In the News

What Gen-Y workers want now — and why (CFO Daily News)

For employers, getting Generation-Y employees to see the value of company-sponsored benefits has traditionally been a challenge. But the recession may have changed that.  In fact, 62% of these employees said the quality of benefits packages influences their choice of employer and 64% said it impacts job loyalty…However, these employees rank work/life balance a top priority — with 75% revealing that work/life balance drives their career choices.

Children ‘may lower parents’ blood pressure’ find researchers (Telegraph)

Despite the worries over money, education, health and work/life balance, parenthood can be good for the heart in the same way as exercise or cutting out salt, for instance, experts claimed.  It is thought the fulfilment of children and giving life meaning makes parents more content which has an effect on blood pressure, researchers from Brigham Young University in Utah said.

Employers and their businesses run the risk of being “named and shamed” on social media sites if they fail to manage new workplace flexibility laws properly, a Brisbane workplace lawyer has warned.  Brad Petley, workplace relations and safety partner at Holman Webb, says employers who have not prepared for r2r – the right of workers to request flexible work practices – could suffer business brand and bottom line damage.

Older workers want work life balance (Miami Herald)

In the near future, Czaja says, employers will accommodate the increasing number of older workers through the work/life benefits traditionally requested by young parents — flexible schedules, telework arrangements, contract work. She believes keeping older people productive over the next decade is crucial to a strong economy. “We need to prepare for it.”

The Top 5 Socio-Political Business Risks for 2010 (Huffington Post)

While suicide is certainly not a top risk for 2010, it is an extremely important trend that multinationals must begin to take seriously. Stress caused by debt, drought, work/life balance issues, and corporate malfeasance have been blamed for incidents ranging from the mass suicides of Indian farmers (over 1,500 farmers in the Indian State of Chattisgarh alone in 2009) to the suicide epidemic that swept France Telecom and claimed 26 lives in 16 months.  Whether it’s poor management, the economic crisis, or what Stockholm University in a recent study labeled the “contagious suicide syndrome,” multinationals must realize they have a shared responsibility to take measures that will effectively prevent suicide from becoming an alternative grievance mechanism in the coming year.

Bosses fight to keep good staff: experts (Sydney Morning Herald)

“It’s important from an employer perspective to ensure that staff are adequately supported to ensure that you can hold on to skilled staff,” Mr Sebastian said.  A survey of 930 people carried out by recruitment company Chandler Macleod (CMG) found 72 per cent of employees were looking for work outside their current industry and 62 per cent were looking for work outside their current speciality.  An overwhelming majority of job-seeking respondents, 91 per cent, cited job security as the most important ingredient in a new job, closely followed by 86 per cent who said they highly valued a good work-life balance.

Emirati men urged to spend more time with children (The National)

Young Emirati men should become more involved in the raising of their children, provide support for their wives and strive for a healthy work-life balance. That is the message from one young Emirati husband and father…Dr al Redha told his story on the second and final day of the Arab Women Leadership Forum. He was one of only three male speakers at the conference, which examined issues affecting women in the UAE and the region.Women’s forum explores ‘Work-Life balance’ (Trade Arabia)

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) held the ‘Second Arab Women Leadership Forum’ on the theme ‘Women’s Leadership in Organizations: Towards New Conceptions of Work-Life Balance’.  The conference explored the issue of work-life balance through the prism of organizational and government policies affecting the maintenance of equilibrium between family and work, as well as the obstacles and challenges working women face while attempting to maintain this crucial balance.

Paying for Flexible Work Schedules (Government Executive)

Over at Wired Workplace, Brittany Ballenstedt has an interesting point: according to new polling data, some workers want more flexible schedules so much that they’re willing to pay for the technology that will allow them to work outside of regular work hours, usually for smartphones…Even though I’ve seen this pattern play out with many of my friends who foot the entire bill for their smartphone useage even though they’re using it to extend their productivity and availability hours for their employers, I find it a little worrisome. First, if workers genuinely need technology because their employers want them to stay productive, their employers should probably be paying for it, and making sure such technology has proper information safeguards, etc.

Treat your spouse like a customer (Miami Herald)

Are you spending more time with your customers or co-workers than your family or spouse? I read an interview with Louis Upkins Jr. who wrote a self-help  book titled Treat Me Like a Customer: Using Lessons from Work to Succeed in Life. His book plays off the central notion that home life would improve if busy business executives cared as much for their wives or husbands and kids (and showed it) as they do for their most-valued customers. Here’s an excerpt from a Q & A with Upkins in The Tennessean. His answers will wake you up.

SMEs warned over employee exodus in February and March (Smart Company – Australia)

The Chandler Macleod Group Post GFC Candidate Study Report reveals about 95% of the survey’s 930 respondents are now looking for work, with 73% actively looking and 57% optimistic of finding a job within the next 90 days.  Additionally, about 72% are actually looking for work outside their current industry, with 91% looking for job security before they actually make a switch.  The top reasons given for searching for new work were limited career opportunities, cited by 41% of respondents, feeling undervalued, 24%, and losing faith in the current organisation, 18%. The most important conditions in a new job were cited as job security at 91%, work-life balance at 86%, overseas posting opportunities at 25% and bonus structure at 48%.

SCB fosters closer relations through team engagement activity (Brunei.FM)

Standard Chartered Bank encourages all its employees to have a healthy work life balance by taking time out to engage in break out activities within their teams and to spend time with their families through Happy Fridays whereby departments are encouraged not to schedule meetings after 3pm in the afternoon on Fridays and for all staff to go home on time. Each month, departments are also encouraged to take time out on a Friday for team bonding through an activity together such as going for a team walk.

Network Rail in call to halt further strikes (Wales Online)

Signal workers across South Wales have been on strike since Monday in a row over new rosters for staff….“Our members have made it clear that they are not prepared to see their work-life balance wrecked as part of an imposed cost-cutting exercise.”

Career development tops list for new job prospects (Globe and Mail)

Forty per cent of 1,300 respondents to a survey by staffing service Right Management Inc. said the potential for career development is the most important factor when choosing a new boss.  That was followed by work-life balance (21 per cent); innovative workplace (15 per cent); and competitive pay and benefits (12 per cent).

Maternal Affairs: Back to square mum (Times Online)

As the recession takes its toll, many high-flying career women are finding themselves out of a job. So what happens when stay-at-home motherhood is forced upon you?…

Be realistic with career and life goals (News Observer)

Reclaim work/life balance. Lisa Gates of Craving Balance Coaching, says this common goal can be accomplished, but it takes focusing on priorities.  “Fear causes us to do more and take on more and say yes when it’s the exact opposite of what we need to do,” she says.  Gates suggests getting hyper-focused on two or three priorities at work and home. “You will have to look at all the demands on your time and ask, ‘Is this in line with my priority?’ If not, eliminate it,” Gates says.

In the Blogs

How balanced is your life? (People Alchemy)

First I was dying to finish high school and start college.
And then, I was dying to finish college and start working.
And then, I was dying to marry and have children.
And then, I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work.
And then, I was dying to retire.
And now, I am dying……
And suddenly realise, I forgot to live.

As you read this old wisdom from an unknown source, how do you feel?

First Lady Michelle Obama Promotes Work/Life Balance (Workforce Management)

Such worries undermine work performance, Obama said. She argued that flextime, telecommuting and paid time off produces happier employees and more profitable companies.  “Instead of spending all day at work worrying about what’s happening at home, they have the support that they need to concentrate on their jobs,” Obama said.  Although many employers have established good work/life benefits, too many Americans don’t have access to flexibility policies, Obama said.  “Staying home to care for a sick child or taking an elderly parent to a doctor’s appointment shouldn’t mean risking one’s job,” Obama said. “Things like paid family leave and sick days and affordable child care should be the norm, not the exception.

Proven ways to retain your best employees (Professional Carwashing and Detailing)

The difficulty in finding and keeping talented people is having a catastrophic impact on many businesses and industries throughout the world. In addition to those retiring, surveys show one out of every three people plan on quitting their jobs this year…In today’s workplace, flexibility rules.  A one-size-fits-all approach has long since lost its effectiveness.  Workers will migrate to a company whose benefit packages and schedules help them meet the demands of their lives, whether they are single parents, adults who care for aging parents, older workers, younger workers, part-time workers, or telecommuters.

Work/Life Balance – It’s All Relative (Learning Curve Coach)

Another thing that’s really different today is the quality of my life. It’s gone way up. WAY up. It’s filled with far less of the stuff I don’t want in my life and far more of the stuff I do.  For me, the work/life balancing act was made exponentially easier when I engaged in work I love versus the kind that made me want to stick needles in my eyes. But it’s still a balancing act.

Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility (When Work Works)

Applications are now open for the 2010 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility! This prestigious award recognizes employers across the country that are successfully using flexibility to meet both business and employee goals. To see if your organization qualifies, read the details below.

Working Women (My Job Assistant)

I think that things are slowly progressing for women in the work force. You still need to work a bit harder just to stay in the game. But at the same time, there are different expectations for working mothers than there are for working fathers. Women lose a bit of credability when they have kids and have to work harder to show thier commitment to the job. It is totally different for men. Here are a few tips for working women who are having trouble balancing their work and home lives:

U of T study finds work-life balance elusive (University of Toronto)

Researchers measured the extent to which work was interfering with personal time using data from a national survey of 1,800 American workers.   The authors describe five core sets of findings:

• People with college or postgraduate degrees tend to report their work interferes with their personal life more than those with a high school degree;
• Professionals tend to report their work interferes with their home life more than people in all other occupational categories;
• Several job-related demands predict more work seeping into the home life: interpersonal conflict at work, job insecurity, noxious environments, and high-pressure situations; however, having control over the pace of one’s own work diminishes the negative effects of high-pressure situations;
• Several job-related resources also predict more work interference with home life: job authority, job skill level, decision-making latitude, and personal earnings;
• As predicted, working long hours (50-plus per week) is associated with more work interference at home—surprisingly, however, that relationship is stronger among people who have some or full control over the timing of their work;

“Work+Life Fit in 5 Days” Series–Seeing the Possibilities (Fast Company blog)

As I listened to their stories, almost every one of them said the same thing to me, “I loved my time with my children, but I wish I’d known there might have been another way I could have kept working and had some flexibility. I just didn’t know there was any other option besides quitting.” They didn’t see the possibilities.

Press Releases

Booz Allen’s policies help staff in Ohio—and firm-wide—meet changing professional and personal commitments.

“Booz Allen knows that great jobs also include something more: An understanding of work-life integration,” Miles says. “At the firm, we provide our employees with the flexibility to focus on what’s most important to meet their goals at home and at work. We offer options for staff to manage responsibilities, network, learn, and build camaraderie, while they provide exceptional service to their clients and support their team.”  Booz Allen’s robust flexible work arrangement program includes telecommuting, flex work hours, paid time off, and options for leaves of absence. The firm’s philosophy of promoting a healthy work-life balance allows staff the flexibility they need to adjust their schedules to meet personal obligations and goals while successfully addressing work responsibilities.

Events

Wake Up, This Is the Reality!: A Fem2.0 Campaign to Shift the Public Narrative Around Work/Life

From January 25 to February 5, 2010, Fem2.0 will present a blog radio series – one program a day, each zooming in on how today’s work environment and policies are impacting a particular community. The series’ purpose is to demonstrate how work/life is NOT just a women’s issue but everyone’s issue. There will be more details about each segment very soon.

Career training series resumes Jan. 27 (Washington State University, January 27)

Helping employees enhance their careers, jobs and work-life management is the focus of a training series that continues this semester with “Career Assessment and Planning”…The courses will cover: workplace communication, ethics, computer security, work-life balance and more.

Workplace Flexibility: Flexibility in a Multigenerational Workforce

Ann Arbor IT Zone
330 E. Liberty
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

“Work, Life, Balance: No Excuse!” February 4 Lunch Program – Century House Hotel & Conference Center,
997 New Loudon Road – Route 9 Latham, NY 12047

A Conversation on Workplace Flexibility Research Pt 2 (Georgetown Law event)

Research Reports/Papers

Career Life Connection News and Events

Success: Advancement and Caregiving–Challenging Work+Life Fit Roadblocks (Fast Company)

Really challenge what a good mother looks like for you personally.  Not what your mother says it is.  Not what the media says it is.  What do you say being a good mother looks like to you, based on your unique work and personal realities that are unlike anyone else’s.  Here are some of my favorite resources broadening the conversation about what it means to be a “good” mother:

• The Mama Bee Blog
• Morra Aarons-Mele at WomenandWork.com
• Joanne Bamberger at PunditMom.com
• Kami Lewis-Levin at The Fence, a Working Mom’s Blog
• Leanne Chase, CareerLifeConnection.com
• Chrysula Winegar at Work.Life.Balance

What is a Mommy Blogger? (TheMamaBee)

Earlier this week Babble came out with it’s list of the fifty best “mommy bloggers.” In a lot of ways it’s a great list — I read many of these women and have linked to some of them, notably The Mommy Blog and Silicon Valley Moms Blog. But the list also left me a little conflicted because almost none of the blogs listed were issues-oriented…And yet, I would have loved to see a blogger like Morra Aarons-Mele (Women and Work, MomsRising), Joanne Bamberger (PunditMom), Kami Lewis-Levin (The Fence, A Blog for Working Moms), Leanne Chase (Career Life Connection) or Cali Yost (Work Life Fit) make the list. All are moms, all are successful bloggers, all write about issues core to mothering — and yet, somehow, they are not in the “mom blog” space.

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. Also be sure to check out the career fair raffle where Career Life Connection will be looking to put more balance back into your life with a one-hour massage gift certificate to Bella Sante.

Social Recruiting Summit – November 16 – NYC

Social media is rapidly becoming more than just another tool in a recruiter’s toolbox — it’s an important part of the future of the talent acquisition profession. The goal of #socialrecruiting summit is to have an industry conversation about these tools, talk about tactics and strategies that are already in the field and working, not pie-in-the-sky ideas. Leanne Chase of Career Life Connection will be part of that conversation. If you are attending the Social Media Summit or just in NYC and would like to talk about social media, workplace flexibility or work/life happiness with her contact her at chase at careerlifeconnection dot com.

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 at 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.

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.