November 2, 2007
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
Survey: Two-thirds Who Call in Sick Aren't Really Ill
"A new survey suggests that U.S. workers may need more flexible work arrangements, as they are using their sick time to handle family emergencies or personal issues. While 34 percent of people who call in sick to work at the last minute do so because of illness, 66 percent are taking time for other reasons, according to the 2007 CCH Unscheduled Absence Survey.”
Most Firms Fail the Women's Needs Test
"Despite years of effort, leading Australian law firms are falling well short of the minimum benchmarks needed to keep women in the profession. The Australian's workplace flexibility survey shows that just 8 per cent of lawyers at 10 of the largest firms are employed part-time. It also shows that the picture is even worse at the most senior and junior levels of these firms. Just 5 per cent of partners and junior lawyers are working part-time. This forms a sharp contrast with the benchmarks proposed by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. She has suggested that about 30 to 35 per cent of lawyers should be employed part-time before flexible work practices will become mainstream.”