Work/Life Nation: Work/Life Balance in the Corporate World

“Many of them are sometimes called dinosaurs in the press, but the idea is when they move - the whole earth shakes.”  Dana Friedman Ed.D.

The above quote from worklife expert Dana Friedman Ed.D. portends the significant impact of business as an agent of social change. But that change has not been swift with regard to work/life balance or family concerns in the corporate arena. While we are witnessing a rise in efforts to create a more flexible working environment, and an increase in the number of EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs), it sometimes comes at the price of a smaller paycheck or a larger contribution on the part of the employee.

The Families and Work Institute recently released The 2008 National Study of Employers which tracks the practices, programs, policies and benefits offered by U.S employers. It’s a comprehensive look at the trends over the last decade, examines the prevalence of company programs addressing employees’ personal and family needs, compares the progress between small and large employers, and deconstructs how companies make their decisions about offering such programs – typically known as work/life balance initiatives.

The phrase, “work/life balance initiatives” might be a thing of the past in the circles of those of us exploring worklife culture, most prefer the term “work/life flexibility practices.”  But in the corporate lexicon - the ‘B” word is still dominant. In a quick scan of 25 top multinational companies which offer such EAPs, most of them still refer to their programs as “work/life balance initiatives” on their websites. This had my mind whirling about the history of “work/life balance” and whether all this talk is getting us anywhere. For that I went to work/life expert Dana Friedman, a co-founder of the Families and Work Institute.

In this week’s Work/Life Nation podcast, Friedman deconstructs the playing field of corporate America’s history, interest and future –  in tackling work/life issues. She touches on our 24/7 world, employee retention, employee engagement, baby boomer retirement and the multi-generational structure which now makes up our workforce.

Click here for the Work/Life Nation radio feature with Dana Friedman Ed.D.