December 9, 2008.
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 WF2010@law.georgetown.edu.
Articles
Work and family agenda faces tough climate
“In some ways, conditions couldn’t be better for those seeking to make family leave and paid sick days available to more American workers. In some ways, conditions could scarcely be worse. The work/family cause now has ardent champions in President-elect Barack Obama and self-described mom-in-chief Michelle Obama, who says it will be among her top priorities. The strengthened Democratic majority in Congress is certain to lend a hand. Yet the ambitious agenda, featuring bills that would for the first time mandate paid sick days and paid family leave nationwide for many businesses, is colliding head-on with the worst economic crisis in decades, giving wary employers and their allies fresh ammunition for their fight against the mandates.”
Off Ramp to On Ramp - It Can Be a Hard Journey
“Ms. Markovitz Hoffman is one of many people who have left the work force to take a break. Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy, has described this type of career detour — which is more common for women than for men — as “off-ramping.” Typically it occurs when the balancing act of parenting and work becomes too arduous. A study by the center found that more than 90 percent of women who off-ramp want to on-ramp back into the work force eventually. But making the transition back to work is rarely easy, and it is even harder in this economic climate of layoffs and hiring freezes. To address some of the obstacles faced by on-rampers, Merrill Lynch recently held a three-day program called “Greater Returns: Restarting Your Career” at Columbia University. Attending the program were 37 women — including Ms. Markovitz Hoffman — who had taken breaks from high-level jobs in fields like finance, law, technology and retail.”
Focusing on the older worker
“Tanya Richardson faces a quandary at the Vanguard Group Inc., where she is manager of corporate diversity in charge of programs to employ and retain workers older than 55. Older workers hired as part-time telephone customer-service representatives tend to perform better than their younger counterparts. But recruiting them poses challenges that frustrate Richardson. "We have to train our recruiters" to do more listening to older applicants, she said. Tomorrow, the U.S. Labor Department will release its monthly report on number of jobs created, or, more likely in this economy, jobs lost. With unemployment rising, the issue of how to handle older workers becomes more problematic.”
Strategies for Working From Home
“Many people believe that they lack the discipline to effectively telecommute. They fear that they would be too distracted, lured away from their job duties by household chores, too easily tempted by the television and the bed. Although the challenge of remaining focused without the positive influence of a bustling office environment is very real, I doubt that most telecommuters actually spend their work days watching "The Price Is Right," napping and doing laundry. The typical office environment is replete with distractions of its own, after all, including chatty coworkers, nosy bosses, and needless meetings. The distinct advantage of working from home is that the potential distractions and interruptions are usually within your control.”
Rendell called sexist for 'no life' remark
“Rendell's words were picked up by an open microphone at the podium of the National Governors Conference, held yesterday morning at Independence Hall. "Janet's perfect for that job," Rendell is heard to say. "Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19, 20 hours a day to it." […] "Wow," commented CNN's Campbell Brown. After saying she likes Rendell for his candor, she also took him to task for his characterization of Napolitano, 51, a Democrat who's served her state since 2002. "If a man had been Obama's choice for the job, would having a family or not having a family ever even have been an issue?" Brown said. "Is there an assumption that if you're family-free then you have no life? By some, yes," she continued.”
Time Off for Good Behavior
“Up to three times a week, Ed Iannelli quickly trades his tie and dress shoes for suspenders and boots to battle blazes as a volunteer fireman. "I could be back at work within 30 minutes or two hours," says Mr. Iannelli, a senior vice president in Morgan Stanley's Ridgewood, N.J., office. The financial-services firm has let him dash out of the office to fight fires since he came on board in 2006. The company doesn't have a formal policy for volunteering during the workday, but it encourages employees to do at least 24 hours a year in community service and has set up companywide events to promote the effort.”
Addressing Family Responsibilities Discrimination
“Family responsibilities discrimination (FRD) is employment discrimination against workers based on their responsibilities to care for family members. For example, a pregnant employee, a mother or father with a young child, or a worker who cares for an elderly parent or family member with a disability may experience FRD if they are unfairly penalized at work based on their family responsibilities. They may be passed over for hire or promotion, harassed, terminated, or otherwise penalized, despite good performance, because their employers make personnel decisions based on stereotypical notions of how they will or should act given their family responsibilities.”
Why baby boomers will need to work longer
“The twilight of the US baby boom generation is approaching, and with it deep, structural economic shifts whose impact will be felt for decades to come.1New research from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) shows that there is only one realistic way to prevent aging boomers from experiencing a significant decline in their living standards and becoming a multidecade drag on US and world economic growth. Boomers will have to continue working beyond the traditional retirement age, and that will require important changes in public policy, business practices, and personal behavior. These adjustments have become even more urgent with the recent financial turmoil, which has sharply reduced the home values and financial investments of millions of boomers just as they approach retirement.”
Blogs
Fast Company: Michelle Obama as Post-Balance Rorschach Test
“Now Barack Obama is the President-elect, and my prediction is coming true. How we perceive Michelle Obama’s choices as she moves her family to Washington, and begins her new job as first lady is a rorschach test for our post-balance approach to managing work and life. Most of us still think in outdated “all or nothing” terms, judging Michelle Obama’s choices from a simplistic viewpoint. Consider the following myth-based responses….”
Enough About Michelle: Obama's Example as a Working Dad
“Hundreds of stories have been written about Michelle Obama as an example for working mothers. Among the questions that the pundits have asked: Does the fact that she’s being compared to Jacqueline Kennedy mean anything for women? Should she have labeled herself the First Mom? How about a look at Barack Obama as an example for working dads? If you find that jarring, you’re not alone; we’re less accustomed to seeing men as symbols of their entire gender. Nevertheless, the president-elect’s story holds some insights for guys.”
Business News on Paid Sick Days
“What does paid sick days legislation really mean for business? Until recently, there has been scant amount of “real life” data to draw upon when discussing the business impacts of paid sick days programs. In fact, it was only recently – in February 2007 – that the country’s first paid sick days program was approved in San Francisco. However, almost two years after the approval of this paid sick days standard in San Francisco, some evidence is emerging that is good news for business.First, according to a new fact sheet from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), job growth in San Francisco has not been negatively affected by the measure. In fact, the fact sheet notes that despite a national economic slowdown, San Francisco’s job growth rate exceeds the average growth rate of nearby counties.”
Global News
Britain to extend flexible working plan for parents
“Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, is to press ahead with plans for more part-time working rights for 4.5m staff, rejecting demands from business leaders that the measure be dropped when new laws are announ-ced today in the Queen's Speech, the centrepiece of the opening of parliament. Mr Brown's aides say the government's last full legislative package will help Britain through the recession, but some business leaders warn it could make matters worse. The decision to press ahead next April with new flexible working rights is a setback for Peter Mandelson, the business secretary, who said in October he would review the timetable.”
As Sales Fall, German Carmakers Cut Production and Hope to Avoid Layoffs
“A holiday pause is standard in Germany, but all the major manufacturers are extending their assembly line shutdowns to avoid a big buildup of inventory. Daimler was the first to announce longer breaks, in October. BMW has also cut one of the two shifts from its Leipzig factory. That they are not already dealing with Germany’s tough unions over layoffs is a testament to the much more flexible labor policies that have been embraced in the industry over the last decade, analysts said. BMW is laying off about 5,000 temporary workers. At Daimler and Porsche, workers were allowed to set up “flex-time accounts,” where time worked above the contract maximum of 35 hours is stored without pay. When they work less than the maximum, they can tap the accounts to top up their paychecks.”
Telecommuting and the downturn
“The world of telecommuting is changing. Back in the 1980s, telecommuting was all about replacing your daily commute into the office with some telecommunication links. But these days, many telecommuters have become "cloudworkers" who might work from several locations, who seem to know how to mix work and personal life and who can communicate on different devices and applications. The bottom line is that working from home becomes more viable than ever before as more homes get broadband internet access.”