February 1, 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
The New Equilibrium: Work/Life Balance
“The days of old, when everybody was 9 to 5 and employees had a cookie-cutter feel to their working hours and benefits, are gone,” says director of administration Tracy O’Neill of Kerkering, Barberio & Co. in Sarasota, Fla. Adds HR director Shirley Schultz of The Hanke Group in San Antonio, Texas, “Years ago, most of the concern was just that we worked too many hours. Today, it isn’t just about the hours, but the flexibility.”
Working Past Retirement Age
Because there are fewer workers coming up behind the Boomers, the needs for the skills and expertise of the current crop of workers will be greater than ever, making it beneficial for employers to find ways to keep older works on longer. It might require businesses to use non-traditional recruiting techniques and an offer of the right mix of flexible hours and adaptive job designs, benefits and incentives to attract and keep older workers, such as tuition assistance, time off for elder care and employee discounts.
Personnel programs at university earn honor
"Flexible career paths not only meet the needs of faculty but can also advance institutional goals such as recruitment and retention of faculty at colleges and universities of all types and sizes," said Kathleen Christensen, program director for the Workplace, Workforce and Working Families at The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Ruling Gives Boost to Millions of Carers
Millions of people juggling a career with caring for a disabled family member are likely to receive greater protection in the workplace after a British secretary won the latest round in a long-running legal battle. An adviser to Europe’s highest court said today that Sharon Coleman, a former legal secretary who is the primary carer for her disabled son, was entitled to the same rights against direct discrimination at work that disabled people already enjoy.
College Aims to Cut Employee Commuting
We're greening our cars. Greening our faith. Greening our businesses. What's next? How about greening our work schedules. That's the new experiment going on at SUNY Cobleskill. The 2,500-student school wants to reduce its employees' commuting days and save energy by letting staff opt for a compressed work week. Some employees will also be able to telecommute a certain number of days each month.
Flexibility is the key to win workers
Sonja Bernhardt, CEO of Queensland-based technology company ThoughtWare, runs a business that has no timesheets, sick leave rules or even a corporate headquarters. Employees work from client sites or their own homes, and connect with each other using technology.
Safety: Nonstandard Work Shifts May Hinder Recovery
The researchers found that employees who worked 60 or more hours a week or unusual shifts were 70 percent more likely than other workers returning from injuries who work regular hours to quit after returning from an injury and 81 percent more likely to be fired. Many ended up having to work shorter shifts.
Ease Your Way into Retirement
GOING from a busy full-time job to a peaceful retirement can be a massive jump, but Northumbria Probation Area, which is based in Jesmond, have come up with an innovative way of easing workers into their new life. Their flexible retirement policy offers staff more choices as they approach retirement, including gradually reducing their hours before they stop working altogether. It is hoped the scheme will help people wind-down, aiding their wellbeing and psychologically preparing them for life after work.
Blogs
Workplace Flexibility: Flex Facts
Balancing Act
I recently read CEO of Me: Creating a Life that Works in the Flexible Job Age by Ellen Ernst Kossek and Brenda A. Lautsch. It's a business book talking about different ways people have of balancing personal life and work life in the current job age.
Poll Results: 100 Best Companies to Work For Trends
On Monday, we ran a poll asking of the 100 companies listed on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For 2008, how many allow employees to telecommute or work at home?
Reports
Economic survey of the Netherlands 2008: Coping with labour shortages: How to bring outsiders back to the labour market?
Dutch governments have successfully sought to encourage labour market participation. Recent measures include the closing of early-retirement routes and greater emphasis on activating (long-term) unemployed, the partially disabled and social assistance recipients. Nonetheless, labour supply is still restrained by comprehensive social entitlements for those out of work, which benefit almost 17% of the working-age population. In addition, the tax-and-benefit system and labour-market policies continue to discourage participation of several groups and to incite working short hours.