raise five children and hold down a job.

Companies gain with teleworking (Philly.com)

Alison Gleeson manages 1,100 employees nationwide, and she’s doing it from a home office in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., for part of her work week.  Gleeson is a married mother of two elementary school-age kids, and works as a vice president of commercial sales for information technology giant Cisco Systems, based in San Jose, Calif.  A few weeks ago, she captained a meeting while sitting in her car at a T-ball game for her son.

Will Flextime Set You Up To Be Laid Off? (Forbes)

Manhattan-based employment lawyer Matthew Blit was recently approached by someone who until recently been working in advertising sales. The person had been the only one in his group who regularly worked from home; he was also the only one laid off in a recent round of downsizing.

Blit spoke to the company’s lawyer and learned one reason his client was let go was because he had been telecommuting two days a week–even though his sales numbers were higher than most of his group’s. But since there were no discriminatory factors involved in the layoff, such as being fired because of race, sex, age, national origin or religion, so there was no basis for a lawsuit.

AVMA coverage: Work-life balance for women (DVM News Magazine)

You really can’t do it all, said certified nutritional consultant Robin De-Ivy Allen during a session at the AVMA conference in Seattle about life balance. Her evidence: Most of us start the day with a to-do list that we don’t finish. Still, you can make time for the things that matter most to you. She recommends these seven steps to achieve a balance that will keep you happy and healthy:

Will We Ever Get Tired of Talking About Work/Life Balance? (AM Law Daily)

Chantal Kordula, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and the mother of three children under the age of 6, says her jump to partner at Cleary shows Welch’s “work or life” choice is false. Kordula, who took five months off after the birth of each of her children, says her promotion to partner was delayed two years because of time off for child care and an unexpected stint in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

How Gen Y & Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda (Insurance News Net)

Overwhelming majorities of Gen Ys (89%) and Boomers (87%) say that having flexible work options is important. Similar percentages (87% and 83%, respectively) say that work/life balance matters to them, so it’s not surprising that roughly two-thirds of both groups also wish for opportunities to work remotely. Having the freedom to choose when and where to work is very powerful, particularly for young employees: 83% of Ys say this freedom motivates them to give 110% effort.

A Future for Work-Life Balance (The Atlantic)

Most people who have worked in corporate America are probably very familiar with the term work-life balance. Probably only a fraction of those people have actually experienced it. The Wall Street Journal today reports that former General Electric CEO, and all-around business guru, Jack Welch thinks work-life balance is a fiction — if you want to be at the top of your game. I think Welch is right for his generation, but as technology continues to advance, so should work-life balance.

Welch: ‘No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance’ (Wall Street Journal)

Former General Electric Co. Chief Executive Jack Welch has some blunt words for women climbing the corporate ladder: you may have to choose between taking time off to raise children and reaching the corner office.  “There’s no such thing as work-life balance,” Mr. Welch told the Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference in New Orleans on June 28. “There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.”

Jack Welch: Child-Raising Is for Chicks (Reuters)

According to former General Electric (GE) CEO Jack Welch, “women” must choose between advancing their careers and raising their children. “There’s no such thing as work-life balance,” he said, specifically referring to Patricia Woertz, CEO of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), as well as Ellen Kullman, CEO of DuPont (DD) as women who chose to concentrate on their careers.

On-the-Fly IT for Workplace Flexibility (ComputerWorld)

More and more American workers aren’t showing up at the office. Their cubicles are vacant, their desktop PCs idle.  Instead, they’re working at all hours of the day from coffee shops, conference rooms, customer sites and suburban telework centers. Take a look around your own corporate offices. There’s probably a lot of empty chairs. The average occupancy rate of commercial office space from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is between 30% and 50%, according to Cornell University’s International Workplace Studies Program.

A Job Jolt Could Change Your Life for the Better (ABA Journal)

Economic meltdown, thousands of lost lawyer jobs, big-firm careers teetering on the brink: What could be worse for an attorney trying to build a successful and balanced life? Or, really, what could be better?  Economic collapse is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call, and experts say this year’s crisis has created a unique opportunity for lawyers to re-examine priorities and create a better balance between work and life.

Credo: International Museum of Women’s Clare Winterton (San Francisco Examiner)

I think…our culture still finds it easier to associate certain leadership attributes — such as decisiveness and ambition — with men rather than women. But the stereotype is shifting. I hear younger men saying that they prefer to work for women because they often have a better appreciation of the need for work-life balance. They are focused on the end result rather than the hours you clocked to get there.

Why So Few Women? (Omaha World-Herald)

The nonprofit Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Women’s Policy Research ranks Nebraska near the bottom, 45th, in its most recent measure of where women stand in managerial and professional occupations in each state. Iowa ranked 43rd. That’s despite both states ranking high in the portion of women in the work force.  Ask women and men in leadership about the poor rankings and they cite a variety of factors: the relatively short history of women in roles positioning them for leadership; a community culture of leadership by men with money, power and connections; and the choices women themselves make along the way.

Whatever happened to touted work-life balance (Financial Post)

Phillip Wilson, a labour consultant with LRI Management Services in Broken Arrow, Okla., said face time can mean the difference between keeping your job or losing it.  Mr. Wilson sometimes works from home, but his father, Don, founded the company and expects his workers to show up to work every day, even if they’re not necessarily contributing.  “It’s really generational,” Mr. Wilson said of his dad. “If your boss is older, they may think working from home is a perk for people who can’t hack coming into the office every day.”

In the Blogs

“No such thing as work-life balance” Why not already!? (MomsRising.org)

We’re tired of people bemoaning that work-life balance isn’t possible, while there are real-life solutions in the form of family-friendly policies at our disposal–policies which also up the corporate fiscal bottom line by helping to retain and advance women. Yes, it’s true: Recent research underscores that having women in leadership is correlated with improving the fiscal bottom line for businesses¹.  Join us in asking the CEOs of the leading Fortune 500 companies to take action and put policies in place which enable women to advance to the top in their careers and also take care of their families.

No Such Thing As Work-Life Balance? (Delaware Employement Law Blog)

None of these observations is particularly shocking. It’s not surprising that most current female CEOs have had “pretty straight careers.” Nor should it be a barn-stormer that someone who spends ten years out of the work-force—male or female—is unlikely to make it to the highest possible rung on the corporate ladder. I would expect that anyone who makes it to the CEO level has had to make tremendous sacrifices in their personal life to get there. Obviously, those who make it to CEO are a unique breed in many respects.

Why Gen Y ‘chicks’ and Old White Guys from F500′s don’t see Eye to Eye (ERE.net, Gen Y Blog)

Yes, this is about you – Jack Walch.  And, maybe it isn’t all of Gen Y ‘chicks’ – some of us are tolerant of being talked down to and demeaned for chosing to have a family.  Being told that we (women) can still have “a nice life, but the chances of going to the top on that path” is slim may be OK for you, but I’m not buying it.  The rest of us are really tired of a guy who got to the top because of an amazing woman behind him telling us that we can only get to the top in the business world if we steer clear of the mommy path.

There is No Work-Life Balance, Only Work-Life Choices (QueerCents)

While I don’t have kids, I know that when I worked in corporate, comments like this made me insane with rage (well they still do). The audacity that human beings have to choose between a well-lived life and a successful career seems a little barbaric here in 2009. If we’re so bright, developed all these technological advances that allow us to work from about anywhere, and are supposed to be innovating in a Dan-Pink-Whole-New-Mind-Way, someone tell me again why women need to cling in fear and worry about face-time every time they need to make a choice about how to spend their time?

Why Jack Welch is Good for the Work-Life Debate (OBM)

I actually agree with Welch that we need to stop talking about balance and shift the conversation to another framework. So do many of the experts I know in this field. For example, Work+Life Fit’s Cali-Williams Yost says: “The quicker we stop thinking there is a right answer or “balance”, the quicker we will begin to see that every one of us has a different work+life fit at different times in our lives.”

Always ask prospective or current employers about workplace policies (CareerMums)

Did you know that astute women in the early 20′s now ask prospective employers about their parental leave and flexible work arrangements policies before they agree to work there?   I certainly didn’t – and I am 35 (not too old!). 15 years ago, I was not thinking about having a family and there was little or no talk in the media about workplace flexibility. Women are now more aware of their rights, obligations, and their valuable contribution to the workforce.

Can Women Balance Kids/Work? (My Philadelphia Story)

Not sure how to react to this. It just sounds so condescending. I plan to have a professional career. I’m not going to school for the next three years to not use my degree. I plan to have kids. Kids are great. So, what? I can’t have it all. Maybe it’s the attitude of old-fashioned executives such as Mr. Welch that prevents this “work-life balance.” I wonder how supportive Mr. Welch was of his own wives’ career choices? Would he have even been successful without his first wife? His second wife was a lawyer. His third went to Harvard Business School.  Thankfully, dude is retired. Good riddance. Don’t tell me how to live my life. Not cool.

No Such Thing As Work-Life Balance? Think Again, Jack Welch (Lemondrop.com)

If anything, Jack Welch is an über-wealthy version of my cranky grandfather. He remembers the Great Depression, still talks about Ronald Reagan and can’t be bothered with learning about the Internet.   No modern man who considers himself to be innovative, thoughtful and “good with money” would dismiss work-life balance in such a callous and shallow way. Can you imagine the CEO of Google making such a flippant statement?

“Welching” on work-life balance helps all of us zero in on a new defintion (Craving Balance)

When former General Electric CEO Jack Welch let loose the now uber-tweeted and uber-blogged words, “There’s no such thing as work-life balance” women and men alike pounded the digital pavement in protest.  Jack might have gotten away with a comment like that back in the day when men were men and women ran scared, but fortunately those days are like a beehive hairdo and way passé because women aren’t Welching on work-life balance; they’re redefining it.

Jack Welck and Work-Life Balance (Government Executive Fed Blog)

Alec Baldwin’s character on 30 Rock once said, deadpan, that “Jack Welch is the greatest leader since the pharaohs.” That assessment, of course, all depends on how one feels about the pharaohs, but it cannot be denied that Welch is an influential figure in business circles, and his declaration that “There’s no such thing as work-life balance….There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences,” is getting some attention as a result. The Atlantic Business Channel’s Daniel Indiviglio says that Welch just means that time is finite, but that Welch may be proven wrong as technology makes work far more efficient, and working from home becomes substantially easier.

No such thing as work-life balance for women, say Jack Welch (Alpha Mummy)

I think there’s a kernal of truth of Welch’s comments that no one wants to acknowledge. But maybe not acknowleding them is a good thing. It used to be accepted that women who took time off to become mums “naturally” left the fast track. It’s not perfect, the way we cope with maternity leave, but it strives toward a workplace that doesn’t automatically downgrade women’s abilities simply because they perpetuate the human race.

Myth #1: An invisible hand in the market dictates that work must be inflexible, brutish, and long (MomsRising.org)

Speaking now, in this economic crisis, it gets harder and harder to argue that there is an incentive for businesses to implement flexible policies. That said, every single study that has ever been done has shown that the introduction of workplace flexibility and new work arrangements result in increased productivity, increased retention, and less turnover. So, in fact, even in today’s economy, there is still a bottom line argument that can be made for flexibility.

What Work/Life Balance? (mainstreet.com)

Half of working dads said they have missed a significant event in their child’s life in the last year due to work, and 28% said they’ve missed more than three significant events, the survey found.  Still, almost 82% of men said they spend more time with their children than their fathers spent with them.

Jack Welch. “No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance”? Hmmm. (Karl Ahlrichs’ Uncommon Experience)

What makes this more interesting to me was the reaction of a woman I met on the shuttle bus that night.  She was still fuming, but from a surprising perspective.  “I’m mad, but because I WORKED for him.  I was in one of the GE divisions that he talks about, and we all knew that the window dressing did not match the world we saw from the inside.  Now, he’s starting to reveal that truth.”  Employer of Choice?  Perhaps, only in the marketing.  Not in the execution…

Jack Welch on women’s work (Ad Broad)

It’s not that I necessarily disagree. A work-life balance IS an impossible feat, an inconvenient fact that came as a rude surprise to lots of boomer women who’d been led to believe otherwise. The “have it all” promise, unfortunately, is a crock. Sometimes, lots of times, you have to choose between your kids and your job, the playdate or the client, the school play or the important pitch.  But the balance is impossible for anyone to achieve, whether or not you’ve got a vagina.

There’s No Such Thing as Work Life Balance (Im.seeking.balance)

I know I’d be farther along in my career if I was more aggressive with my goals and just sucked it up and did it the way I’m “supposed” to… but I have too many life aspirations for that. I have too many interests and hobbies and other things I enjoy in life that I couldn’t dedicate my entire life to the pursuit of money and back pats from people whose families are falling apart all around them.

Jack Welch: “No Such Thing As Work-Life Balance” (MomRising.org)

First of all, whenever I read these stories especially from the point of view of Fortune 500 CEOs, I think it fails to take into consideration the workforce changes due to employees who want a life outside of work. Small businesses, for example, many which are headed by mothers, now make up almost 45 percent of private payroll, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. In 2000, when the country was experiencing record-economic growth, small businesses actually employed more private sector workers than large corporations, according to a report by the Clinton Administration, which also cited statistics by SBA.

Jack Welch, Grumpy Old Man? “There’s No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance.” (The Conglomerate Blog)

About a million years ago, Dana Carvey played “the grumpy old man” on SNL, “and we liked it!”  This WSJ article makes me wonder if Jack Welch was doing a grumpy old man impression at a human resources convention or whether he’s just trying to wake people up.  Apparently, Welch (a University of Illinois alumni) was pretty blunt:  “There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.”  He gave as examples the female CEOs of ADM and DuPont who had “pretty straight careers” without taking time off for family.

Jack Welch: “No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance” (The Juggle a WSJ blog)

Whether work-life balance is attainable or is a myth has been a hot topic here at the Juggle. Adding fuel to the fire is former General Electric CEO Jack Welch.  According to my WSJ colleagues Cari Tuna and Joann S. Lublin, Mr. Welch has some blunt words for women climbing the corporate ladder: you may have to choose between taking time off to raise children and reaching the corner office.

Don’t Put Off Personal Branding to Focus on Keeping Your Job (Personal Branding Blog)

This may be a time when employers hold all the cards and your top priority needs to be keeping the job you have. But, don’t forget that the tides will turn. The economy will recover, the Baby Boomers will start retiring, and employers won’t have all the power anymore. Then, the people who will really win big are the ones who have a very strong personal brand. They’ll be the ones getting early consideration for leadership positions, and the ones scooping up prime positions at their dream companies.

They’ll be the ones who can bargain for the best salaries and responsibilities, or demand the kind of work-life balance that they dream about.

Generation Xers are Not Like Baby Boomers (FP Posted)

In addition to self-sufficiency, Gen Xers place a higher priority on their children and family relationships more than did Boomers. Many Xers would take lower pay or a lesser job to gain flexibility and time with their families.

What the next generation of graduates want ( Saftety at work blog- Australia)

A dominant element of modern employment is work/life balance. In some disciplines this is taken as workplace flexibility. In terms of workplace safety, work/life balance is a euphemism for psychosocial hazards of stress, bullying, fatigue, and workload amongst others. From this position, the survey findings showed that, when asked “What are the most important extra benefits?”, work/life balance scored the most support at almost 39%.

Unbalancing the Ad Industry (MarkLives.com, South Africa)

Is working in the ad industry or at marketing agencies an awful job? Not at all. But few are playing it smart when it comes to the well-being of their employees even though the benefits of healthy living is well documented and work/life balance is far from being a new idea.

Resources

Innovative Workplace Flexibility Options For Hourly Workers

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

Did you see the Jack Welch speech at the SHRM conference?  Have you watched the video on the SHRM site?  If so what do you think he said or was trying to say? And please let us know which generation you are from…because I suspect that those younger are a bit more angry at his attitude than those of us who have been in the workforce longer, are used to his attitude and have bumped up against it enough times as to be tired from it.

I’ll admit I just can’t get this topic off my mind:

1) The changing workforce. For the first time in history women are poised to be the majority in the workplace…so to tell the majority of your workers that they can’t reach the corner office without giving up everything else is ridiculous.  Instead don’t you think the way the corner office works may morph with the changing workforce?  Not to mention the great abundance of technology now available to CEOs and other workers?  I think the attitudes of workers as to what can be accomplished is very different today than when Jack Welch headed GE.  And so is the power shift during this “mancession.”

2) Workplace flexibility and women. It’s not only about women! Yes, we are gaining ground and may soon be the majority…but do we really want to start demanding the corporate world work only our way?  Don’t we all need to work together and make work work for everyone?  Which is one of my problems with the book “Womenomics.”  And this ties in to the Jack Welch speech because Claire Shipman, one of the authors of “Womenomics” interviewed him during the speech.  I’ll admit I didn’t see it live…I was however viewing the twitter stream about #shrm09 off and on during the speech and saw no hue and cry in it about his comments.  So either people weren’t paying attention, or some of the comments out of context are much more inflammatory than they were live.  And context is important.

3) The future of conferences: In today’s world people are picking and choosing which conferences they attend very carefully and I agree that the way conferences are being “attended” is changing dramatically – possibly for the long term.  I didn’t go to the SHRM conference.  It is an expensive ticket along with hotel and airfare costs.  Also, for me personally, it is a juggle…I either need to bring my little one and childcare with me, or I need to arrange and hire for childcare while I’m gone.  I chose to watch virtually through twitter, Facebook and some of the streaming sessions.  I asked SHRM for the link to this session for this post but it is accessible only to those who are members of SHRM.  China Gorman, SHRM’s COO noted that over 8000 people had viewed the video.  But if you’ve read the WSJ articles, some of the great blog articles and the oodles of comments on this topic…you’ll see that Welch’s comments were directed at 50.7% of the population.  A number slightly higher than 8,000.  And I know there is a debate raging in this country, rightly so, over what should be free and what should be paid for…but at some point, I think there are times when it’s more important to do what’s right for a large amount of the population than to hold information hostage.  I am not trying to equate this issue with very large political issues…but weren’t we all glad Twitter.com allowed the Iran Revolution to have a voice over sticking to their maintenance and upgrade schedule?

Yep, that’s the way my mind works.  I read a lot and think a lot and before I know it, I’ve tied Jack Welch and “Womenomics” to the Iranian Revolution…show of hands…who feels bad for my husband?

I’m  mad at Jack Welch.   Which is a little silly as I’ve never met the man.  But suddenly the debate on work/life in this country has taken a giant step backward for the last few days and I blame him.  His comments about “women” needing to choose between having a great career and raising children in a speech in front of a conference of 6,700 human resource professionals is infuriating.  And at the same time takes away from the actual important message of his speech…career choice.

I mean honestly, haven’t men been making that same choice for years.   It has, until recently, just been implied what that choice will be – career first, family second.  And haven’t some men been lamenting that choice later in their lives?   Also, in that same time frame, women who have no desire to bear children – yes, they do exist and I know some of them – have been “mommy track’d” with no cause.  They do not want nor will they be having children.  That has been their choice.  And yet they are still not part of the C-suite.  Birth rates are falling, more women than men are getting college degrees, and yet, women still aren’t at the top…hmmm….seems to be more than “choice” on women’s part.  It seems there may be some factors – such as sexist CEOs – working against them.

And now on to the substance of what people listening to Jack Welch’s speech could have heard if only he had not used that one word.  You make choices in your career, those choices have consequences so make informed choices, and understand that you can’t have it all, all at once.  That I believe is a good speech.  And one that needs to be said over and over in today’s world with examples:

There is no such thing as Work-Life Balance:  I agree.  I hate the word balance – which most of you know.  It’s about having the flexibility to understand which portion of your life should take precedence when and having the support system to move between those elements as needed.  And for many of us, it is not only career.  This week for instance I’ve had some good friends in town.  I get to see them only occasionally and usually over a rushed meal.   So I’ve taken some real time to spend with them and enjoy them this week…at the expense of work time.

There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences: Absolutely true.  The recent press about how inflexible the White House is as a workplace has made it clear that people understand this.  My opinion and that of others who have commented on the situtation is that there are roles that will not be very flexible…and that is a given.  If you choose to be a senior staffer to the leader of the free world your ability to be flexible will be curtailed during that time.

Taking time off for family can offer a nice life but you might not get the corner office:  Well I’m not sure a nice life and the corner office of a major corporation can work at the same time.  Again, I don’t know Jack Welch, but many commenting on this story in the Wall Street Journal and on blogs have mentioned that he has been thrice married.  I’m not sure that’s directly related to his career….but I’m guessing it’s a factor.

You can still have a nice career:  Yes, you can.   And for many people getting to the corner office isn’t the goal and maybe shouldn’t be based on this article on depression in this country.

Again, I’m thrilled the debate is raging with articles in the WSJ, Reuters, on Salon.com and throughout the blogosphere.  The speech was a good one…just please take “women” out of the equation…and replace it with “workers” or “employees” or “people.”

In the News

Survey Names Cornell Great Place to Work (The Ithaca Journal)

Cornell University has been chosen for the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of Great Colleges to Work For, based on nearly a dozen measures, including compensation and benefits, confidence in senior leadership, and work-life balance.

Five Reasons To Implement Mobile Solutions (IP Solutions News)

Workplace Flexibility: The personal and business lives of employees are more integrated than ever before. Helping staff achieve greater work/life balance can be achieved by providing employees the option of how or when they work. Bringing wireless mobility to your workplace affords staff with the flexibility to work almost anywhere.

Chronicle Again Recognizes UB Workplace (UB Reporter)

Over the past two years, an HR Transformation Initiative has resulted in many new services for faculty and staff, including new programs focusing on employee wellness and professional development, new divisional HR units, a new Work/Life Balance unit and an expanded Employee Assistance Program.

HR Advice: A flexible workplace has its benefits (Wausau Daily Herald)

Flexible work arrangements are becoming more common in organizations of all sizes, but why should employers implement flexible work arrangements during our current economic downturn? The answer is simple: Successful flexible work programs contribute to increased financial performance.

39% of Moms Make ‘Net Time Their Quiet Time (MarketingVox.com)

Power Mom: Empowered and choosing balance.

• 80% of moms today feel they have more power and control over their lives than moms in the 1980s and 1990s.
• 50% of working moms have sought out workplace flexibility to help care for their family.
• One in five moms in the survey plan to off-ramp and then re-enter the workforce later.

Plymouth State U Honored as a Good Place to Work (WBZ.com)

Plymouth state was listed in the top ten medium-sized schools in categories including retirement plans; collaborative governance; disability, health and life insurance; and overall satisfaction with benefits. It also was listed for respect and appreciation and work/life balance

Memo to the Obamas on a Family-Friendly White House (About.com)

Barack and Michelle Obama have said work-life balance is a priority for their administration. But a New York Times article this weekend exposed the reality of life for top White House staffers who are also working parents: missed bedtimes, delayed school visits and strained marriages.

Family Friendly (GovernmentExecutive.com)

The New York Times reports that White House appointees are having a hard time maintaining their work-life balance, despite the fact that they’ve been assigned laptops so they can work from home, and that the Obama administration is trying to be considerate, doing things like hosting screenings of family-oriented movies so parents can bring their children to work.

Quinn Emanuel’s Susan Estrich Redefines Multitasking (The AM Law Daily)

When I started out, there were law firms that literally said, “We filled our woman’s spot already.” They had just one spot! But today, I don’t think the law culture cares about race, religion, or gender. The problem for women today is workload. The enormous difficulty is finding balance in a profession that is so hours-driven. It’s hard for a woman to figure out, in the 2,500 hours they have to bill, when they’ve got time to have a child. I could not possibly have done all I’m doing now ten years ago, because I had small children then. But my kids are in high school and college now, so it’s easier.

Mandating Employee Leave (Human Resource Executive Online)

“We just have a different approach to getting to that goal [of paid leave], and that is what we rolled out with our 21st century workplace-flexibility policy,” says Horn.  That SHRM policy emphasizes the importance of offering paid time off for employees without requiring employers to adhere to potentially conflicting federal, state and sometimes local leave requirements, says Horn.  “The whole coordination issue is something that our members report is a significant challenge already,” she says.

Gettysburg College Takes Work-Life Balance Seriously (Chronicle of Higher Education)

Many other features make Gettysburg a nice place to work, employees here say. They like its new $2-million child-care center and the college’s generous maternity and paternity-leave benefits. The campus is a comfortable place, where the faculty, staff, and administrators gather for what’s known as the Friday afternoon social hour to eat, drink, and talk.  It is the kind of place where people tend to come to work and stay for a long time.

Firms more open to mobile-device usage among workers (SiliconRepublic.com, Ireland)

A survey of 1,000 office workers in the UK found that 40pc of people believe a mobile phone gives colleagues flexible working options and one-third believe it makes them more efficient.

Study Shows Malaysians Prefer Balance In Work And Life (Bernama.com, Malaysia)

“Many employees now have the capability to work from home or away from the office, at any hour of the day, and this is proving positive for productivity and work-life balance,” Norman said.  “Even though some are working longer hours, this is largely offset by the greater freedom and flexibility of the virtual workplace,” she said.

Study Highlights Gloomy Prospects for Graduates (The Independent, UK)

“Organisations which create a ‘misery culture’ for graduates by stifling innovation and progression or ignoring work/life balance risk losing their best talent as soon as there is any sign of an economic upturn.”

Communication tech balances work-life: Survey (Business Standard, India)

More than 90 per cent of Indian respondents say mobile technology such as smartphones and laptops have boosted personal productivity and transformed their work-life balance, according to the latest Kelly Global Workforce Index that reveals opinions about work and workplace from a generational viewpoint.  “The explosion of mobile devices is helping create a much more flexible and adaptable workforce and one that is more productive…”

In the Blogs

Mea Culpa (Life Meets Work blog)

As the study quite correctly points out, the flexibility focus to date has been on management and professional workers, and relatively little attention has gone to how flexibility can work for lower wage employees.  These hourly work environments are commonly production or service businesses where constant coverage is required.  The obvious hurdle, then, is figuring out how to offer flexibility when you absolutely need constant physical presence.  This report shares several ways companies are making it happen—through team coverage arrangements, the use of vacation time in hourly increments, just-in-time vacations, and time-off vouchers.

The Changing Nature of Work (Perspectives on Innovation)

The profound implication is this: I believe an enormous increase in national and global productivity comes from getting this model right in the next 10 to 20 years.  People work on projects for which they are passionate and capable (driving up productivity many fold) and maintain a work/life balance never before possible and organizations achieve their goals better, faster, and more cost effectively than ever before possible.  I have to confess that I also find certain poetry in the idea that what is good for us individually may also be what is good for us all.   I believe this is the proverbial “win-win”.  But make no mistake, the individual has more leverage and flexibility in the equation than ever before.

Corporate Voices: Creating Opportunities for Low-Wage Workers (Corporate Voices for Working Families blog)

John Wilcox, Vice President of Operations with Corporate Voices for Working Families, participated in a panel discussion Wednesday, July 8, that examined research findings and current issues involving low-wage workers and flexible work arrangements

Low Wage Schedules and the Child-Care Struggle (The Early Ed Watch Blog)

But getting employers to offer more flexible policies and work arrangements is important too. The forum’s panelists talked about a few companies, such as Bright Horizons Child Care Center, that actually improve their bottom lines when they offer more flexibility to their employees. Also noted was the CitiSales study, led by Jennifer Swanberg at the University of Kentucky, that showed how companies can thrive and improve the quality of life for their low-wage workers.

The Truth About Part-Time Work (The Mama Bee)

A few things worry me about this kind of fluffy reporting on women and work.  First, articles like Abboud’s and the recent media around Womenomics, promote the idea that if women request high-level part-time solutions they will be granted.  That’s not borne out by statistics and I don’t think it’s true.

To Become a Working Mom or Not (Graco heart-t0-heart blog)

And to all working moms – I think it’s important to find solace and wonder in not seeking balance. Balance in its definition is about always working against one aspect of your life. Imagine the idea of having to balance on a board for a long period of time? It’s painful to imagine. So why would we encourage that for anyone? Instead…my husband has said ‘be 100% present and happy’ in everything you do. He’s right! So I seek PRESENCE & HAPPINESS in my two roles of:
Working Professional Woman and Loving Wife & Mother.

A four-step program for work-life balance (Intake)

For example, telecommuting is a hot topic among employees and employers. Flexible work schedules are music to the ears of many employees, especially the wired Gen Y employee who can be as efficient (maybe more) at home using the Internet, intranet, Twitter, texting, phone, webinars and instant messaging to stay in touch with colleagues. More and more companies are jumping on the work-life train, but here are four questions to consider if you want your program to work:

Costa Rica Is the Happiest Place on the Planet (Examiner.com)

Professor Mariano Rojas, a Costa Rican economist at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Mexico indicates several additional reasons for the life satisfaction in Costa Rica.  Professor Rojas points out people have a solid social network of friends, families and neighborhoods which is allowed by a sensible work-life balance.  There is equal treatment of women and strong political participation in the country.

Interview with SHRM’s China Gorman: Workplace flexibility (Radiant Veracity)

We need a system that doesn’t require all this regulation. If you say that you can’t be here next Friday, do I really care why? No. I just need to know how we’re going to get all your work one. It’s about balancing in a really respectful way. A federal government mandated, one-size-fits-all approach…that’s just not how people work anymore.

They Say White House Not Family Friendly (Strollerderby)

You know something? I’m OK with that. Not that it isn’t hard for the people who work there, or for their families. But these are CHOICES. Nobody forced them to take the job. Nobody twisted their arm. (As far as I know. Let the conspiracy theories begin.) Emanuel talks about the great opportunity to work for a President. Well, yes. It is. And if you CHOSE to do something else, that would be fine. It’s possible that you can’t have everything. Sucks to be you.

Work-Life Balance and Workforce Management (Versatility 4)

When demands of work leaves little time for important areas of life like family, children, friends and hobbies, work-life balance gets upset. The result can be felt in employee health, levels of stress, marriage, problem children, low work performance, absenteeism and so on.  Achieving better work life balance requires both employee training and employer orientation changes.

Portrait of making politics a family-friendly career choice in White House (Writes Like She Talks)

This act – call it balancing, juggling, life, whatever you want – isn’t going to go away, but the fact that this article portrays as many fathers as it does mothers, and without obvious gender slanted language or interpretation (did you see any? I will have to re-read more analytically for that) is encouraging.

Entrepreneurs Celebrate Independence Day (Startup Professionals Musings)

According to an article and poll by Startups.co.uk, having the independence to make your own decisions is considered the key benefit of being an entrepreneur. Nearly 90% of respondents said decision-making freedom was very important, closely followed by more flexibility for a better work/life balance.

4th of July and Generation ‘Y’ (Feed Me I’m Cranky)

You’re right.  We do want a work-life balance. Does this mean there is no more company loyalty?  Not at all.  This means we understand that to be “good workers” we need to live balanced lives.

Press Releases

Career Life Connection News and Events

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

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

Career Life Connection Founder featured on Workplace Flexibility teleseminar

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

Advice Isn’t Always Good For You (MSNBC)

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

New Nanny Math (Forbes)

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

Twitters Work-Life Balance Tips (BusinessWeek.com)

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

Career Life Connection on You Tube

Last week was a weird week…many of us were focused on the holiday weekend and on our own workplace flexibility and may have missed some of the articles/news that came out.   Here’s my take on the odd week that was while many of us were distracted:

Flex needs gender neutrality – According to an article in the Wall Street Journal companies like Ernst & Young are recognizing that making workplace flexibility a “concession” to working women is just not going to fly.  It needs to be embraced by both genders.  Thank you…I feel like I’ve been saying this forever – or at least for the last 9 months on this blog.  That’s the step forward, now will someone please get the point across that it’s not just about parents!

The White House isn’t a very flexible workplace – I’m shocked…okay not really but some view this as a step back for flex…I don’t.  Yes, the Obamas are talking early and often about allowing workers more flexibility…so I get why this is news.  But a career  is about choices and it doesn’t take a genius to know that choosing to work for the President of the United States is one that makes for a very hectic work schedule.  I came across two responses to the NYT article…one I liked and the other I really, really liked.  I think a mix of these two articles can be incorporated at the White House.  For lower level staffters/admins – why not do some job sharing?  In one TV station I worked at we had 2 receptionists that both worked 6-hour days.  It worked great and could work at the White House as well.  For some of the more Sr. positions…sorry, that is what you signed on for.  I’m all for workplace flexibility but there are positions it doesn’t work for.  Earlier in my career I worked on the TV broadcast for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics…more specifically on Opening and Closing Ceremonies.  To say there was very little flexibility in my work schedule at that time would be an understatement.  It was what I signed on for, it was a decision my husband and I made together understanding the consequences and we adjusted our lives to accommodate that choice.  It is…

Sen. Chris Dodd & company want input on workplace flexibility – And they got some.  As you can see in the comments I applaud the response’s enthusiasm, I’m just not sure how they will work in practice and the community has also discussed the merits of legislating workplace flexibility on this blog before.  I still believe it will be better if it comes from employers and they are given incentives by the government.  I do like the response to EWendt’s comment, though and perhaps I am just entrenched in my thinking and need a shift.  So I’m classifying this as a sort of sideways step on workplace flex.  Because I like having the discussion…but the content and audience are still concerning to me.

Sarah Palin leaves office – this one is sideways because I’m not sure it even fits into the discussion.  Apparently she explained that her kids helped make the decision on this one and now there is debate about 1) whether you should let your kids be part of that process and 2) whether you are teaching your kids to be quitters.  I know Claire Shipman and Katty Kay, authors of “Womenomics” have weighed in – so I guess they consider it to be relevant, but I’m still not sure.  I think family life definitely factors in to career decisions, I think at some point “listening” to your kids and hearing what they’ve learned from you is not a bad thing.  This interview with Christine Heenan who went back to work in a VP role at Harvard after running her own business that was well known for being extremely flexible is much better on this subject, I think.  The way she had her kids weigh in and then even had one of her children shore her up about her decision is really what you hope for as a parent.  But we don’t know the end to Sarah Palin’s story yet and we may never know it.  And it may be completely unrelated to the discussion of work/life…I’m just not sure yet.

(I also find it ironic that Christine Heenan worked in the Clinton administration…I would love to read her take on the NYT story on the White House!)