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.
June
Today's News Roundup includes an article on a recent trend in working remotely, several pieces evaluating the workplace policies of law firms, and an amusing graphical depiction of the relationship between work and life.Today's News Roundup includes a piece by Mother Jones that probes the cracks in the FMLA, and an intriguing report on a New York State employee who telecommutes from South Carolina. Ever considered starting your own business? According to a report in this week's News Roundup, you would have more flexibility. Also: surf some interesting blog postings on topics ranging from coordinating vacations with colleagues to compressed work weeks.
Today's News Roundup features a survey by Civic Ventures and MetLife that sheds new light on what aging workers want and need in employment as well as a report on a piece of legislation passed by the House of Representatives that would offer federal employees four weeks of paid parental leave.
Today's News Roundup underscores the importance of flexible work arrangements in balancing continuing education and workforce training with employment. Also find a new report on Sun Microsystems' innovative workplace flexibility program.
Today’s News Roundup celebrates Father’s Day with numerous articles and blogs addressing the workplace flexibility needs of working dads. Other articles focus on the need to increase paid time off for all American workers. Countries abroad look to the non-traditional work schedules popping up around the US for inspiration in tackling the gas price crisis, and a sociologist’s new research indicates that the “opting out” movement may be a myth.
Today’s News Roundup includes the results from an annual Father’s Day survey on work and family issues, and a survey of the preparedness of working Baby Boomers to cope with a sudden disability. In other news, the California Assembly passes a sick leave measure, and House Republicans introduce a comp time measure offering a choice of paid time off instead of overtime wage payments under the FLSA.
Today's News Roundup includes articles on several key features of a changing US workplace, such as 4-day work weeks and a multigenerational workforce. In Congress this week, a telecommuting bill passes the House, and a new bill is introduced taking aim at the practice of misclassification of employees as independant contractors. Press accounts of the May meeting in Japan on G-8 labor issues show tackling work-life imbalance and energy costs for workers high on this year's agenda.
Today's News Roundup reflects the incredible effect of rising gas prices on encouraging flexible work arrangements. News sources across the nation reveal legislators, employers and workers alike scrambling for solutions to reduce the cost of commutes, from telecommuting to compressed work weeks to finding jobs closer to home.
May
Today's News Roundup features new legislation proposed to a House subcommittee by the OMP that would allow federal retirees to return to the federal workforce without the current financial penalties. In other news, a county executive in Michigan proposed a 4-day compressed work week program to reduce commuting costs for county employees. In addition, the Families and Work Institute released their major "2008 National Study of Employers", attracting a great deal of press attention to issues of workplace flexibility.
In today’s News Roundup, columnists and bloggers across the nation honored Mother’s Day by discussing ways to alleviate the challenges women and other caretakers face in today’s workplace. Flexible work arrangements and expanded leave options remain at the center of the debate.
Today’s News Roundup features a new Senate bill allowing phased retirement for federal workers, as well an article challenging the myth that working mothers are increasingly “opting out” of the workforce. In other articles and blogs, the upcoming US Presidential Election in November ‘08 plays a growing role in discussions of the future of family-friendly work and workplace flexibility.
Today's News Roundup includes an article on a new trend, in which staffing firms take advantage of the untapped talent among stay-at-home mothers by connecting companies with teams of highly educated mothers for short-term projects. In other news, several new bills to encourage phased retirement and workforce re-entry for older workers will be introduced in the Senate this month, led by Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-Wisc), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
April
April 29, 2008In today’s News Roundup, an article discusses the benefits of telecommuting for Hawaiian workers, and Ohio state employees adjust to new restrictions on workplace flexibility. In other news, doctors’ desire for work/life balance is supported and criticized in various blogs and articles from the US and the UK. A government report from Japan addresses the need for phased retirement and workplace flexibility policies to prevent workforce shortages.
April 25, 2005Today’s News Roundup includes several articles on maternal profiling and discrimination against caretakers in the US and abroad. In other news, Earth Day discussions focus on working at home, telecommuting, and other environmentally conscious alternatives to the traditional workplace.
April 22, 2008Today's News Roundup includes an article on changes to a House bill proposing paid parental leave for federal workers, a survey quantifying the environmental benefits of telecommuting, and several blogs on how balancing the desire for children and the desire for career success affects women's choices about when and how to pursue careers and/or motherhood.
In today’s News Roundup, a House of Representatives bill proposing 8 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees is cut to down 4 weeks, and The Economist presents a special report on “nomadism” and the workplace. In honor of April 15th, the Council for Contemporary Families provides an analysis of the extent to which US income tax dollars are allocated to benefit US families. In global news, a report outlines the impact of pervasive part-time work in the Netherlands, and French father-managers press for more time off to focus on their children.
April 15, 2008In today's News Roundup, Connecticut and California state lawmakers propose paid sick leave bills, joining a growing trend in state legislatures nationwide. The Department of Labor releases a report on proposed changes to the FMLA, and a Newsweek blogger considers the impact on family and work life she will face as a professional mother returning to higher education. Abroad, a UK think-tank releases a report on the future of workforce management.
April 11, 2008Today's News Roundup includes articles on topics such as co-working, stay-at-home dads, and the fate of flexible work arrangements during economic recession. In addition, articles, blogs and even a work of fiction all focus on the so-called "Mommy Wars", and a report indicates Asian companies lag behind other regions in terms of workplace flexibility.
April 8, 2008Today's News Roundup features 6 reports on the changing face of the workforce, brought by forerunners in the field of workplace flexibility and work-life balance research, such as the Sloan Work and Family Research Network and Boston College's Center for Work and Family. University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and the Council for Contemporary Families both released reports on men's role in new trends in division of labor in US households.
April 4, 2008In today’s News Roundup, working mothers in California fight for paid sick leave, new technology creates opportunities for innovation in remote work, and a group of senators proposes legislation to improve health insurance access for the self-employed and small businesses. Bloggers discuss work-life issues including corporate reolcations, phased retirement, and whether telecommuting has an effect on salary.
Today’s News Roundup includes several articles on the generation gap in the workforce and the importance of flexible work policies for both older workers and people just entering the job market. Additional articles touch on the possibility of paid sick leave measures introduced by Democrats playing a central role in deciding the 2008 presidential election.
March
March 28, 2008In today's News Roundup, Maryland and Maine legislatures consider expanding state family medical leave laws to accommodate the caretaking responsibilities of many members of the workforce. In addition, EEOC statistics show a record number of women filing pregnancy discrimination complaints against employers.
Today’s News Roundup includes an article on the growing number of fathers becoming primary caretakers as women are increasingly represented in the workforce. Other articles focus on compressed workweeks and other flexible scheduling for overstressed Americans, and the trends of businesses across industries in highlighting work-life balance as a recruitment and retention tool.
Today’s News Roundup includes articles suggesting a rise in state and local legislation aimed at improving access to flexible schedules and paid sick leave for workers. In other news, new flexible work options such as co-working and telecommuting create job opportunities for people often excluded from the workforce, such as family caretakers and people with disabilities. However, articles, blogs and reports also highlight the unique obstacles faced by members of the workforce such as pregnant women and retirement-age parents with financially dependent adult children.
March 18, 2008Today's News Roundup includes several articles on flexible work arrangements and paid leave in the legal profession, as law firms respond to pressure from student movements at top law schools promoting more family-friendly workplaces and improved work-life balance for attorneys. The Center for WorkLife Law released a new study on women law firm partners, and countries from the Caribbean to the Middle East debate workplace flexibility issues.
In today’s News Roundup, bloggers discuss maternal profiling, paid leave, and attorney retention through better long-term leave options. A study shows that women in the finance industry have seen little to no improvement since 2002 in workplace policies regarding issues from equal pay to providing child care options.
Today’s News Roundup contains articles on paid parental and sick leave, home-based small businesses, and the popularity of flexible work options such as job-shares and web commuting. Also included: a study from University of Kentucky and Boston College showing how work-life accommodations benefit hourly workers and their employers.
March 4, 2008In today's News Roundup, the New Jersey Senate passes the paid family leave bill, an important step forward in the legislative process. Recent studies show that the availability of workplace flexibility options is of growing importance to lawyers and future non-profit leaders. A blog by a woman scientist reviews a new book by Pamela Stone on women leaving the workforce. In international news, Malaysia looks to Singapore, France, and the UK for inspiration to improve work-life balance.
February
Today’s News Roundup features several articles on parental leave for dads and moms, and the work-life impact of changes in the age that women have children. New Jersey’s paid sick leave bill gained support, and The National Partnership for Women and Families began a nationwide online campaign in support of the Healthy Families Act.
In today’s News Roundup, state employees, unions, and citizens of Ohio protest the Ohio governor’s decision to dramatically scale back flexible work arrangements for state workers. Co-working and other forms of telecommute gain momentum around the world, with articles on workplace flexibility from countries including Australia, Kenya, and India.
Today’s News Roundup features articles on co-working, carpooling, working from home, and the stress of overtime and work-life imbalance. Also included are surveys on the success of telecommuting in Canada, the problem of work-life balance for the self-employed in the UK, and a just-released report highlighting workplace flexibility from the Taskforce on the Aging of the American Workforce.
Today’s News Roundup features articles on phased retirement, work-life balance for grandparents, and the most flexible industries for single mothers. A recent survey shows companies providing inadequate support for overworked employees, and the debate over the future of the FMLA continues
Today’s News Roundup features articles on various less obvious benefits of flexible work, from its positive impact on the environment to its importance in increasing parental involvement in the lives of children. In other news, the Department of Labor proposes reforms to the Family and Medical Leave Act on its 15th anniversary, and a recent survey shows work-life balance to be surpassing even salary in its importance to jobseekers in the US workforce.
In today’s News Roundup, several articles and blogs focus on the increasing demand among working dads for forms of flexibility, such as parental leave, more commonly associated with mothers. A growing number of ompanies strive to incorporate workplace policies like project-based employment, part-time work, and telecommuting, to attract and retain talent. In other news, the DC City Council votes a preliminary yes to increased paid sick leave, FMLA expansion gains support in the Senate, and 6 US colleges and universities receive the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Faculty Career Flexibility Awards.
In today’s News Roundup , the debate over the effectiveness of telecommunication continues, and articles discuss district and federal legislation affecting various forms of paid leave. Several organizations nationwide announce conferences emphasizing the vital role of work-life balance in today’s workplace, and bloggers consider the potential impact of events such as a new presidency and an economic recession on the expansion of workplace flexibility.
February 1, 2008Today's News Roundup features an article on a UK disability law and flexible work arrangements as well as a report on labor policy in the Netherlands. Other reports and articles discuss a broad range of issues related to workplace flexibility, including telecommuting, phased retirement, and the importance of striking a practical balance between the competing demands of life and work.
January
Today’s News Roundup includes articles and blogs on strategies for achieving work-life balance, the need for increased family and medical leave, and the ecological perks of flexible work arrangements. Also featured, New Jersey state legislature introduces a reformulation last year’s paid leave bill, law firms across the US offer increased flexibility, and a Japanese firm takes work-life accommodations to a new level.
January 18, 2008Today’s News Roundup features a report indicating that US workers find flexible work arrangements to be the key to job satisfaction, and a study from New Zealand showing that gender equity in parental leave is in the best interest of homes and workplaces alike. Other reports and articles discuss a broad range of issues related to workplace flexibility, including sick leave legislation, telecommuting, maternal profiling, and the future of the mature workforce.
January 15, 2008Articles in today’s News Roundup discuss topics including the role of technology in workplace flexibility, the need for new accommodations for on-ramping fathers and retiring baby boomers, and the health benefits of flexible work arrangements. Cited surveys provide evidence for the downsides of telecommuting and the growth of the contingent workforce. Arizona women debate maternal profiling, DC businesses object to paid leave initiatives, and Japan, the EU, and Canada confront work-life balance issues.
Today’s News Roundup features articles and blogs discussing the advantages of flexible work arrangements for businesses as well as workers. Ohio residents put forward a paid sick leave bill, and a British study contradicts conventional wisdom by indicating that mothers who work are happier than stay-at-home moms. News on workplace flexibility in Australia and Singapore is also included.
January 8, 2008Today's News Roundup features articles and blogs regarding paternal flexibility, time off for elder care, and phased retirement. Additional articles include updates on workplace flexibility issues in Canada and the UK. Two newly published reports offer predictions about the increasingly prominent role of telecommuting, compressed work weeks, and other flexible work arrangements in 2008.