Work/life news for the week ending 2/20/2010

In the News

Employees Healthier when Boss Is Flexible (MedPage Today)

The 10 studies included 16,603 participants.  Overall, the researchers found that situations that gave the employee more control over scheduling have positive effects on health and well-being, particularly with regard to blood pressure, sleep, and mental health.  One study showed improvements in mental health, sleep quality on the day shift, sleep duration on the night shift, and alertness during the night shift when employees had more control over their schedules, the researchers said.  Another study reported significant reductions in sleepiness during the night shift when workers had more choice, although it reported on the effects of multiple flex interventions, not a single one.  A third study found significant decreases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate for workers with flexible scheduling, Bambra said.

IndustryWeek’s 2010 Salary Survey: Down But Not Out (Industry Week)

“I think employers and employees might be focused more on the total value proposition,” says Griffith. The total value proposition, which includes such components as benefits, career advancement opportunities and workplace flexibility, may help offset the sting of a pay freeze or cut, she suggests. Her suggestion is backed by comments from several respondents.

Why Flexible Hours and Telecommuting Are On The Rise (Business West)

In 2003, about 4.4 million Americans were telecommuting, to some extent, instead of showing up at the office. In 2010, that number is expected to surpass 100 million. At the same time, the trend toward allowing employees to work flexible or non-traditional hours has also risen sharply in recent years. Why the surges? As it turns out, even during a recession, companies still value their best talent and are increasingly willing to let them craft a workday around their personal and professional needs. Employers say they benefit because happy workers are productive workers.

In the Blogs

Don’t forget the ‘life’ in work-life balance (MayoClinic.com)

The walls of our homes no longer protect us, however. Because we’re always “connected,” we never really leave work behind. We’re now impaled by “weisure” — being on the clock even on our leisure time. Even a paralyzing snow storm, such as the East Coast recently encountered, doesn’t close the virtual office. So much for enjoying a “snow day” from work or school….So what can we do? The answer is really very simple: We’re individuals who can make choices and, at some point, we have to say “enough is enough.” We have to carve out time to simply chill and recharge our batteries. Only then can we go back into the arena with energy, focus and commitment.

Study: Women Rock As Small Business Owners (Fox Small Business Center)

Women are proving themselves to be a powerful small-business force to be reckoned with.   Not only are women-owned firms contributing $3 million annually to the U.S. economy and accounting for 16% of all jobs, but new research shows women entrepreneurs will create 5 to 5.5 million new jobs across the U.S. by 2018 – more than half of the total new small-business jobs expected to be created during that time, and about one-third of the total new jobs anticipated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Business Impacts of Workplace Flexibility and Effectiveness (Salt Lake Chamber)

Business leaders increasingly recognize the positive effects of workplace flexibility and effectiveness on retention and other bottom line impacts. For example, McKinnon Mulherin, a local Utah company explains, “We have to provide a flexible work environment that allows all of our people to succeed both personally and professionally. Ten years ago, women were leaving the firm at a faster rate than men. Today, our retention rates for men and women are the same, thanks to our family friendly policies and flexible culture. Without question, McKinnon & Mulherin and several other progressive Utah companies’ people policies and culture are generating terrific success from both an economic and strategic perspective.”

Educational Flexibility Offers Options to Advance Careers, Maintain Life Balance (Saint Louis University)

Matthew Grawitch, Ph.D., chair of the organizational studies program at Saint Louis University’s School for Professional Studies, believes that workplace flexibility options during the past decade have been well received and continue to grow.  “Many companies have developed programs and initiatives that focus on providing greater workplace flexibility in where people work (telecommuting), when people work (flexible scheduling), how many hours people work(part-time options) and how many days people work (compressed work weeks),” Grawitch said.

Find your work/life Rhythm (Life Beyond the List)

The solution? Well, i can’t pretend to have it licked, but I’ve experimented over the last week with getting to work a full 30 minutes early. This is easier than getting up 60-90 minutes early in order to work out at the gym, believe me! And those first 30 minutes can be really productive. Often disproportionately so. Coupled with taking my own healthier lunch to work, it means i can be more focused during the day, and leave on time (when i can), to make it to the gym at a more reasonable hour. 6:30pm say, rather than 7:30 or 8:00pm. My energy level is just about still high enough, and i can work out before enjoying the rest of the evening, as well as checking in on any urgent emails.

Better work-life balance boosts the bottom line (Governance Focus)

The study, by consultancy Morgan Redwood, found that companies which actively promote good work-life balance have annual net annual earnings per employee of £32,769 compared to £26,557 for other organisations.  Needless to say, the difference arises because better work-life balance results in reduced absenteeism, improved wellbeing and thus greater productivity.

Is Work/Life Balance Your Top Priority in 2010? (SimplyHired Blog)

In January we polled visitors to SimplyHired.co.uk about their career plans for 2010 and found that work/life balance will be a major theme. Thirty-six percent of you ranked work/life balance above salary (31%) as the most important consideration when looking for a new job. Furthermore, 40% of you cite improving work/life balance as a top career resolution for 2010.

Redrow meets the needs of home-workers (Easier Property)

As more people choose to work from home every day, Redrow is offering the perfect solution for those striving to improve their work / life balance.  A selection of homes at The Glades, in the Wiltshire village of Downton, have been expertly designed to feature self-contained home office space over the garage, with a separate entrance and kitchenette. It’s a move that should help meet the needs of home workers escaping the rat race.

Moms balancing work and family (Today’s THV)

The pressure of finding that balance, especially during this tough economy can be difficult.  Employees across all demographics are feeling the pressure of doing more with less. However, sometimes this means working moms have to spend more time at work and less with their families.  With these trying economic times, they are also fearful of losing their jobs, which adds more pressure and stress.  Here are five tips to help find balance

Beyond Business as Usual: More Working Moms in Part-Time Positions (The Glass Hammer)

The global study, which was commissioned by Regus, surveyed 11,000 corporations across 15 countries and found that 44 percent of companies worldwide plan to hire more mothers for part-time jobs over the next two years. Among U.S. companies the numbers are even higher, with 46 percent reporting plans to recruit more mothers into 2012.

West Region Vice President for Regus, Sande Golgart, believed this study to be of particular interest to Regus because many of their clients are working mothers and he believes providing part-time work to women with children can assist them in managing the work/life balance issues that plague so many women. “We think that there is much work to be done in making the transition from maternity leave back to the workforce as smooth as possible. Allowing mothers to take advantage of workplace flexibility demonstrates an understanding of the challenges that they face and paves the way for them to be more productive and less stressed at work,” Golgart said. “One of the most significant factors in improving employees’ work/life balance is offering the flexibility to work remotely, either full or part-time.

Press Releases

CORPORATE VOICES TOOLKITS PROVIDE TIPS AND TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTING WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY WITH AN HOURLY AND NONEXEMPT WORKFORCE

Events

Fully Engaged:Achieving Work/Life Balance and High Performance – February 23rd, 8:30-4:30p, Kent State Stark Prof. Education and Conf. Center, North Canton, OH.

Workplace Flexibility Best Practices – February 25, 2:30-4:30 – University of Kentucky, Lexington Campus – free

Recognition Roundtable presents Shameless You! and Workplace Flexibility – Feb 24th, 12:00, Everett, WA

Shameless You! encourages employees to drop their shame so they can live, work, and play with confidence and integrity. This program helps individuals build personal strategies by identifying, acknowledging and accepting their strengths, preferences, and values. Tracy will lead us in a discussion about how a shameless workforce can lead to better alignment of personal and organizational values, one of the components of a flexible, effective workplace.

Work Life Conference – March 25-26, Washington, DC

Join us on March 25–26, 2010 for our annual thought–leader conference for work life, HR, diversity and talent management professions. This year we will explore the “New Normal” in the Global Economy: What is it and what are the implications for work life and talent management?

The Work. Life. Me! Balancing Retreat for Working Mothers – March 27-28, Lewiston, NY

Unlike many other “getaway weekends” geared towards women, this retreat acknowledges the juggling act working mothers live out each day – and the extreme difficulty many have with feeling deserving of time and money investment in themselves. This is reflected not only in the affordable registration rate, but also through workshops which will give participants takeaways they can apply immediately toward more balance in their lives. Workshops include an introduction to the Law of Attraction, Organization 101, Kicking Super Mom Syndrome to the Curb, Eating for Mind Body Balance, and Finance for Women. Presenters are not only experts in their fields but working moms who bring real-life understanding to the table.

Workplace Flexibility Summit – April 7, Dallas, TX

Planning Your Post-Career Career: Work/Life Balance After Age 50 – April 14, Hartford, CT

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)

Video

Flexible Work Arrangements as described/discussed by Kathleen Greer of KGA

Kathleen Christensen, Ph.D. Discusses New Book “Workplace Flexibility” on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal
Kathleen talks about workplace flexibility and the idea that the workplace structure should adapt to the changing needs of workers. She also responded to telephone calls and electronic communications.

Career Life Connection News and Events

Creating buzz, one day at a time (Boston Globe)

Work/Life balance and the Community Manager – March 3rd – discussion for members of The Community Roundtable, led by Leanne Chase of Career Life Connection

Work Life Balance Strategies on Career Life Balance Radio featuring Leanne Chase, Founder and President of Career Life Connection.

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.

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.