Workplace Flexibility news for week ending July 25, 2009

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