October 10, 2006
The Workplace Flexibility 2010 News Roundup is a compilation of the latest news articles, reports and other materials related to workplace flexibility. The News Roundup appears twice-weekly. If you have questions about any of the items, please contact Jennifer Hedrick at jlh62@law.georgetown.edu.
Articles
Dueling Data on Women and Work
"A New York Times article last fall managed to offend just about everyone. Its thesis — that women at elite colleges increasingly plan to leave the work force when they have children — angered many feminists, and media critics accused the Times of publishing anecdotes masquerading as social science. A new study suggests that the article also overstated the number of women who hope to leave the workforce long-term.”
Check Work Policies on Maternity Leave
"A friend recently had her first baby -- an 81/2 pound boy. No doubt, it was an exciting moment. But leading up to the birth, this new mom was less than thrilled to learn about her employer's maternity policy: She could take time off, but without pay. This is a sobering reality of U.S. labor law: You are not guaranteed paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child.”
Merry-Go-Round Life Isn't so Merry for Kids
"U.S. pediatricians should add "stress checks" to children's exams to ensure that overbooking of enrichment activities isn't hurting their physical or mental health, the American Academy of Pediatrics says Monday. Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute in New York, thinks the pediatricians are right. She doesn't doubt that children cherish free time: Her studies show they consider hang-around time their best time with parents.”
Press Releases
Work and Family Month Underscores Importance of Work-Life Effectiveness
"WorldatWork conducted a Web poll during the month of September 2006 to gauge where work-life ranks as a differentiator for employers. [Results show] that work-life outranks compensation.”