October 7, 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 Hardest Vote
‘“These days, you have to struggle,” she said. “As a kid, I used to be able to go to the movies or to the zoo. Now you can’t take your children to the zoo or go to the movies, because you’ve got to think how you’re going to put food on the table.” Snodgrass’s parents had raised four children on two modest incomes, without the ceaseless stress that she was enduring. But the two-parent family was now available only to the “very privileged.” She said that she had ten good friends; eight of them were childless or, like her, unmarried with kids. “That’s who’s middle-class now,” she said. “Two parents, two kids? That’s over. People looked out for me. These kids nowadays don’t have nobody to look out for them. You’re one week away from (a) losing your job, or (b) not having a paycheck.”’
One in Five Baby Boomers Cuts Retirement Savings
“One in five middle-aged workers stopped contributing to their retirement plans in the last year, and one in three has considered delaying retirement, according to a new survey by AARP, an advocacy group for older Americans. The numbers, from an AARP survey conducted last month, provide the latest evidence that the deteriorating economy and stock market are creating a less-than-golden outlook for the huge tide of baby-boom Americans surging into retirement age. This demographic, born between 1946 and 1964, numbers around 78 million. About 60% of U.S. workers in the private sector have 401(k) accounts, holding about $3 trillion in assets. Earlier surveys have shown workers don't put enough into 401(k)s to support their retirements, even as such plans have become the main source of retirement support, surpassing traditional fixed-benefit pensions. Labor Department statistics also show more Americans over 55 years old are staying in the work force, a sign that many can't afford to stop working.”
Orem employees will work longer, get every other Friday off
“Starting Nov. 2, Orem employees will have to work longer and take less time for lunch, but they'll have every other Friday off. Assistant City Manager Richard Manning said the city will start a new work schedule that allows city offices to remain open longer while still letting employees work 80 hours over two weeks, but working longer days to make every other Friday a day off. Orem follows Layton and Mapleton in adopting the nine-day/80-hour plan. Manning said city employees had suggested a four-day week, but it didn't make much sense financially due to the design of Orem's City Center. The Orem Public Library is at the north end of the building, and shares a heating/cooling system with the rest of city offices. "From a cost-savings perspective, we didn't see a payoff," Manning said.”
Leaving Retirement Behind
“Gwen Saunders is part of a quiet but growing contingent of retired Americans who have re-entered the work force to help pay the bills or to stay active. Employment professionals in the area say more retired folks are heading back to work for both personal and financial reasons, particularly as food, gas and health care costs continue to rise. Saunders, 54, said her reason for returning to work was financial. She retired in 2001 from Qwest and soon after enrolled at Dakota State University to take a two-year course in respiratory care. For the past five years, she has been a respiratory therapist and is working at Sanford USD Medical Center.”
State starts 4-day work weeks
“Starting work an hour earlier was cause for celebration in some state offices Monday. Many state employees have backed trying four-day workweeks, and 82 percent of those at the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development supported it before the agency made the shift this week. One division had a breakfast party to kick off the new shifts, deputy director Jan Marie Ferrell said. "There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm." The department is the largest of several agencies experimenting with four, 10-hour shifts, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It and the Department of Veterans Affairs switched to the new schedule, moving away from the traditional five-day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.”
Stock losses take heavy toll on retirement savings
“So close and yet so far. It's a frustration being felt by Americans who thought the finish line to their working life was almost in sight. The financial crisis that toppled major Wall Street banks and snarled credit markets around the world has also taken a toll on nest eggs, forcing people to rethink when — and even if — their savings will allow them to retire. More than half of people surveyed in an Associated Press-GfK poll released last week said they worry that they will have to work longer because the value of their retirement savings has declined.”
No raise? Negotiate instead for these perks
“For most job seekers, the art of negotiation comes into play at two specific times in their careers: during an initial job negotiation and at their performance evaluation. Some negotiations operate on a grand scale, with discussion about company cars and relocation allowances. But most of us focus on one thing in our negotiations: salary. There are, however, a number of possible negotiation points for new and existing workers. And with many employers delaying or deferring raises because of tough economic challenges, hiring managers are more open to discussions about alternatives.”
Cleveland law firm offers perks that help employees balance work and family
“Imagine being able to order your family's dinner from your work computer in the morning and get it delivered to your office just before you leave for the day. Or bringing your grocery list, your dry cleaning or that pair of shoes with the worn heels to the office so someone else can run those pesky errands for you. Those are some of the perks the Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLC law firm now offers its 330 employees -- both lawyers and support staff -- in Cleveland and Columbus. A new program aims to take some of the hassle out of trying to juggle work, family and free time.”
Where are working women's issues in the presidential campaign?
“The candidate who stresses working women's issues in the final weeks of the presidential campaign will have an advantage among women voters, who are swinging more to the side of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, leaders of several women's organizations say. In an Oct. 1 press conference, called to publicize a report about what working women want, the leaders – including Ellen Bravo, former leader of 9to5, and Debra Ness of the National Partnership for Women and Families – listed several issues the candidates should emphasize.”
Blogs
Coping with a debilitating illness
“During the end of my pregnancy and for a few months after, my hands would fall asleep at odd moments. They’d become numb while driving, typing or riding a bike. My doctor said that I probably had carpal tunnel syndrome, which is often characterized by hands that feel tingly or fall asleep, and is common during and after pregnancy. Luckily, I was on maternity leave when my hand problems were most pronounced, so I didn’t have to worry about not being able to type stories or drive to interviews. And, even luckier, it seemed to heal on its own without expensive therapy.”
No Plans to Retire, Even at 100
“So this post is dedicated to my nana. It’s a video featuring Mildred Heath, a 100-year-old woman, talking about her 85-year career as a publisher and journalist in Overton, Neb. Ms. Heath makes a good case for finding meaningful work and never giving it up. And if the economy maintains its current course, more of us will be following Ms. Heath’s example, by necessity rather than choice. I learned about Ms. Heath from Experience Works, which offers training and various programs to help older people remain in the work force. Experience Works named Ms. Heath “America’s Oldest Worker” for 2008.”
How Bad Has Job Growth Really Been Over the Last 8 Years?
“The labor market has evolved and become more complex, with growth in part-time jobs, older workers and outsourcing. The number of workers on the fringe of the job market – who will be captured in varying degrees by one or the other survey – will likely grow. This makes it essential that economic policymakers and businesses consider both surveys to measure the state of the job market, even if discrepancies between them might arise.”
Preemie Leave?
“Given that 12% of births are premature (1 in 8 pregnancies), thousands of parents across the country will have to think about these questions: Should we take our leave after the birth of our child, or wait until she is ready to come home? Should we stagger our leaves so that one of us works while our baby is in the NICU, and the other works when she comes home? What do we do if we want to pump breast milk for our baby in the NICU? Will we be forced to leave our jobs due to our extended absence?”
Global News
Commission improves work-life balance within the EU
“The European Commission adopted on October 3rd, 2008, a package of measures aimed to improve work-life balance for millions of EU citizens, both women and men. This measures included a longer and better maternity leave as well as a proposal to improve the situation of self-employed women by providing equivalent access to maternity leave, on a voluntary basis. They aim to update and improve existing EU legislation and will now be sent to the European Parliament and national governments for discussion. The Commission's proposal on maternity leave (revising the existing Directive 92/85/EEC from 1992) would increase the minimum period of leave from 14 to 18 weeks and recommend to pay women 100% of their salary but with a possibility for Member States to set a ceiling at the level of sick pay.”
Maternity benefit costs to increase
“Staff whose babies were due on or after Sunday now have a right to receive all non-cash benefits from their workplace for up to 52 weeks. It means that those employers who return company vehicles to a car pool after six months or ask for work mobile phones to be returned can no longer do so. Lawyers said that employers faced a particular headache over benefits delivered through salary sacrifice schemes, like child care vouchers, bicycles and computers. While employees may be able to afford to pay for these benefits themselves for the first six weeks, when a minimum of 90pc of salary is paid, it may not be possible to do so for the following 33 weeks, when employers can choose to offer the statutory minimum of £117 a week.”
Long sick leave for colds signals poor health later: study
“Employees off sick for long periods -- even for common conditions like flu -- are far more likely to die before their co-workers who do not take such leave, researchers said on Friday. The study of government workers included people who were healthy to start with and suggested extended sick leave for minor ailments as well as more major ones could point to serious health problems down the road. [. . .] The results could help doctors and employers identify people at higher risk of serious illness early on and long before they have symptoms, Head added.”