Workplace Flexibility News for the Week Ending August 7, 2009

In the News

You’ve come a long way, baby-sitting issues (Boston.com)

The Price of Incivility (Business Lexington)

Another study of workplace incivility conducted by Pearson found similar results, plus more. In this study of 775 U.S. employees who had been targets of co-workers’ or supervisors’ lack of respect, nearly one half of participants considered changing jobs to avoid the instigator, and one in eight actually did leave their job to escape the untenable situation. Considering that employer turnover costs are typically estimated to be 1.5 to 2.5 times the salary paid for the job (or $50,000 on average per departing employee across U.S. industries and occupational classifications), the financial impacts of incivility mount up fast.

Flexible Hours for Nonexempt Workers May Be Next on Lobbyists’ Agenda (Workforce Management)

According to a recent study by WorldatWork and Work Design Collaborative, 45 percent of survey respondents report they include nonexempt employees in their flexible work arrangements. The researchers expected to find that only about 15 percent did so, according to the study, which surveyed 135 employers.

Employers turn to flexible workplace options to reduce need for lay-offs (Aspen Publishers)

According to survey results, a large majority of employers are either maintaining the workplace flexibility options they offer (81 percent) or increasing them (13 percent). Only 6 percent have reduced such options. And, 26 percent of employers have specifically used flexible workplace options to minimize the need for lay-offs.

Advantageous aspects other than strictly compensation attract good employees; something more than a number retains them. Today employees are looking for a career package, including a comfortable company culture, career path, diversity of responsibilities, and a work/life balance

VIRTUAL STAFFERS MAY PROMOTE ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR COMPANIES, EMPLOYEES (Web Newswire)

In late July, the Families and Work Institute reported that about 81% of employers are maintaining workplace flexibility options, such as telecommuting, while another 13% of employers are actually increasing such options in the workplace to stave off layoffs as the economy recovers. According to the Telework Coalition, about half of the nation’s workforce telecommutes at least part-time, and The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the rate of self-employed workers have climbed from 6.2% in January to 6.6% in June.

Does This Recession Finally Herald the Flexible Job Age? (BNet, UK)

Just over a year ago, we hosted a working session presented by Professor Ellen Kossek to a large group of UK employers on the nature of flexible work today. It was clear then that flexible work practices and the issue of work-life balance were no longer marginal but had entered the mainstream.

Women battle with work/life balance (The Northern Star, Australia)

The third Australian Work and Life Index report found the pressures on rural woman are increasing, along with the difficulty of balancing work and family life.  Women living in rural and regional areas experience the extra burden that comes with commuting long distances to and from work, which increases worker stress and eats into family time.

Workplace flexibility key to childcare (Liberal Party of Australia News)

Australian parents, especially men, are taking advantage of flexible workplace arrangements and conditions in order to care for their children according to a new Report from the ABS, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare Sophie Mirabella said today.  “43% of all working fathers in 2008 reported utilising flexible workplace conditions in order to organise childcare – that’s up from just 27% in 1999. Of all working families, 64% reported using flexible work arrangements like working from home, part-time work, and shift work, in order to manage childcare – which is up from 56% in 1999.”

Balance ke to better workforce (Science Alert, Australia)

Prof Pocock said the 2009 Australian Work Life survey provides baseline data against which progress can be measured.  “We have an opportunity to create Australian work cultures that deliver economic prosperity and a workforce with high levels of well being,” she said.  “We need to be careful that we don’t go further down a path that puts pressure on individuals and their families, especially women and those working long hours, creating a constant strain between work and life.”

Family First in Balancing Work and Life (Adelaide Now, Australia)

With his part-time assistant coaching role at Port Adelaide turning full-time at the end of the year it was obvious something would have to suffer if he pursued the role.  He could see it would be his family – and in what was no doubt a difficult choice, he put his family first.  It is the sort of challenge increasing numbers of people are facing as they try to juggle busy lives.

In the Blogs

Tips From Successful Hewlett Packard Job Share Team (FlexWork Connection)

After these interviews we talked about what would work best for the two of us, as well as how to make it seamless to our partners and our manager.   We then documented a proposal, which we reviewed with our manager, before we started.  All this pre-work and planning we really think has helped us develop a structure that has been critical to our success. We wanted to share a few of the tools and tips that have worked especially well for us.

Generation gaps in the workplace: Declaration of War! (Examiner.com)

Workplace Flexibility Flies Under the Radar (World at Work)

One bill introduction of note was the introduction of the “Balancing Act of 2009.” Led by Rep. Lynne Woolsey (D-CA), the “Balancing Act” is an omnibus workplace flexibility bill that combines many of the bills WorldatWork has been watching recently, including bills impacting paid sick leave and FMLA. It has some pretty heavy hitters as co-sponsors as well including Rep. George Miller (D-CA) (Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)(Chairwoman of the Joint Economic Committee and sponsor of many workplace flexibility bills herself).

For work-life balance, Small Necessities Act can make a big difference (Examiner.com)

Less well known is Massachusetts’ Small Necessities Law. Enacted in 1998, it permits eligible employees to take up to 24 hours of leave within a 12-month period to attend a child’s school activity or accompany a child or elderly relative to a doctor’s appointment.  The leave available under this benefit is in addition to the 12 weeks of leave provided for under the FMLA. And the 24 hours may be taken on an intermittent (i.e. 2 hours to attend a parent-teacher conference) or reduced-time schedule.

8/5/09: Midweek Look at the Independent Business Blogs (Three Star Leadership Blog)

This week, I’m pointing you to posts on dealing with a good person who’s a bad culture fit, advice for new managers, learning from experience, workplace flexibility programs, and ROWE.

Can You Find (or create) Balance at Work (Examiner.com)

While the American economy may be a bit stagnant, the movement among American workers doesn’t appear to be sluggish at the same rate. If balance and family time are important to you, you aren’t alone. Let the potential new employer know about your desire to have that balance in the workplace. If your present employer isn’t on board with balance, help him/her to understand the shift in attitude by many American workers.

Is Work-Life Balance Off Balance (SmartPlanet)

Harbeke points to 30 companies with active work-life balance programs that have seen decreased absenteeism, decreased turnover, greater employee satisfaction, improved customer service, longer average employee tenure, business continuity, and “strong, steady growth” that exceeds industry averages.

Work-Life Balance? Yeah, Right! (MomLogic)

What I don’t know is how much Mr. Welch’s comments impact women’s continuous struggle to prove they can be great contributors at the office and simultaneously provide an environment for their children to thrive. On the one hand, he is a management icon. On the other hand, things are changing rapidly and women (moms in particular) are quickly becoming the most powerful buying segment and wielding tremendous, newfound influence. I guess the best thing working moms can do is to keep working hard, working smart, and not pay too much attention to people who say they can’t be successful in both worlds

Work Life (Climbing) Balance (Mike Doyle’s Rants & Ravings)

Everyone has a different idea of what “Work Life Balance” means. To me it’s really “Work Climbing Balance”. I have been working an insane amount of hours the last two months but I have also been able to get to the climbing gym occasionally and put in a few days up at Mt Charleston. To me finding the “Work Climbing Balance” usually means skipping out on few hours of sleep here and there.

Control Your Destiny (Escape From Corporate America)

I chose entrepreneurship because I wanted freedom, flexibility, a creative outlet without restrictions and total control over my destiny. Part of the control is to select the stress level I am willing to handle (if I must) and balance it with the positives in my life … family, good health and a positive attitude.

Press Releases

Largest Global Survey of Women Finds That No Matter Where They Live, Women Are Over-Worked, Over-Extended, Over-Stressed and Under-Served by Businesses

According to the BCG research, women want more…

• Love and connection — lasting, romantic relationships; happy, healthy families; connections with friends, colleagues and neighbors.
• Fulfillment — freedom to pursue happiness and satisfaction.
• Time and work-life balance — the ability to “make it all happen” and make the right trade-offs and tough decisions.
• Money as a marker, not for its own sake, but for better control of inflow and outflow, and guidance on spending and saving wisely.

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