We’ve all heard the stories of the model elite who might have only gulped a Pepsi and a carrot in between shoots for days at a time, but what we don’t hear about is the work life balance, or lack there of for those working behind the runway.
While my work life cohorts were dishing out some pretty intense discussion at BlogHer this past weekend at the Screw Work/Life Balance, We Need Work/Life Policy
With that, “work life jugglers” and those who write about it perked up as Mr. Obama announced he’s testing a “result-only working environment” or ROWE with 400 members of his own staff. (read more about this in Sue Shellenbarger’s blog, “The Juggle” at the Wall Street Journal.)
Our world changed in an instant on September 11th 2001. Our world perspective was suddenly viewed through a new expanded lens – courtesy the internet, globalization, international security and economic concerns. We also had a new take on our work life.
The report, The Impact of the Recession on Employers was the substance behind the testimony of the Institute’s co-founder Ellen Galinsky Thursday morning. She spoke before a Congressional Joint Economic Committee which addressed: Balancing Work and Family in the Recession: How Employees and Employers are Coping (Click on the title to watch the testimony).
In an exceptionally healthy workplace in the 90′s, an on-site gym, cleaner organic food in the company cafeteria, and the occasional chair massage might have been the norm. These days, since workers are more concerned with keeping their jobs than putting on a few extra pounds, it’s a different story. One could argue it ‘s just as important to feel good – as to look good – mentally and physically.
In our 24/7 high-tech global marketplace, our work life scenario changes exponentially. 2008 is chuck full of illustrations mirroring that fact, the least of which was the election of our first African American president. President-elect Barack Obama ran on a platform of change and a promise to create or save, an estimated 3 million jobs – and he used social media tools to nail the top spot.
October saw another 16,000 jobs in New York City’s securities industry eaten up in the economic meltdown. It pushes the total work force down to numbers we haven’t seen since 2005, according to labor analyst James Brown, who spoke with Reuters Thursday.
In the wake of one of the most anticipated debates of the season, every Washington commentator is eagerly weighing in on both sides. While debating Palin’s credibility was all the rage this week, and her folksy image the target of the tabloids, I shall pass on judging her performance in contrast to a senate icon.
The 2008 CFO Perspectives on WorkLife Flexibility study showed that CFO’s understand that worklife flexibility has the potential to impact companies beyond employee issues. 75% of CFO’s at companies that offer flexibility, said the strategy might be important to the future profitability of their organizations. Here’s some other interesting findings:
