Work-Life news for the week ending October 10, 2009

In the News

Vanessa Williams Chimes In For Charity (South Florida Times)

Responding to an audience question regarding how she manages family life in the world of show business, Williams said she checks her children’s school calendar early in the year and alerts her management to plan around important school events.  Having a strong support system is also helpful, she said, adding that having her mother nearby, (her mother still lives in the actress’ childhood home) is essential.

Forget work life balance and mix it up instead (Mirror – UK)

People are ditching the idea of balancing life and work in favour of simply blending it all together.

Madeleine Albright on work/life balance (Miami Herald)

In regard to work/life balance, Albright said: “There are no easy choices. Every woman’s middle name is guilt.”  Albright thinks women CEOs need to make it comfortable for other women to balance work and family and  to understand that sometimes a mom can’t be in two places at once.

It’s Not Hooky if the Boss Understands (Kansas City Star)

Sixty-three percent of employers surveyed recently by CareerBuilder.com said they allowed employees to use paid sick days for “mental health days.”

Women-owned businesses seek ways to grow (Miami Herald)

Women still are starting businesses at a faster rate than men. But only 3 percent of the 10 million women-owned businesses in the country have been able to break through the million-dollar revenue barrier, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. That’s an insanely small percentage. Six percent of men-owned businesses are clearing the $1 million mark.  Business experts believe many of the same factors that spark females to start a company are holding them back from expanding, for example work/life balance. Like Melwani, most still have many other demands on their time, particularly at home and in the community. And, there haven’t been a lot of role models, so many lack confidence or desire to make a leap.

Overworked Aussies need a break – unions (The Australian)

As South Australia enjoyed the Labour Day public holiday today, SA Unions secretary Janet Giles said the longer hours being forced on many workers were seriously threatening the work-life balance.  “We pride ourselves on our strong work ethic, but evidence shows that longer hours of hard slog actually make us less productive and this is having a flow-on effect economically and socially,” she said.

In the Blogs

Peaceful Revolution: Facing Up to the Consequences of Paying Lip Service to the “Work/Life” Agenda (Huffington Post)

And this carries over into workplace policies. We may entitle the policy “work/life,” but what we really mean is “work/family,” and what gets pride of place even in this group are parents. How can we expect employees to behave in a collegial way towards each other if our workplace practices endorse a hierarchy of “needs”?

Getting Away From It All. Now – Part 1 (Motivia)

For sure, there were several work-related lessons. Including that even though it was hard to relinquish control, on some level I demonstrated that I controlled my work instead of the other way around.  The vacation – in this case a beach vacation – gave me needed balance. It also gave me the opportunity to remember there is more to life than work, and I used that chance to make some important decisions affecting other areas of my life.  When I got back to work, I got a warm welcome. My newfound energy was contagious. I got back into the swing of things with more fire and gusto. Asked how my vacation was, I piped that “If vacation can have this kind of effect, bring them on!”

The Work/Life Balance and HR Happy Hour (Renegade HR)

And as for work and life being distinct and separate… Do you stop thinking about work at five (or whenever your shift ends)? Do you stop thinking about your family and friends when you go in to work?  I prefer to think of work and life as a blend. The key to being happy at work and in life is to find the right blend of the two. The lines are blurring, with telecommuting, flexible work arrangements, and the controversial results only work environment (ROWE).

Workforce Strategy: Workplace flexibility (Work Fanatic)

In a recession based culture that is driving more results with less resources, the need for the company to leverage their current work force is required.  This will need a fresh look at the obstacles and challenges that will be faced when aligning with the company’s objectives.  Work force strategy is a critical component of that strategy and flexibility will continue to rise as technology drives collaboration.  Companies need to continue to execute on strategies that allow for flexibility, and employees are required to show their employers the benefits when those concessions are given.

Workplace Flexibility and Working Mothers (Biz Momentum)

Workplace Flexibility is increasingly becoming an important tool in the arsenal of smart businesses to stay competitive and retain employees. In a recent study it was found that over 60% of working mothers are considering leaving the workforce and starting home based businesses.

#25d – Will Business Celebrate, or Tolerate, Our Daughters? (HotMamas)

What if we don’t have the hours to invest, so we’re not going to be as successful?  The truth is, I think this could hold true in large corporations. Clearly all is not solved as indicated in this Washington Post Magazine chat on work life balance.  I’d like to believe it’s different, and this Boston Globe article indicates positive trends, but my fear is that flex-time and other such workers are tolerated, not celebrated.

Chapter 477 A  Seesaw (Book Hunter’s Holiday)

Life is choice.  I see my life and work not as a “balance” to be negotiated nor as a “juggling act” but as a see-saw. My family and my books both get my attention. Sometimes the focus is necessarily on one thing over the other (hence the see-saw), but in general family gets first priority. That’s my choice and that’s the main reason my business is in my home. I know my choice might not work for every working mother, but the see-saw analogy best describes the way I integrate my work and my family.

Working at Home  – Putting Your Family First (The Work At Home Woman)

The whole reason I decided to work from home in the first place was so that I could be spend time with my precious daughter!  Since then I have made some modifications to help me create a better work-life balance…

Working on this upcoming story already had me thinking about my own decision to leave the laboratory. My choice didn’t come down to a line in the sand between career and family. I was single throughout graduate school and defended my dissertation shortly before my 30th birthday. But those issues colored my decision. By the time I finished my Ph.D., I sensed a culture of inflexibility.  I realized that I didn’t want to feel locked into lab work, and I wanted to be able to pursue other creative interests, and, yes, eventually have a family. Did those desires make me a less capable scientist? Absolutely not, but conventional wisdom would say that I didn’t want it “bad enough.” If I had sensed more flexibility– an environment more compatible with my personal goals–  would I have considered staying in research? I don’t know.

Aussie Sexism Gives Work/Life Balance No Chance (babble Australia)

Unfortunately, my boss had other ideas. When I asked whether I could go part-time, I got a flat refusal. And the working from home? Ditto. With a chuckle thrown in to underline the preposterous nature of my request, he smiled stiffly and said it wasn’t fair on everyone else for someone to get ‘preferential treatment’ and ’special dispensation simply because you decided to have children.’  I was speechless. To cover the awkward silence, my boss then hit me with his best shot: ‘Of course, you can always resign if you feel that mothering is more important than work. It would probably be the best thing for all involved, come to think of it. You women can’t have it all, you know! That’s what your predecessor decided in the end. Of her own accord, I might add.’

Yes, WaPo, Many Women are Choosing to Stay-at-Home (Independent Women’s Forum)

It appears that “a solid majority of Americans (75%)” support the idea that women can enjoy opportunities outside of their traditional role in the home.  But despite this support, the report finds that many women “remain conflicted about the competing roles they play at work and at home.”

15 Tips for a Better Work-Life Balance (Savvy Sugar)

Staying on top of your A-game and maintaining a healthy work-life balance can feel like an oxymoron. Most of us experience an uneven pull between our social lives and work commitments, which isn’t surprising considering the current economy and fact that employees everywhere are working overtime to show they’re an indispensable part of the team. Nevertheless, it’s important to establish a healthy harmony between your job and personal life. This doesn’t just mean working overtime to please your boss and boyfriend, it means creating a balance of time spent working, playing, and pleasing yourself.

Work-Life Balance…Debunked! (CIO Unplugged)

We all go through life encountering a fair amount of tilt. The abundance of balls we’re juggling come crashing to the floor because we can’t manage them all. The contemporary word for the phenomenon today is “balance.” Stores carry dozens of books on the subject, and magazines print oodles of articles trying to help us live balanced lives and avoid a tilt scenario.  As CIOs, our careers are demanding and change is a common constant. Yet families are our support and our hobbies provide fulfillment and, thus, both deserve our time. We desire to perform well in all aspects of life. It’s how we’re wired.

How We Have Failed Working Families, And What We Can Do About It (Huffington Post)

When Michelle Obama attended the Corporate Voices for Working Families Annual Meeting in early May, she talked about the importance of work-life programs to working families and to the competitiveness of American business.  As we celebrate Work & Family Month during October, one of the points that Mrs. Obama made remains all too evident: There is an imbalance that exists for working families that allows people to fulfill their roles as employees, but not as parents.

The New Emphasis on Fatherhood (Corporate Voices for Working Families)

Moreover, far from being just a “woman’s issue,” work and family issues are now “men’s” issues. According to the Families and Work Institute, more men (59%) than women (45%) in dual-income households report serious work and family conflicts. More men than women struggle with work family balance. That is a significant shift and one that I’m not sure most Americans would guess.

Working from Home – Tips to balancing work and home life (Internet Business)

Balancing your work and home life with a regular 9 to 5 is hard enough, doing it when you work from home is FAR more challenging. You will find that operating a home business will bring to light many new challenges. Some of the best advice I can offer is contained right here.

Events

Learn how to achieve a work/life balance

Galway, Ireland on October 21

The free event will coincide with Health and Safety Week 2009. It will feature presentations by psychologist and Stress Management Ireland founder, Karen Belshaw on achieving a work/life balance in stressful times, managing change/communication by Derek McKay, managing director of Adare Human Resource Management, and on leadership in a challenging environment by former Irish national cricket coach and leading motivational speaker, Adrian Birrell.

Live Webcast: Workplace Flexibility as a Business Strategy
Friday, October 23, 2009
1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT / 5:00 PM GMT

Technologies have made the old 9-to-5 office routine dispensable, while employees increasingly insist it is undesirable. They would trade dollars for work flexibility to achieve a more balanced life. Featuring Katty Kay author of “Womenomics”

Wharton Women in Business Conference celebrates watershed year in women’s admissions

The Wharton Women in Business Conference, “Unprecedented Times, Unprecedented Women,” will celebrate its 11th anniversary Friday, October 9, 2009 at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia.  This year’s WWIB Conference will feature a range of panel discussions on such topics as entrepreneurship, global careers, top female financial leaders’ views on the financial crisis, and work/life balance.

Live in Balance comes to Bondi by Nicky Arthur

When: Saturday 10 October 2009, 10.45 am – 3.00 pm  Where: Bondi Pavilion, Seagull Room

Live in Balance is an interactive workshop to help re-program your lifestyle from chaos to balance and is designed around Nicky’s philosophy that anyone can be motivated, inspired and challenged to make positive, sustainable changes in their life they just usually need a hand to get started.

Press Releases

Career Life Connection News and Events

Career Life Connection will be attending the OnRec/Kennedy Information Recruiting Conference in Chicago November 3 & 4th.  If you’d like to meet Leanne Chase and talk work/life with her contact her at chase dot careerlifeconnection dot com.  You can also catch her and many HR professionals talking about how to fail spectacularly in business at this fun industry event.

Leanne Chase of Career Life Connection spoke about #work/life with Human Resources Professionals during the October 8th Episode of HR Happy Hour:  The WorkLife Show.

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