October 27, 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
Work Less, Gain More
"Offering key employees the opportunity to work fewer hours at reduced pay and benefits might seem like heresy – particularly in U.S. corporations. But a new study has revealed that some household name employers have woken up to the very real benefits that such flexibility can bring. According to Dr. Ellen Ernst Kossek of Michigan State University's School of Labor and Industrial Relations, flexible work schedules that offer reduced workloads could be a key way of attracting, retaining and motivating top-performing employees.”
Trademark Office to Experiment with Telecommuting
"Want to work for a Washington area agency and live on the Florida coast, or in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, or among the bluebonnets of Texas? As fanciful as that may seem, it will be possible under a telecommuting pilot project developed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office -- inside the Beltway in Alexandria -- and one of its unions. Under the pilot, 10 experienced trademark lawyers with good job-performance ratings will be permitted to move anywhere in the continental United States and work from home.”
The Boss Taketh Away and the Boss Giveth
"Employers might appear stingy as a result of cuts to pensions and health-care, but recently, companies have been trying to lessen the pain by introducing other kinds of workplace benefits.”
When Moms Have to Lie
"Long ago, officials at Phoenix realized that a family-friendly environment - one that goes far beyond flex time - would attract and keep workers. It's an idea that seems lost to so many companies, even though many industries - mine included - have gotten better at looking at the big picture. Loyalty begets loyalty, and it actually increases productivity.”
Press Releases
CCH Survey Finds Unscheduled Absenteeism Up in U.S. Workplaces
"With the rate of absenteeism on the rise, U.S. employers are losing ground when it comes to finding effective programs that keep healthy workers on the job, according to the 16th annual CCH Unscheduled Absence Survey by CCH, a leading provider of human resources and employment law information and services and a part of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.”
Podcasts
The Day After Tomorrow
"We take a look at [the stop-gap solutions of part and flex time work and other needs] in our episode and see how Bain & Company is approaching this question by speaking with partner Heidi Locke Simon. We also talk with Harvard Business School professor Kathleen McGinn on what the future of business might look like, and discuss how one reframes the retention issue to get more people involved with Ralph Pais partner at Fenwick & West.”