October is National Work and Family Month.  And this month I will be talking about workplace flex as it pertains to families but also why flexibility isn’t only about families.  I thought today’s guest blog post was perfect to lead into October.  It’s about work, it’s about family, it’s about life:

This has been one of those weeks. Not a garden variety “I-can’t-wait-until-Friday” week, mind you… more like an “implausible-sitcom-plot” kind of week. Aggravated coworkers who needed to vent, to-do lists that grew exponentially and back-to-back-to-back meetings that left little time to work on knocking down the aforementioned lists… all played a prominent role. My saving grace was Friday night, as my wife and I had secured a good friend to babysit so we could go on a date. A nice dinner, a glass of wine and a movie. Nothing fancy or extravagant, but a night alone to have a conversation without pausing to mediate disputes or escort one of the kids to the rest room is like a slice of heaven. As we said our goodbyes and made our way to the garage, we caught the distinct sound of water spraying. Forcefully. Sure enough, as we peeked into the closet under the stairs we were met with the rather unpleasant sight of a geyser-like fountain shooting from one of the pipes. Like I said, one of those weeks.

As fate would have it, the friend who was babysitting for us is engaged to a great guy who also happens to be a plumber and after a few frantic attempts at reaching his cell phone, we finally caught up with him and he assured us that he would come over and see what he could do to help. Patience is not one of my strong suits so rather than hang out and wait, I wrapped the pipe in a towel and headed out to the local Home Depot for replacement parts and a patch kit or two.

While winding my way through the tree-lined roads that lead from my primary residence to my second home – the shopping plaza featuring Home Depot, Toys’R'Us and PetSmart – I was sulking, grousing and otherwise generally cursing my fate. Like many of my friends (and millions of other workers across the country and around the world) I feel like I’m living in a bit of an odd limbo state – caught between the utter joy, relief and gratitude that I have a good job in this extremely challenging economy and the inescapable feeling that I’m on a treadmill and I just can’t stop running. We’re all working burnout hours (as are our coworkers) and feel like we’re starting to run out of steam, we’re all feeling the sting of either sacrificing family time for work time or sacrificing sleep to serve both masters and we all feel like now is not the time to throttle-back… just when our employers need everyone running full-steam ahead to ensure we emerge from this recession intact and ready for growth.

There are times when passion for one’s career and love for one’s family are in direct conflict and the simple answer is that there’s no simple answer. Making it all work can be a pretty challenging dance but if you’re lucky enough to have a spouse who understands, you’ll be able to learn the steps. Every now and then, however, you trip over your own feet.

As I walked into the store, thinking thoughts that were way too heavy and introspective for a Friday night, I stuck my hand into my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper which simply read “Enjoy!” Earlier in the week, I set the alarm to wake me an hour earlier than usual and get a jump start on the day. After a quick shower, I got dressed and made my way to the computer for a quick e-mail check before my 30-minute commute. As I walked to my small home office, I soon heard my daughter tromping up the steps.

“Daddy,” she exclaimed.

“Good morning, sweetie… how are you,” I asked.

“I’m fine but YOU need to go back to bed,” she snapped.

“Aw honey, I would love to but I need to get to work early today. Daddy has a lot to do,” I explained.

“But Daddy, you HAVE to go back to bed! Mommy is already in there,” she insisted.

Of my three children, my daughter is my early riser. Just about every morning she emerges on my wife’s side of the bed sometime before dawn and asks to either snuggle between my wife and I or watch television in our room while we begin our day. I assumed today was no different than any other but my waking up early threw off her routine. I chalked it up to the six-year-old equivalent of OCD and caved.

“Okay. I’ll tell you what… I’m already dressed so I’m not going to get back into bed, but I’ll go and hang out in the bedroom for a few minutes… but ONLY a few more minutes, okay?”

“Good,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

I returned to my room and sat at the foot of the bed, chatting with my wife about the day ahead – me and my meetings, her and her errands – as we so often do as the day begins. Moments later the door to the bedroom flung open as my daughter exclaimed “ta-dah” and my oldest son followed behind with two bowls of cereal and two glasses of punch. They couldn’t find a proper tray so they improvised using a pan which is usually reserved for making oven-baked French Fries. As they rested the tray next to me on the bed, I looked down and saw the word “enjoy” handwritten on a tattered piece of notebook paper and tucked neatly between the glasses.

My wife and I smiled at each other as my son explained that he set his alarm clock early so they could wake-up and treat us to breakfast. We gave them each a hug and a kiss and there we all sat – the four of us squeezed on a queen sized mattress that looked gigantic in the showroom – and chatted while the local news droned in the background and blended with the sounds coming from the baby monitor as our one-year-old began his wake-up routine as well. Thirty minutes later I was out the door and off to work.

One of the oldest, most hackneyed but also most accurate statements that anyone can make about life is that change is constant. Whether you’re riding high or bottoming-out, things will eventually make a turn. How you manage those twists, however, is entirely up to you. During times of extreme stress, I think the natural reaction is to either slip into “woe is me” mode or look for external causes for our internal turmoil. We can’t always control what happens to us but we can control the way we react. Maybe that’s what brought you to this site in the first place. Maybe you’re not happy with the way the work/life scales are tipping these days so you’re looking for way to get back into the driver’s seat. Like my Nana always said: “better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” (Another over-used saying but the older I get, the more I realize my parents and grandparents were almost always right.)

I smiled a bit as I re-read the note – the neatly-formed letters created by someone who is still at a point in life when good penmanship is a source of immense pride and accomplishment – and returned it to my pocket before heading to the plumbing section. I placed the few items I needed into the cart, paid for my wares and headed for home. When I arrived, our plumber friend was already there and investigating the situation. Twenty minutes later the leak was under control. Thirty minutes later we were all watching the Red Sox game, eating take-out pizza and catching-up on our lives. Date night with my wife turned into junk food and beer with friends. And despite the trials and tribulations of a long week – capped by an impromptu home repair – I wouldn’t have it any other way.

By day, Marc Moschetto is a senior member of the marketing team at Workscape, Inc. – a company that delivers integrated HR software and services to organizations around the country and around the globe. When he’s not working, playing with his three children, or discussing the fate of his beloved Red Sox with his wife, Marc blogs on everything from faith and politics to family life and workforce issues. You can read his personal blog BostonWriter Online.

The news comes early this week as I’m shutting the laptop down and enjoying some family time.  I am loving the “Out of Office” response I’m crafting in my mind.  It will be something like: “Yes, I will have access to email…but no, I’m not going to be checking it.  A decision made partly from reading a WSJ article on how working less is working better, partly because I need a work/life makeover and partly because I’m just not that important.”

The WSJ article in my mind tops this week’s news about work/life and so it is in the top position.  Enjoy the weekend all…unplug, tune out to work, tune in to personal interests and re-charge.  I’ll jump back into the rat race on Wednesday…see you then.

In the News

If You Need to Work Better, Maybe Try Working Less (WSJ)

After years of working on and off throughout most weekends, I was trying a new approach by taking off at least one entire day every weekend this month, away from reporting, writing and all other work. Early on, I hated it. As simple as it seemed, sticking to a time-off plan stressed me out at first. What I didn’t see right away was that my little test was forcing me to improve the way I work.

Swineflu Causes Headache for Small Businesses (WSJ)

The spread of swine flu should also make owners think about allowing employees to telecommute. That’s particularly important when an employee needs to stay home to care for a sick child. But an owner should not be asking someone who’s sick to log in to work from home.

Valassis honored for workplace flexibility (Hometown Life)

As a winner, Valassis ranks in the top 20 percent of employers nationally in terms of flexible work programs, policies and culture.

BC-US Best Selling Books – USA Today (Google News)

11. “What Happy Working Mothers Know: How New Findings in Positive Psychology Can Lead to a Healthy and Happy Work/Life Balance” by Cathy L. Greenberg, Barrett S. Avigdor (Wiley) (NF-H)

Feds eye workplace models of Google, Facebook (ComputerWorld)

Another key goal for Berry is improving telecommuting to help foster a greater work-life balance and improve the government’s attractiveness as an employer. Telecommuting is already widely used at the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM.  The U.S. recently estimated that it has about 103,000 telecommuters or about 5.24% of its workforce. OPM may be one of the leaders in fostering this. Berry told attendees at a telework conference today that security-clearance background investigators, about 2,500 federal employees alone, are working remotely.  Berry believes telework improves productivity and credited it with helping the federal government reduce the time needed to conduct a security clearance investigation from about one year to 37 days.

Work relationships: Be a better executive mate (Canadian Business)

One of the biggest challenges executive spouses face is coping with anger and resentment stemming from the demands of their partner’s work. Too many late nights and last-minute trips and too much e-mailing at the dinner table can take its toll. Studies show it’s important to nip these things in the bud — not only for personal reasons, but for professional ones, too. According to a 2006 report on work-life balance from Minneapolis-based Life Innovations, “employees who enjoy relational health at home, in their marriage and among their peers, are more productive and make better leaders.”

Bayer honored again as a top company for working mothers (Daily Record)

“Bayer places a priority on work-life balance and this includes providing initiatives and programs that allow working parents to succeed on the job and at home,” said Greg Babe, Bayer president and CEO.

Families stressed trying to juggle work-life: ABS (Sydney Morning Herald)

Extra work hours and weekend shifts are cutting into family life and leaving many working parents feeling pressed for time, the latest social trend statistics show…In 80 per cent of the families at least one parent said they always felt pressed for time ‘‘trying to achieve a work-life balance’’.

Family-Friendly Work Policies Take a Hit (New York Times)

Working Mother magazine has released its 24th annual list of “100 Best Companies” today, with a dose of controversy on the side.  One question hovering over the recession was whether family-friendly policies would take it on the chin, and the advances of the past decade or more would prove to be just a luxury rather than a foundational change.  Carol Evans, president of of Working Mother Media, says that the answer is a definite maybe. On average, companies are cutting their flexibility policies, she said, but those most committed to “best practices” like flex-time, telecommuting, job sharing and on-site lactation rooms, were holding fast.

‘Work hum’ of texts, e–mails and phone calls is turning us into corporate slaves at home (Walesonline)

IT WAS once the work-life balance that got scientists and health experts hot under the collar.  But now it is the “work hum” invading family life with an endless stream of text messages, e-mails and phone calls.

Work-life balance is key (Medicine Hat News)

Results of a recent survey conducted with close to 1,000 employees in Alberta show that 91 per cent said having a good work-life balance rated as a four or five to them. However, only 44 per cent said they currently have a good balance between their work and other aspects of their lives. Thirty-eight per cent of employees surveyed said they had voluntarily decreased the number of hours they work in an effort to improve their work-life balance.   Creating good work-life balance is the responsibility of both individual employees and their employers. Stressed and overworked employees are more likely to make mistakes, take sick-days off, be short-tempered with co-workers and customers and may be more prone to accidents on the job.

Five tips for moms returning to the workplace (Wichita Eagle)

Workplace flexibility. The market may be tough, but some jobs today offer perks that most in the workforce wouldn’t have dreamed of in the past. Specifically, many employers are increasingly open to letting employees working remotely at least part of the time. The flexibility to work from home, or adjust your schedule on the fly, could be the difference between being able to take on a job or not, and at the very least it’ll ease some of the challenges of being a working mother.

Workplace flexibility critical: Gillard (Brisbane Times)

Flexibility in the workplace is critical for men and women to deal with family issues, Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard says…”I think it’s very important that there is flexibility in the workplace to allow women and men to deal with family life issues,” Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.  “Of course, our system allows people to bargain over the nature of the flexibility clause to make sure that it’s right for their business, their enterprise, their workplace.”She said the model flexibility clause had been adopted in a “vast majority” of workplace agreements.

Technology journalists are the ones to watch (The Guardian)

But technology journalists are often also the harbingers of what working life is going to be like. You may not like it. Mike Butcher, the editor of TechCrunch, a technology news blog, writes and updates the site from all over Europe. In January he wrote that he doesn’t have a work/life balance – “I have work/life hum.” It started after he got an iPhone, with its email, Twitter, Facebook, web browser, calendar, text messaging, voice recorder and – most importantly – permanent, unlimited data connection.

In the Blogs

100 Best Companies for Family Friendly Policies – Really? (MomsRising)

The bright side is that placement on this list is coveted by companies and has over the years made being seen as offering workplace flexibility a positive.  But could there be a darker side? Wonks wagging in Washington point to the number of advertising pages bought by some of those very companies whose names are on the list.  A personnel officer of one of the winners confided that while the policies are on the books, the corporate culture discourages employees actually implementing the “family-friendly” policies.  The survey, of companies with thousands of workers, records the percentage who have access to paid maternity and paternity leave, flexible scheduling, childcare, and sick- or back up child care.  Obviously this number could be much higher than those who actually utilize such programs.  Rather than serving as an inducement to encourage greater workplace responsiveness, could such listings be the result of corporate PR and publishers’ need for revenue?

Mom-Approved Client Development (The Fordyce Letter)

The take-away message, according to the magazine’s editors, is that “how, when, and where you work” is not as important as the quality of the work produced. In fact, a full 100% offer some sort of telecommuting or flextime schedule; 98% offer job-sharing; and 94% offer compressed workweeks.

Employee Health, Wellness– No Longer Optional Benefit, but Strategic Imperative (Fast Company Expert Blog)

Families and Work Institute (FWI) just released The State of Health in the American Workforce study.  The numbers are not only disturbing, but they are a real call to action for both individuals and employers.   The research shines a light on the paradox that working harder, faster, longer does more harm than good not only to our personal health and well being, but to business.   In the new work+life flex normal, employee health and wellness are not an “option,” they’re a strategic imperative.

Wellness is the Responsibility of Business as Well as Worker (Huffington Post)

On the bright side, employer policies fostering employee engagement and satisfaction are associated with better employee health. Examples of these policies include giving employees a say about how to do their jobs and providing flexible scheduling options. FWI finds that 38% of employees in workplaces that we classify as having “high overall effectiveness” (based on six measurable criteria: economic security, autonomy, work-life fit, job challenge and learning, supervisor task support and a climate of respect) report “excellent overall health.” By contrast, only 19% of employees in workplaces in the “low overall effectiveness” category report “excellent overall health.”

“100 Best Companies” for how long? (True/Slant Work.Life blog)

Though the “Best Companies” list is hardly comprehensive (companies sign-up voluntarily to participate in a self-reported survey), it does give us an idea of what’s out there in terms of flexibility and benefits at top companies. Don’t be scared off by the whole maternal focus either—if a company is flexible and generous with benefits for mothers, it’s likely flexible and generous with benefits for all employees. (Though not necessarily; and that’s one of the problems with focusing only on working mothers when it comes to work/life issues in the workplace). This year, 100 percent of the “Best Companies” offer telecommuting and flextime schedules to employees, 98 percent offer job-sharing, and 94 percent offer compressed workweeks.

Seeking balance in your life (Winning Strategies for Women)

Balance is a goal that seems to remain just out of reach unless you make it a priority. Early on in my career, I worked tirelessly without re-energizing myself. I felt that it was what I was ‘suppose’ to do. I let guilt drive many of those early decisions.  As I grew older (and I’d like to think wiser)- I began to see the whole picture more clearly. Balance is something that we control, and usually it either works smoothly or not based on our own strengths or weaknesses in managing our workload.

More Good News About Women, Balance and Happiness (Becky & Hollee)

Then we discussed how to balance family and work, and I snuck in a quick survey.  Here’s the good news: When I asked whether nurses today were better equipped to balance work and life than nurses 20 years ago, almost 80 percent said yes!

Work/Life balance (Modern Mom)

I have rarely talked about this, but now as I bury myself in this ModernMom community, I am realizing how many career moms are torn between the work/life balance…Some of us have to work; staying at home is not option.  Some of us want to work because it has many benefits for certain women.  Some of us are stay at home moms, which in my opinion is the HADREST job on the planet!  The question is, if you didn’t have to work, would you, and for what reasons?

Virtual Law Firms & Heritage Law (Heritage Law blog)

In addition to the business pressures on law firm management, large numbers of lawyers are choosing to leave the traditional law firm model.  A February 2007 cover story of California Lawyer magazine entitled, “We’re Outta Here: Why Women are Leaving Big Firms”  noted the serious issue of high attrition rates from the legal profession:  “The past few years have witnessed the highest levels of associate attrition ever documented, with an average annual attrition rate for both sexes of 19 percent, as recently reported by the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education. Within five years of entering a firm, more than three-quarters of associates leave. Female associates were nearly twice as likely as males to depart to pursue a better work/life balance.”

A new age of talent management (Entitled)

The most interesting part to me was the discussion about what all three generations are looking for in a workplace, including greater flexibility, ability to achieve desired work/life balance and belong to teams that generate “meaningful and valued results – within their companies and, if possible, in the world at large.”

IT Salary Hikes and Attrition (Current IT Market . net)

The average retention rate, defined as percentage of employees retained out of the total employees as on March 31, 2008, improved to 85 per cent, from 79 per cent in 2008, the survey stated…Another key finding is that more employees are satisfied with the interest shown by their companies as well as their immediate seniors in helping them strike a work-life balance compared to last year.

Work life balance number one requested topic for Cincinnati businesswomen (Examiner.com)

Diane Long, Program Manager for Women Excel opened the WE Share event on work life balance by announcing that work life balance was the number one requested topic.  That announcement, coupled with the full room at the Cintas Center,  was no surprise for many of the Cincinnati businesswomen in attendance.

Work At Home – How To Increase Your Productivity & Success While Working At Home (Article Rumble)

Having a work-at-home business is increasingly become popular. Why? People are seeking ways to supplement their income and get a better work-life balance. People today prefer to be their own ‘boss’, and set their own work hours.  If you decide to work home, you will also need to be organized and disciplined so that you get a lot of work done. It is your sole responsibility to keep yourself motivated. It is very easy to be distracted while working at home, therefore it is important for you to have some guideline to follow while you work at home.

Press Releases

NEW FAMILIES AND WORK INSTITUTE STUDY REVEALS DECLINES IN THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN WORKFORCE

First Horizon Makes 15th Working Mother Best Companies Appearance

“We are excited to join the Hall of Fame and proud to be among the nation’s companies recognized for steadfastly supporting an employee-focused culture that understands the importance of balancing work and family,” said Bryan Jordan, First Horizon CEO. “We are particularly pleased with this recognition from Working Mother during a year in which economic times have been difficult for many families because that’s when support for the family in the workplace is even more important.”

Walker Named As One of the Consulting Industry’s Best Small Firms to Work For

Walker was specifically recognized in the areas of culture and work/life balance. Steve Walker attributes this to the deeply ingrained values instilled in the firm by its founder, Dorothy Walker.  “As leaders of a third-generation, family-owned business, my father and I have always understood the importance of culture and work/life balance, and have diligently worked to preserve the productive environment she built,” Walker said.

Abbott Again Honored for Offering One of the ‘Top 10′ Leading Workplaces

“We are pleased to be recognized again by Working Mother magazine for creating a workplace that inspires and empowers working parents to succeed in their careers and at home,” said Stephen Fussell, senior vice president, Human Resources, Abbott. “Abbott continues to invest in training and development, extensive benefits, workplace flexibility and health and wellness programs, which allow our colleagues to build extraordinary careers. We strive to put people and potential together better than other organizations.”

Censeo Consulting Group Named to Consulting Magazine’s ’2009 Best Small Firms to Work For’ List

Firm Ranks #2 for Corporate Culture and Employee Morale and Takes Top Spots in Career Development and Work/Life Balance

Career Life Connection News and Events

Career Life Connection will be exhibiting at the Massachusetts Conference for Women on December 10, 2009 at the Boston Convention and Exhibit Center:  Come on by and talk work/life balance/flexibility/fit at the annual conference where women can connect, be motivated, network, get inspired and build their skill base.  Last year the event brought together more than 5,000 women for the day.

ERE Interviews:  Career Life Connection (JobRadio.fm)

Last week we stalked some of the job search vendors at the ERE Fall Expo in Hollywood Florida. This is the first of several interesting interviews from the expo floor. Meet Leanne Chase from Career Life Connection, an online community all about finding flexible work.

The Final Wrap – ERE Expo (Human Race Horses)

There was a large social media presence at the event with plenty of live blogging and tweeting going on.  You can find a summary of the tweet stream here.  Great reviews of the conference have been written by Jonathon Goodman, Leanne Chase , Sharlyn Lauby,  my amazing friend Stephanie A. Lloyd, Jason Buss,   Jason Buss,  another “Jason” – my buddy Jason Blais,  the swanky and eloquent  Jennifer McClure, and the always scintilating Laurie Ruettimann

ERE Expo Fall ‘09: The next killer recruiting app (HR Marketer Blog)

Career Life Connection had the most innovative booth – stocked with four inflatable chairs that provided a welcome break from standing, a surprising degree of comfort, and a great place to start a conversation

Conference Recap: 2009 ERE Expo (HR Bartender)

I really enjoyed spending time at the Career Life Connection booth.  Career Life Connection was not only an exhibitor but one of the conference sponsors.

Leanne Chase, president of Career Life Connection, shared with me a special offer for ERE Expo attendees and said that I could share it with you.  Just fill out their employer form and get a 3-month board listing.  Be sure to check it out along with their blog.  Lots of great info about workplace flexibility and balance.

Sunday HR Shout-Out: Women of #EREExpo (PunkRock HR)

I am lucky to connect with great women in my life. I spent some time with Leanne Chase who is always interested in talking politics, gender issues, and work/life balance.

Career Life Connection from ERE Expo in Fort Lauderdale

The first leg of my travels for the next two weeks brings me to the ERE Expo courtesy of Leanne Chase (@leanneclc) of Career Life Connection. I think I fit the description as someone with a flexible job and that’s what Career Life Connection is all about it. It’s a site devoted to spreading information about job flexibility and the waves of changes going through corporate america as employers everywhere are finding out people work harder when they can have flexible (NOT 9-5) schedules. Keep up with industry news and find/post jobs on the CLC Job Board.

Career Life Connection is excited to announce that IWearYourShirt.com’s September 10th show will be streamed live from their booth at the ERE Expo on Sept. 10th.  Stop by booth #205 to meet Jason Sadler and talk with him about how he achieved social media ROI success.

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

I listened in on a webinar yesterday with Ellen Galinsky of the Families and Work Institute about “The State of Health In the American Workforce.”  Two of the best nuggets I took away were:

Weightlifting is to work as…Think about those who lift weights that you know.  They are dedicated not only to the days they lift, but to the days they rest and recover so their muscles can work at their best.  Workers can’t be expected to be at their best, either, if they don’t have rest/recovery time.

The health care debate is not only about health insurance.  It is about how to lower costs and get a healthier nation.  Health insurance companies don’t control this.  Humans do.  Yes, health insurance clearly needs reforming…but so do attitudes and wellness programs.  Being able to drop your dry cleaning off at the office is NOT a wellness program.  Having a discounted gym membership that you never have time to use is NOT a wellness program.

Here are some of the study’s findings that stood out to me:

• The downward trend in employee health over the last six years cannot be explained by age
• Less than one third of employees (28%) today say their overall health is “excellent”—a significant decline of 6%.
• The majority of employees do not exercise on  a  regular  basis.
• Nearly two out of three employed  individuals (62%) are overweight or obese.
• One third of the workforce shows signs of clinical depression.
• Four out of  five couples are dual-earner couples today.

Gender shifts:

• In  2002, men were significantly more likely than women to report excellent overall health—37% of men compared with 31% of women… In 2008, 28% of men and 29% of  women reported their perceived overall health as excellent.
• Work-life conflict  has  increased especially among men—by eleven percentage points from 34% in 1977 to 45% in 2008. In comparison, the percentage of women experiencing work-life conflict has increased by five points from 34% in 1977 to 39% in 2008.

And finally:

• Employees’ physical and mental health, stress levels, sleep quality and energy levels all significantly impact important work outcomes of interest to employers, such as engagement, turnover intent and job satisfaction.

I wish I could say I was surprised by the findings but I wasn’t. I mean after all, don’t most of us work or know people who do?  Are these above facts really surprising based on people you know, personally?  They’re not for me.  So I began to think about what the webinar didn’t cover.  Which is why this is and how to turn the tide.

Pointing fingers is not the purpose here.  But I think we need to understand how we got here and what to fix in order to move forward so here goes:

Human Resources is broken.  Just look at the name…viewing humans as resources over being individuals is part of the problem.  I wish I could say I’m the first to come up with this notion but I’m not.  A couple of great minds in the HR industry are ahead of me on this one, both good reads from inside the industry.  From Punk Rock HR “HR is Dying.  Yes? No?” and from HR Guy “Is Human Resources Fatally Flawed”

Your work/life is in your control – yes we are in a recession and people need their jobs to keep a roof over the heads.  I get that.  But there are people who are more financially comfortable who can  just say “no” when workplaces are unreasonable.  And why wouldn’t the workplace ask for more and more and more from workers.  They don’t say “no.”  Think of toddlers.  My little one would read “just one more book” all night if I allowed it.  But she has a set bedtime and she knows the rule is 3 books/night.  So how about making your own rules.  Like: I will be home for dinner with my family, I will take vacations and the office will not crumble without my presence, my parents health and well-being is important to me, so I will take time to care for them as they age, and if your corporate partner does not allow this…walk.  Find another.  If we collectively decided to only work for and buy goods from organizations that treated us humanely…the others would go away.  They simply would.

Corporations need to listen. Seriously!  Is this report really a surprise to you?  In the go-go good times you made profits on your workers’ backs without really increasing their wages and benefits.  So now that times are lean and you need them to understand your woes they’re not as understanding as you’d prefer.  Perhaps if you ever listened to their woes…they would be more understanding.  Besides, working them to the ground is not good for business.  Isn’t that what you’re all about?  What’s good for business.  It turns out working less, works more.

We all need to talk to each other.  Not at each other, not to our HR cliques, not to equally disgruntled co-workers.  But truly come together, discuss what ails us, and work toward a solution…together.

And there is some good news from this study:

• Employees’ personal or family life is more likely to have a positive impact on the level of energy they bring to their work than the other way around.

So let’s take the time to re-energize.   It’s important.

Let me know what you think of the reports findings.  It really is quite a good read and does offer examples of solutions that are working in the workplace today.

In the News

Recession Drives Women Back to the Work Force (New York Times)

Last February Trudi Foutts Loh felt compelled to find full-time work, some 20 years after she quit her job to care for her two children. Her job back then as a lawyer and three hours of daily commuting made balancing everything impossible.

Utah employers are recognized for workplace flexibility (ABC 4)

In a tough economy, working around your employees needs may not appear to be good business, but seven Utah employers have received a national award for doing just that. They say offering flexible work schedules, and allowing employees to work from home has never made more sense.

Flexible work tops agenda for crunch mums (Reuters)

Flexible working hours, homeworking opportunities and cover for emergencies or school holidays are the top concerns for working mothers, according to a British survey on Thursday.  The survey of 1,677 people by specialist employment advice website workingmums.co.uk showed that despite a tougher jobs climate, in which redundancies had risen dramatically during the recession, mothers clamored for a more malleable schedule.

Gap To Employees: Work Wherever, Whenever You Want (BusinessWeek)

Art Peck, president of Gap Outlet, a division of Gap Inc., in San Francisco, no longer hears about employees’ doctors’ appointments or parent-teacher conferences. And he couldn’t be happier. For the past year, Gap Outlet has piloted a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE), the first major company to do so since Best Buy pioneered the practice six years ago. The pilot program included 137 headquarters employees and executives in merchandising, design, production, finance, HR and IT. Retail store employees are not eligible to participate.

New workplace laws failing Julia Gillard’s flexibility test (The Australian)

THE Rudd government has suffered a setback in its push to allow individual workers to secure more flexible working conditions, after Campbell’s Soup buckled to union opposition to Labor’s new workplace flexibility clause. In the first test of the flexibility of Labor’s workplace laws, Campbell’s dropped its bid to have its employees be able to strike individual flexible arrangements with the company, following a campaign by the left-wing Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

How to manage the work-life balance (Globe and Mail)

Work-life balance is especially challenging for entrepreneurs because the choice is theirs. When you’re in charge of how much or how little you do, how do you find the right balance?  Sure, there’s flexibility for personal time, but what about customer expectations? With current technology enabling people to work 24/7, must you always be available? And if you pull back, what’s the cost?  Incubator talked to three Toronto entrepreneurs, each with different priorities and solutions that work for them.

Tennis champion Kim Clijsters is proof we working mothers really can be superhuman (Daily Mail)

Inevitably, coverage has focused on the fact that Kim Clijsters is a mum – the first to win a Grand Slam tournament since Evonne Goolagong Cawley way back in 1980.  Certain male commentators seem to find it hard to believe that a woman who has so much as heated a bottle of formula can ever be more than an also-ran on a professional tennis court.  Notice that no one mentioned the possible impact of Roger Federer’s young twins on his surprise defeat in the men’s final. The popular view remains that becoming a parent drains ambition and ability from a woman, though a man remains as virile as ever, maybe more so.  That’s why women back at work after maternity leave can still find themselves put on the Mummy Track, a bumpy road to Nowhere.

However, 65 per cent feel that the values at their workplace are not in tune with their personal values and only one in four are convinced that work-life balance is possible.  That’s a warning sign for employers, said Toronto psychiatrist Irvin Wolkoff.

“If employees do not feel that they can balance their work and their personal priorities, such as their families, we are going to see more Canadians struggling with mental health issues,” Wolkoff said in a release.  “We are also going to face an employee base who are resentful, disengaged and stressed.”

Sarkozy attacks focus on economic growth (Guardian)

• French president urges more emphasis on quality of life – Arguing that gross domestic product (GDP) – the standard means of measuring a country’s economic growth – ignores other factors vital to the well-being of its population, the report proposes a new indicator which would be calculated with GDP but take into account a broader view.  A new indicator would look at issues such as environmental protection and work/life balance as well as economic output to rate a country’s ability to maintain the “sustainable” happiness of its inhabitants.

Wanted: work-life balance (Straits-Times)

In looking for a new job, she has added a criterion to her checklist: work-life balance. ‘The firm I join needs to be supportive of work-life balance and care about its employees’ well-being,’ she said. Increasingly, Singaporeans like Ms Lee are putting more emphasis on life beyond work.

In the Blogs

Seven Ways You Can Win the Battle to Control Your Own Life (The Huffington Post)

In the business environment, work-life effectiveness success is defined by measurable gains across seven clusters of people practices known as the work-life portfolio. 20 years of empirical research shows that an investment in any one of them provides a positive return, just like a financial portfolio, and investment in most or all of them yields a cumulative effect that all stakeholders prize: a more productive, engaged and healthier workforce. Ask any “employer of choice”–they know that the strongest weapon for this battlefield is a flexible leadership philosophy, but full battle gear requires a lot more than flexibility.

Whether you’re an employer or an employee, during National Work & Family Month, dedicate yourself to these seven principles of work-life effectiveness.

The Achiever (This Magic Moment)

Because that little girl and eventually that little boy… they’re watching everything we do and imitating it, now in play and later in life. So I have to finally get it right. The balance between accomplishment and fun. The science of rest. The art of living in the moment.

Work-life balance ‘most important equality issue’; pay second (Thomsons.com)

An equal rights questionnaire carried out by a leading employment organisation has found that work-life balance guidance is the most requested equality issue in the workplace.  In the TUC 2009 Equality Audit, it was found that 65 per cent of unions under the Trades Union Congress (TUC) umbrella were consulted over the matter, while women’s pay and reward alongside employee benefits polled second with 63 per cent.

State(s) Your Case (Life Meets Work)

The workplace flexibility storm has been brewing and we’re starting to hear some might loud thunderclaps…like these:  Two states are offering free telecommuting resources. Minnesota’s program is based on the ROWE (Results Only Work Environment). Connecticut’s program is outstanding, including what looks like a good deal of FREE consulting services.

Can you get FIRED for breast feeding at work? (Who’s The Boss?)

The bigger problem is that although this seems to be an issue of gender discrimination, it really relates to the larger problem of work-life balance, which is totally unrelated to gender. At some point in adult working lives, most of us will have personal challenges that may require us to alter our work shifts, take extra breaks, work from home, etc. This is true for both men and women.  Married or single.  Childless or breeders.  When companies recognize that we need work-life balance and accommodate those needs, the company will have a stronger, more productive, loyal workforce.

Work-life balance top priority for both men and women (Insider Media Group)

An issue that has been talked about for ages, but is only recently becoming more relevant in North America, is work-life balance. And those in the workforce are not the only ones sitting up and taking notice.  Many companies are implementing new measures such as holding information sessions for women looking to pursue careers in finance and even providing paternity leave (yes boys, keep reading as this is an issue for you too!).

How Technology Helps Attain Work-Life Balance! (Entertainment Journal)

The new-age employer understands these problems and since higher productivity is what interests them the most, they are willing to achieve this through ensuring work-life balance for their employees.  Such employers, who use technology to enhance working arrangements are looked at as better employers, and employees are more likely to experience job satisfaction and stay in the organization longer.

Press Release

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts (The White House)

Chai R. Feldblum, Nominee for Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - As Co-Director of Workplace Flexibility 2010, Feldblum has worked to advance flexible workplaces in a manner that works for employees and employers.

Career Life Connection News and Events

ERE Interviews:  Career Life Connection (JobRadio.fm)

Last week we stalked some of the job search vendors at the ERE Fall Expo in Hollywood Florida. This is the first of several interesting interviews from the expo floor. Meet Leanne Chase from Career Life Connection, an online community all about finding flexible work.

The Final Wrap – ERE Expo (Human Race Horses)

There was a large social media presence at the event with plenty of live blogging and tweeting going on.  You can find a summary of the tweet stream here.  Great reviews of the conference have been written by Jonathon Goodman, Leanne Chase , Sharlyn Lauby,  my amazing friend Stephanie A. Lloyd, Jason Buss,   Jason Buss,  another “Jason” – my buddy Jason Blais,  the swanky and eloquent  Jennifer McClure, and the always scintilating Laurie Ruettimann

ERE Expo Fall ‘09: The next killer recruiting app (HR Marketer Blog)

Career Life Connection had the most innovative booth – stocked with four inflatable chairs that provided a welcome break from standing, a surprising degree of comfort, and a great place to start a conversation

Conference Recap: 2009 ERE Expo (HR Bartender)

I really enjoyed spending time at the Career Life Connection booth.  Career Life Connection was not only an exhibitor but one of the conference sponsors.

Leanne Chase, president of Career Life Connection, shared with me a special offer for ERE Expo attendees and said that I could share it with you.  Just fill out their employer form and get a 3-month board listing.  Be sure to check it out along with their blog.  Lots of great info about workplace flexibility and balance.

Sunday HR Shout-Out: Women of #EREExpo (PunkRock HR)

I am lucky to connect with great women in my life. I spent some time with Leanne Chase who is always interested in talking politics, gender issues, and work/life balance.

Career Life Connection from ERE Expo in Fort Lauderdale

The first leg of my travels for the next two weeks brings me to the ERE Expo courtesy of Leanne Chase (@leanneclc) of Career Life Connection. I think I fit the description as someone with a flexible job and that’s what Career Life Connection is all about it. It’s a site devoted to spreading information about job flexibility and the waves of changes going through corporate america as employers everywhere are finding out people work harder when they can have flexible (NOT 9-5) schedules. Keep up with industry news and find/post jobs on the CLC Job Board.

Career Life Connection is excited to announce that IWearYourShirt.com’s September 10th show will be streamed live from their booth at the ERE Expo on Sept. 10th.  Stop by booth #205 to meet Jason Sadler and talk with him about how he achieved social media ROI success.

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

Today’s guest blog post comes from Career Life Connection community member Rose Jensen. And it couldn’t be more timely. I was just asked about work-from-home scans in a recent radio interview and nearly fell for one sent to me on Twitter. I get sent info on workplace flexibility often, so when I received a link about Google allowing workers to work from home I was intrigued. The article was in a legitimate publication in Canada. I read it through cursorily and sent it out to my network. Then I clicked around a bit more…and in order to “work from home” you needed to send in $2.95. Now I understand that’s not a lot…but there is no company who is willing to “hire” you that would make you pay to be hired…none! Fortunately I caught it quickly, outed the person who sent it to me, and called it out for being a scam…Thank you, Rose for your timely thoughts:

Work from home opportunities can be great for those seeking a flexible yet rewarding job. In fact, work from home employees may be more likely to stay and dedicate themselves to a company than those who commute to work. Outrigger Hotels shifted all of its contact agents from its Denver-based office to a work-at-home set up, which reduced tardiness and reduced agent turnover by 35 percent. But some fake businesses are taking advantage of those seeking job flexibility. The recent bust of the Google Money Tree scam comes to mind, where a fake company using Google’s name conned individuals into divulging their credit card numbers. To avoid falling for a similar trap, look out for these 5 tell-tale signs of a work-from-home scam.

1. Do not trust in the legitimacy of a job advertisement just because you saw it on a trusted website. Big news websites, like CNN and your local paper, as well as little ones, like your favorite blog, do not control what advertisements show up on their pages. Instead, they rely on third-party ad placement companies, which often do not screen their ads either. This means that it is possible for bogus advertisements to show up anywhere.

2. Any opportunity you receive via email is a scam. No company or individual with the key to an easy money-making scheme will contact complete strangers to share the information.

3. If you must pay before you can make money, don’t fall for it. No employer will require an employee to pay for anything before receiving a paycheck. After all, if there are expenses to cover, such as training kits, then a credible employer will simply take it out of your first paycheck. Never pay before you get paid.

4. Don’t trust in the use of big names or logos for proof of legitimacy. Just as many organizations have no control over what ads are placed on their sites, they are equally unaware if a fake company uses their logo for a scam. Many fake work-at-home scams use the logos and names of legitimate corporations, claiming that it had been “featured on ABC” or some other source, to try to trick individuals into trusting them.

5. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This is the bottom line for most work-at-home opportunities. Be logical in deciding if something is real or not. Any “get rich quick” promise should be met with skepticism. After all, if it were so easy to make thousands of dollars just for inputting data or posting links, then why are there not more new millionaires on the block?

This post was contributed by Rose Jensen, who writes about the online universities. She welcomes your feedback at Rose.Jensen28@yahoo.com

The little one is feeling yucky today and is staying home from school to cuddle with mommy and get lots of TLC so the first guest blog post will have to wait. But this came out today…a radio interview I did on the trade show floor of the ERE Expo with @ChrisRussell. It really helps explain what I’m trying to do with Career Life Connection and why. Let me know what you all think!

Fascinating isn’t it? This is what I talk about for a non-living. This is what I advocate, this is my raison d’etre. And it has been turned upside down.

I had a great work-life integration when no one was really paying attention to this website. I did pilates in the middle of the day, took my little one to school and read her stories, stopped by the playground and played with her, went to see the occasional movie…but no longer.

Mostly because it is time to move forward and do more. And partly because there are some great opportunities on my plate after the ERE Expo that just wrapped.

Don’t get me wrong, I was starting to feel the self-imposed pressure before the show…and my husband was definitely starting to feel it…loud but apparently not very clear.

You see he is a consultant that lives in a city other than the one I live in with our little one. Often it is very manageable. But not this year. He’s been working out of NYC since March and leaves Monday morning and typically comes home Friday around dinner time. So that leaves me to do manage the house, do meals, take the little one to school, clean up from meals, manage our childcare and our hectic schedules, arrange and go to dr’s appts, and all the other stuff that makes a house run. While at the same time trying to get a start up off the ground.

And I’m starting to crack. I’ve got a turn at bat, I want to hit a double (seriously, a home run would be a whole lot more work), but I very much want to eat dinner with my little one and take her to school without being crabby and rushed about it. And I’d like my marriage to survive and thrive during this start up. So what to do.

Maximize resources
I’ve already talked with our nanny and while her hours won’t change, I will be piling a few more duties on her plate. And she is amenable to more hours on an as needed basis.

My house will now get cleaned more often…the cobwebs are starting to pile up so no more every other week. Once a week cleaning is on the docket.

Husband weekend help. He works very hard and is trying to do the right thing…it’s just not that easy. He doesn’t see what needs to be done, he doesn’t know what groceries we need unless I write them down, he has no idea when the sheets were washed last, he’s not really sure what toys go where (or for that matter what pans go where) so we’ll put together a weekend list of to dos and he’ll learn.  And I’ll have to learn to say “no” more when weekend plans come along that would be great…but are unrealistic at this time.

Spend more, for now
Thankfully his job keeps us flush…so I can afford to pay for some things I wouldn’t normally spend money on – like backing up my computer. We have an external hard drive…it would be easy to just plug in now and then. But honestly I’m not going to remember it and it will feel like one more thing on my plate. So I’m paying for online back up. It will happen automagically and is one thing I won’t have to think about.

Drive and pay to park…I’m a city girl…I walk everywhere or park at meters. Nope, not right now. If I’m running late…Valet parking here I come!

Get new resources
Guest bloggers…I’ve talked about it here and I’ll be following up with some of you that I have spoken to personally. It will be good for me and for all of you!

Intern…I’ve just placed at listing with both my alma maters (Suffolk University & Boston University) for an intern. This site is wonderful but keeping up with the weekly news digest, then posting all of great articles in the resources section, twittering it out, keeping up with the company Facebook page and then trying to build the business is not realistic. It’s time to hand off the stuff that I have set up a routine for and spend my time on strategy marketing and honing the parts I haven’t even concentrated on. I mean seriously, have you seen the pathetic Forums section?

None of this is overly difficult…it’s just doesn’t come naturally to me to not do it all.  I will keep you updated on how I’m/we’re doing. I had such a lovely summer…now it’s time to buckle down and get help.

And if you know of an intern that would like to do some blog/website administration and social media work send them my way:
————————————————————————————————————————

Career Life Connection is seeking an intern 10 hours per week to work on online and social media projects. These projects include updating the weekly news digest, updating the resources pages, posting links and information to the company Facebook page, sending out information and links via Twitter. There are also writing and editing opportunities available. Happy to train, no experience necessary (hey if I can do it, so can you!)

Work can be done at the CLC office in Boston’s Back Bay or anywhere if the candidate has their own computer.

This is an unpaid internship that could grow into a part-time position.

To apply please answer:

Why do you want this internship?
What your goals are for this internship?
Other internships/experiences that set you apart
Something unique about yourself

Respond either by email to intern@careerlifeconnection.com or by calling 617-313-6330 and leaving a message.

And relax. This isn’t life or death…it’s an internship. Have fun with the questions above.

CareerLifeConnection.com is where talented professionals looking for a more flexible work environment meet companies who understand that flexibility can lead to a more fulfilled, loyal and productive workforce while increasing the bottom line. Our website offers a job board, information resources, forums and articles on workplace flexibility.

In the News

Chasing Elusive Work-Life Balance (Globe and Mail)

Can you have it all? Do you have to be there 24/7 for clients? Three entrepreneurs weigh in

Teachers with a good work-life balance produce higher-achieving pupils (HR Magazine)

Schools with staff who are satisfied in their jobs and are valued by managers produce higher achieving students, evidence from market research agency ORC suggests.

Goodman: Grateful to have a job (San Jose Mercury News)

The talk of work-life balance has fallen as fast as a 401(k). There is still a stigma attached to flextime and only half of workers get a single paid sick day. As Debra Ness of the National Partnership for Women and Families says, worried workers are “less likely to ask for benefits and less likely to use them if they have them.”  After the dot-com bubble burst, we got a jobless recovery. Will the Great Recession and the grateful worker end up with a benefit-less recovery?

AARP salutes 3 N.C. employers (News & Observer)

In compiling the list, the AARP looks at recruiting practices; training and educational opportunities; workplace flexibility in terms of scheduling, job sharing and phased retirement; retirement benefits; and work opportunities for retirees.

SC Johnson, Acuity make AARP ‘best’ list (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)

AARP said Acuity is committed to helping employees have a positive work-life balance. Changes based on employee opinion surveys include the construction of an on-site exercise facility and enhanced retirement training. Acuity has also worked to maintain a strong benefits package that includes perks such as unlimited, paid sick leave for employees unable to work because of an injury or illness. Acuity has also gone eight years without raising health care premiums.

Agency Executives Need to Get Out on Motorcycles More Often (Advertising Age)

The best agencies can be the best and still offer careers with balance. I don’t think that when you get older you are any less adept at the essential skills that once made you a star copywriter or planner. I just think that you get burned out and realize that there is more to life than selling consumer products. It’s time for agencies to create cultures that cultivate the balance. Because isn’t it the experiences outside the agency that inform the magic that happens within?

Five Steps for Achieving Work-life Balance (Asia One)

Working longer hours and E-mail make it hard to balance the demands on your time, particularly if you have family commitments. But having a meaningful career doesn’t mean sacrificing your personal life either. Achieving work-life balance isn’t that difficult.

Why Are You Not Like Me? The Generational Gap In The Workplace (Psychology Today)

The workplace is facing a generational adjustment of values, learning and working styles that will have a huge impact on how leaders think and act. Generation X and Generation Y will transform the nature of the workplace.

Launching a start-up and having a family life: It’s possible! (Venture Beat)
What will your epitaph say? – When our kids were babies I was still struggling to try to put the work/life balance in perspective.  Someone gave me a thought that I tried to live my live my life around.  He asked me, when you’re gone would you rather have your gravestone say, “He never missed a meeting.” Or one that said, “He was a great father.” Holding my two kids on my lap, it was a pretty easy decision.

How Gen Y and Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda (Diversity Inc)

Y’s and boomers value work/life balance and prioritize Flexibility and Remote Work. They are shedding Industrial Age conceptions of work and demanding control over when, where and how work gets done.

Flexibility could be vital for workplace productivity (HR Review – UK)

Flexibility and good employee communication are “vital” for a happy and productive workforce during the recession, one sector commentator has claimed.  Robert Janes, chair of judges for The National Business Awards, said that if a firm is facing budget challenges, the best course of acting was to be honest with staff as this could make it easier for them to face and meet these problems.

Is work taking over your life? (Metro News)
Poll show twice as many Canadians feel overworked this year over last

Hennepin Employees Try New Work Model (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

The results-oriented workplace model — where employees set their own schedules according to what they get done, rather than simply follow the clock — is said to be a hit with businesses eager to focus on tasks done rather than hours worked.   But is it good enough for government work? Hennepin County plans to find out.

Balancing Acts: If Not Now, When? (Inc)

If you allow a business, even a successful one, to dictate the terms of your life, you will always find reasons to delay making the big personal decisions — there’s the new branch that is just about to open, that merger on the horizon. When businesses survive and thrive, it’s the nature of the entrepreneur to keep expanding them.

Heavy workload biggest obstacle for women lawyers (The Kelowna Daily Courier)
A startling one-third of new women lawyers drop out of the profession within five years…The society says losing women lawyers is bad for the profession and it will only add to the expected shortage of lawyers in B.C. in the next decade as baby boomer-aged lawyers retire.

It’s about time (The Age – Australia)

Working parents fret about the hours they spend away from their children. But how do the kids feel about it? Amanda Woodard reports.

In the Blogs

The end of work-life balance? Long live work-life integration…(CSR Asia)

Work-life balance is dead and rapidly being replaced by the concept of work-life integration, if the number of articles and commentaries about the topic are to be believed. The “old” idea of work-life balance seems to imply that the two concepts are actually separate parts of someone’s existence. Whereas work-life integration is about seeing work as a part of improving one’s overall quality of life.

Thoughts on Work-Life Balance (Chandler Criminal Defense)

Being able to move around my schedule to be home was priceless. I didn’t have to ask anyone if I could take time off. I didn’t have to use any sick days or vacation time. Anyone who knows me in even the slightest personal capacity knows how much I love that dog. Personally caring for her in the comfort of her own home for the last days of her life was incredibly important to me. I don’t know if any firm would have given me that much flexibility to care for a pet.  Work decreased, but it never stopped altogether. I had filings to draft, interviews to conduct, and a jury trial the following week.

What Great Bosses Know about Work-Life Balance (Poynter)

During Labor Day week, it seems only fitting that we spend a little time on the topic of work-life balance. What do great bosses know about the struggle? Plenty, because many wrestle with it themselves.

The New Rules of Nine-to-Five – 13 Ways to Get a Flexible Work Schedule (Job Fair USA)

Imagine leaving your cubicle at any time of the day and working outside via a wireless campus your company has set up. If you worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, you could. If Utah-based Arup Laboratories were your employer, you’d work seven days on, seven days off — and still be considered full-time. Ever have days where you can’t seem to break away for lunch? NRG::Seattle forces you to. Every day around noon, the insurance company goes dark so that everyone must take an hour break for lunch. The goal: come back feeling recharged.

Why a Four-Day Work Week Will Be the Norm (Bedeviant.com)

What would you do with an extra day added to your weekend? Go fishing? Sleep in? Get some yard work done? How about work out? According to a recent article in Time, that’s what most of the Utah state employees mandated to take a four-day work week would do…I know of a few friends who have adopted this schedule and can attest that they are loving it.

Mothers Group To U.S. Senate: “We’re Trapped in the Last Century” (Insight New Mexico)

The National Association of Mothers’ Centers recently told a bipartisan U.S. Senate working group that a lack of flexibility in the workplace is punishing vast numbers of family caregivers in New Mexico and the rest of the country.

Is Work-Life Becoming More Intertwined? (workshifiting.com)

A theme that I heard repeatedly was that there’s no line between work and life now.  Workshifters have anytime access to work and the people they work with. I couldn’t help but ask myself, are we losing the “life” in work/life balance? Here are two different perspectives I heard from the small biz owners group

How employers are using schedule flexibility during recession (examiner.com)

One example of more schedule flexibility provided in the 2009 report was from Salt River Materials Group in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Employees can choose to reduce their workweek by 5 – 20% and or take unpaid leave without affecting their eligibility for benefits.

Labor Day – Everyday (Examiner.com)

A job shouldn’t suck all of your life-force from you leaving you with nothing to give yourself or your family when you get home from work.  But so many people believe that to be a contributing member of society you need to punch a clock and work from 9-5 every day.  But this shouldn’t be the case.

.

Press Release

New Book, “WOMEN WANT MORE,” Reveals How Companies Can Capture Their Share of the World’s Largest, Fastest-Growing Market

Consider the following findings of the BCG survey:

• As of 2006, about 71 percent of mothers in the United States were in the labor force
• Most — 56 percent — had children under one year old
• Yet, 88 percent of women are still responsible for grocery shopping
• 85 percent do most of the meal preparation
• 84 percent do the laundry
• 84 percent do the bulk of the cleaning
• 77 percent manage the tasks of household administration
• Nearly half of all women (47 percent) say that the big stress in their life is demands on their time
• 48 percent say that they feel pressure related to managing household finances and that it’s the major point of stress in their lives
• 45 percent of women say they don’t have “enough time for me”
• 38 percent say conflicting priorities cause stress

Career Life Connection News and Events

ERE Expo Fall ‘09: The next killer recruiting app (HR Marketer Blog)

Career Life Connection had the most innovative booth – stocked with four inflatable chairs that provided a welcome break from standing, a surprising degree of comfort, and a great place to start a conversation

Conference Recap: 2009 ERE Expo (HR Bartender)

I really enjoyed spending time at the Career Life Connection booth.  Career Life Connection was not only an exhibitor but one of the conference sponsors.

Leanne Chase, president of Career Life Connection, shared with me a special offer for ERE Expo attendees and said that I could share it with you.  Just fill out their employer form and get a 3-month board listing.  Be sure to check it out along with their blog.  Lots of great info about workplace flexibility and balance.

Sunday HR Shout-Out: Women of #EREExpo (PunkRock HR)

I am lucky to connect with great women in my life. I spent some time with Leanne Chase who is always interested in talking politics, gender issues, and work/life balance.

Career Life Connection from ERE Expo in Fort Lauderdale

The first leg of my travels for the next two weeks brings me to the ERE Expo courtesy of Leanne Chase (@leanneclc) of Career Life Connection. I think I fit the description as someone with a flexible job and that’s what Career Life Connection is all about it. It’s a site devoted to spreading information about job flexibility and the waves of changes going through corporate america as employers everywhere are finding out people work harder when they can have flexible (NOT 9-5) schedules. Keep up with industry news and find/post jobs on the CLC Job Board.

Career Life Connection is excited to announce that IWearYourShirt.com’s September 10th show will be streamed live from their booth at the ERE Expo on Sept. 10th.  Stop by booth #205 to meet Jason Sadler and talk with him about how he achieved social media ROI success.

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

I was back in a booth at ERE Expo this year.  Which kind of sucks…you don’t get to go to the sessions and hear all the good stuff going on around you.  You miss a lot.  Like the fact that Laurie Ruettimann was announced as the Social Recruiting Summit’s Chair.

But that being said…who says you can’t make the booth babe experience work for you.  And I did.  And it was much better than I expected.  I am not a marketing genius…I just thought it through.  Here are some tips:

What bugged you at the last show…solve it for all of the attendees

In San Diego in March I had to walk off-site to the Marriott to buy a soda…and I’m a Pepsiholic.  Thankfully the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Fl is a Pepsi vendor.  It was heaven for me with soda an arm’s reach away in my booth (even though I’ve been trying to quit) and judging by the amount of soda we went through, it was a hit for many.

It’s hard to eat standing up so bring some chairs…and a compressor to blow them up.

If you’re going to be lonely…hire a friend

And if he wears your logo on his T-shirt all day, takes pictures, twitters, facebooks and does a live streaming show from your booth…all the better.  Not to mention the ability to be at 2 parties at once later that night.  While I was wine tasting and chatting it up…my walking billboard was at the Indeed party with my logo on his chest.  I’m guessing he needed to explain that some.

Think outside the booth

I’ve been to this show many times, I’ve seen many booths.  Most are pop ups with graphic panels and a podium.  The reason mine was so interesting is because it was not that!  My booth could have gone a whole different way.  It could have been totally cheesy.  I was a little concerned.  But once I saw the chairs and figured out the banner sign and Jason Sadler agreed to come and keep me company, I figured I could make it work.  Still the night before, looking at a very large trade show booth box in my living room I might have freaked out a little…or a lot.

And even when setting up the day before I was unsure if this would all come together.  Once set up, I literally had 4 blow up chairs and a banner stand…in a double booth!  Thank goodness for the catering staff at the Westin and the soda set up.  It turned out wonderfully.

Don’t be afraid to change the plan

I had no idea the blow up chairs would be such a hit.  Truly.  However my little one’s reaction should have tipped me off.  She is insisting one will live in her room forever now.  So when 3 or 4 people asked if I was giving them away…I decided to.  I had no intention of giving one away…but why not!

So what went on at the booth that has been called the “Expo highlight?”

• HireVue tipped over (it was a contest…and he went too far)
• People kept pulling the plug on the chair in the aisle so it would deflate as people sat in it
• Tried to pimp out my friend Shannon…she just moved to Miami from Boston and was in college recruiting…anyone in Miami looking for a great recruiter…anyone?
• Was way too wired on cold-caffeine and am pretty sure Mike Grennier thinks I’m cracked as I had Shannon stop him from leaving the soda area because I thought he looked familiar (he was a very popular speaker at ERE, duh!)
• We did a live streaming show for about 3 1/2 hours…about…nothing and everything as far as I can tell (Go Jason!)
• Learned The Recruiter Guy thinks big brother is watching…a lot
• Got my first video interview for this blog when Sarah White talked about her workplace flexibility (below)
• Was lucky enough to have most of these fabulous women hang out and talk with me
• Learned that popcorn cannot compete with alcohol and appetizers
• Talked about work-life balance and workplace flexibility with really interesting people who all have a story

That is my mission of the day.  To talk about it, record interviews with those who live it, and to be on iwearyourshirt.com’s live show – perhaps the most flexible job I know…albeit with a pesky dress code.

And inevitably I will be asked “What is your definition of workplace flexibility?”

I’m at ERE Expo, a recruiting convention and I understand.  Executives and HR like nice, easy, clean solutions.   One definition, one answer, something that you can pull out of a box and start to implement.

But humans aren’t that simple.  We all have different needs, wants and likes and while our desire for flexibility may be more common, the kind of flexibility we are looking for may differ greatly.  So, I’m sorry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for either companies or employees.  There are many options though…and they’re really not that difficult to implement.

ROWE – Results oriented work environment.  No rules, no cubes, work together, get the job done, be judged for your work

Job Share – 1 job, more than 1 person to do it.  Requires coordination and communication and can work really well.  Often customers rave about having more than 1 employee pay attention to them, and employees like it, too!

Telecommute – This is the one many think of when workplace flexibility is offered.  It  can mean working from a remote location full-time, part-time or as needed.  Many small non-profits do this very well…what’s stopping your organization?

% work for % pay – For example 4 days a week = 80% work for 80% pay/benefits or what has been traditionally known as part-time work.   It’s just often more career-oriented today.

Plain old flexibility  – allowing employees to take time as needed as long as they get work done.  Nothing formal or set in stone on this one, just everyone be reasonable and understanding

Workplace flexibility isn’t rocket science or brain surgery.  It’s just life.  And it shouldn’t be this hard.  It should come naturally if you want to attract and retain quality talent and increase the bottom line.  To the workplaces in the above articles who have taken the leap it already is a no-brainer.  You will hear more employer/employee stories here in the coming weeks in the form of video interviews, guest blog posts, and articles.  You will see how and why they flex and hopefully you can glean some knowledge and information from their stories to help you individually, to help your company, your friends and your family juggle/struggle with this work-life equation to define workplace flexibility.

And if you are at ERE Expo…stop by booth #205 for a chat.  I’d love to learn more from you about your realities in the world of work.  Hey, I could be wrong maybe it isn’t a no brainer…I just don’t think so…