February 22, 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
Family Leave Act Proposals Are Minor
Governor to End Flexible Work Hours for Ohio Workers
“Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is putting an end to flexible work hours for thousands of state employees. It’s a big change for many employees who have worked nontraditional schedules for years to accommodate child care needs, spend more time with family members or make car pool arrangements with neighbors. Under the new policy, most state employees will work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.”
Work & Family Mailbox
“Few employers are willing to formalize support for sabbaticals; only 16% offer sabbaticals without pay, down from 19% in 2003, says a 2007 survey of 590 human-resource managers by the Society for Human Resource Management, Alexandria, Va. Even fewer, about 5%, offer paid sabbaticals, little changed from four years ago; for example, eBay San Jose, Calif., gives four paid weeks off after five years of continuous service. In a novel twist, Accenture, the consulting firm, helps employees set aside part of their paychecks in advance to finance their own three-month leave, with a continuation of benefits.”
Co-Working is Catching on in San Antonio
“About six months ago, she became aware of the term "co-working," relating to a national trend among knowledge workers. Co-working, which began informally with people bringing their laptops and cell phones into coffee shops and bookstores with wireless Internet connections, has led to dedicated co-working businesses that cater to independent workers.”
Finesse a Flexible Work Schedule
“Stats, from a recent Fortune companies survey say a lot about flexible work these days. It's becoming a way of working that benefits both the employee and employer, says Nicole Saulnier, a human resource manager for Rothstein Kass, an accounting firm in Roseland, N.J., that also believes in flexibility. "Happy employees are more productive," she says. "If a flexible work arrangement will help them reach their full potential, we want to foster that." Here's how you can successfully establish a new way of working.”
Is Paid Sick Leave Coming to Your State?
"Efforts are growing across the country to require employers to provide paid sick leave for their workers. Advocates say it is both unfair to employees and a public health hazard to make them decide between staying at home without pay or going to work ill. The business community says such a mandate could put many companies out of business or that workers will see pay and/or other benefits shrink."
More Government Workers Can Telecommute
"U.S. government employees have a telecommuting gap -- nearly all of them could work from home at least part time, but only about 20 percent do, according to a survey released Tuesday.... A three-day-a-week government telecommuter could save an average of $5,878 a year in commuting costs and avoid putting 9,060 pounds of pollutants into the environment, according to Telework Exchange."
Blogs
Work at Home, Get Taxed at Office
“Telecommuters are being taxed by states where they don't live, vote or use schools, libraries, fire departments and other services. That's because their employers are based in states that assess income tax on nonresident employees, regardless of how often they visit the office. States are waking up to the idea that nonresident telecommuters are an untapped revenue stream. This can be a nightmare for peope who work from home.”
Work In Your Pajamas
"It is estimated that 10 million of these people operate their own business, and 5.6 million work at home for somebody else. In addition, more than 500 large U.S. business corporations have formal work-at-home programs with roughly one million employees participating. A vast majority of telecommuters are women who use the option to telecommute as a way to balance and maintain career and family obligations."
Events & Press Releases
Diversity Recruiting Firm Work-Life Initiative LLC Increases Opportunities for Working Mothers
“Companies putting out an S.O.S. for new, corporate talent in a tightening labor-market are getting a surprising response: M.O.M. Technology and a changing workplace are opening the door to permanent employment options for mothers according to Work-Life Initiative, LLC, a national diversity recruiting firm.”
Experts to Discuss Workplace Wellness
“Five health experts will lead a workshop on workplace flexibility and wellness from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Chandler [Arizona] Chamber of Commerce, 25 S. Arizona Place, Suite 210.”
Global News
Inflexible Employers Will Lose Staff
“Employers who will not discuss job flexibility will be left without staff. That is the frank assessment from Katherine Lockett, who is a social researcher and author of Work/Life Balance for Dummies. Lockett says her research suggests stressed-out workers too afraid to ask their boss for job flexibility will consider leaving for a more agreeable working environment.”
Agency Workers Bill Would Bypass Vulnerable Staff and Risk Jobs Instead - CBI
“Vulnerable workers would not benefit from complex new rules before Parliament on temporary agency work, but 250,000 jobs would be put at risk and the UK would lose a vital competitive edge, the CBI warned today. Misleading assertions that all agency workers are vulnerable ignore the strong protection that temps already have, and the fact that proper enforcement is the real challenge facing Government. The CBI's comments come ahead of the second reading of Andrew Miller's Private Members Bill on temporary agency workers on February 22nd, which proposes a complex regulatory regime that would deter businesses from using temporary staff.”
Working Spouses Fine with Their Work-Life Balance: Survey
“Bangalore: Getting married is no more a reason for dissatisfaction in the work life. Married working couples in India appear to manage the work-life tightrope well if a survey on 'Two Career Couples' by staffing major TeamLease is anything to go by. The study polled 425 married executives working in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad.”
Johnson Calls For New Focus on Work-Health Balance
“Speaking at the British Heart Foundation's Well at Work Conference in London, [British Health Secretary] Alan Johnson said: "Ten years ago, we started the debate on work-life balance. Increased maternity leave, the introduction of paternity leave, time off for adoptive parents and the right to request flexible working have led to a quiet revolution, as more employers recognise that supporting a healthy work-life balance is essential to recruiting and retaining talented staff. The next stage is to incorporate work life balance with work health balance."”
Kenya: Major Battle Looms Over New Maternity Laws
“Private sector employers have not implemented a new labour law that provides for enhanced maternity leave and a two-week paternity rest for employees, setting the stage for an epic battle with the unions....The law that Parliament passed in October last year and came into force on January 1 provides for 90 days maternity leave and 10 days paternity leave for all employees across the board. More than 400,000 public service employees are already enjoying the benefits of the new legislation.”