Ban Ki-moon Welcomes Family-Friendly Workplaces

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has trained the spotlight on the need for work-family balance, stating that this will benefit families and society at large. He said that flexible working options are now more widely available, but there’s scope for improvement when it comes to responding to the complexities of work and family life. He welcomed family-friendly workplaces that offer parental leave provisions, flexible working arrangements and better childcare.

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Source: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41999&Cr=Family&Cr1=work

Firms in UK Asked To Adopt Flexi-Work Options

Work Wise UK, the campaign group behind National Work Wise Week 2012 (which began on May 14), has called on companies to evaluate their working policies and ensure that their professional practices are up-to-date. The group says that more firms should consider the benefits of flexible working as a majority of professionals find this a plus point.

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Source: http://www.i-l-m.com/publications/2363.aspx?articleid=801363239&articleheading=Bosses+urged+to+promote+flexibility

Work-from-Home Plan for Olympics Faces Criticism

In the United Kingdom, plans are afoot to let civil servants work from home during the London Olympics. The UK Government has defended its plans, stating that staff will not use the move as an opportunity to shirk their normal duties. However, the proposal has led to criticism, with one business group saying that it would mean the government would work “intermittently” from July 21 to September 9.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/civil-servants-allowed-home-140715215–oly.html

Senior Management Roles Elude Australian Women

Research and studies show that women in management are good for business. But in Australia, the ceiling continues to remain glass. A new survey shows that women continue to be locked out of the C-level suite – a C-level job can be that of a CFO or a job reporting to the CEO. Only 22 per cent of 1,200 Australian chief executives surveyed appointed – or intended to appoint – a female senior manager.

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Source: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/executive-women/gender-diversity-good-for-business-but-women-shut-out-of-clevel-suite-20120514-1yn4k.html

In Lebanon, Telecommuting Gains in Popularity

A new wave is sweeping across Lebanon. Telecommuting seems to have become the order of the day as a large number of people in Lebanon are ditching their workplaces to do their work from, well, anywhere. Telecommuters are happy to avoid the daily rush-hour commutes and enjoy the freedom of working at any location, away from bosses. But, they caution, the practice needs focus, self-discipline and a good relationship with colleagues.

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Source:  http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2012/May-16/173536-telecommuting-bringing-the-chores-of-the-office-to-cafes-and-couches.ashx#ixzz1v0pXhrFd

 Why Work-Life Balance Comes Naturally in Middle East

What comprises a family’s ability to provide economically and emotionally for its members? Work-life balance! In the Middle East, work-family balance is not just handled by the woman of the house. It is a family-owned endeavour and an idea that is deeply rooted in society. Despite the traditional roles present in this society, work-life balance seems to come naturally to people here.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-stefano/ensuring-a-workfamily-bal_b_1517513.html

It isn’t just synchronicity.  It’s the frightening thought that women are the same all over the world – regardless of culture, environment and opportunity. At least when it comes to the  fundamentals – and that makes me want to explore the larger patriarchal and male narrative that makes women similar. But that’s a different conversation.

Came back from the lunch table to my post-lunch twitter scan and found Avivah Wittenberg Cox echoing the lunch conversation – at the other end of the world. http://goo.gl/bKz9s

We’d just been through our half hour which started with the Sexual Harrasment Bill being cleared by the Cabinet  http://goo.gl/hLm0M and where were the gaps and injustices even within it  – and led up to reasons women work or don’t.  We left the table with the nugget which is often not addressed by the many many women we talk to and work with – a core critical but hard to talk about – Money. In our circles of dialogue – and believe me these are many and varied – it takes a while to get women to talk about money – the need for it, the respect for it as a symbol of their work value, the invisible non-conversation about the dynamics of it in a relationship, the fear of not having one’s own income, the guilt about asking for money to get one’s hair done or buy a pair of shoes – yes, the very same things Avivah’s friends talk about.

Unsurprising therefore that many of our interventions with women need to at some point resolve this relationship with money, facilitate the ability for women to own the management of their finances, yes, even the family’s finances. She can spend it, she can earn it, she can manage it. They both can – and the both includes her.  Do the math.

No wonder therefore, at Fleximoms we have a Program for Women – Money and Me – and a series of workshops around finance, taxes and money in general.

Reena Alex is an adventurous, fun loving, enthusiastic and talented professional. She took a year’s break to look after her son but remained well networked and connected.
You would have thought when she decided to go back to working in the industry she knew so well, she’d easily find a job that gave her flexibility and time for her son.
It wasn’t so easy – but then Reena got lucky. She saw a Fleximoms ad on Facebook and decided to check it out. Not only did she find a flexible format opportunity in the domain of her interest, but she got an offer on the first attempt too. We’d like to share excerpts from a small chat we had with Reena about her experience in using the Fleximoms Job Board and why she finds this platform valuable.

Why did you want to switch from a regular to a flexible job?
I wanted to give more quality time to my son.

Were you successful in finding one?
Yes, through the help of Fleximoms Job search

How did you find Fleximoms?
Fleximoms appeared on my Facebook page in the Ads column, I just clicked thinking it may be some international website, but couldn’t believe it was a Indian website. Applied for the 1st job and got it

How does your flex arrangement work?
I work part time at www.seekandhide.in for 4 hours daily for 6 days a week. I can take the morning or afternoon shift. I work 3 days from home and 3 days from office.
And my Boss understands if my son is sick and lets me work from home, whenever I request.

What were you doing before getting this job?
Before taking a 1 and half year break because of my son’s medical condition, I was working for an International Airline.

What is your day like?
I plan ahead for my day as it is requires a lot of multi-tasking. Balancing work and home is fun! But it is pure joy having more time with my son, thanks to the work flex job!

How do you balance your work life now?
I am able to balance work and life because my son goes to the daycare, so I use that time to put in hours for work and also finish important tasks at home.
And definitely not to forget – a supportive husband and an understanding boss make it easier for me.

Your thoughts on Fleximoms?
I think Fleximoms is an awesome initiative and the support you are giving in different ways is definitely required by all moms! Please keep up the great job!

We wish Reena success and prosperity on her new innings at work!

For those of us looking to start a business, what is the first important step to take? Just plunge in? Or plan?

Often, we doubt ourselves or the reasons we are setting up shop. The first Planning For Your Business Workshop for aspiring women entrepreneurs talked about the specifics that are vital for anyone setting up a venture at any level.

The workshop was conducted by Prajakt Raut from The Hatch. The Hatch is an organization that has been set up primarily to evangelize, mentor and incubate budding business ideas and ventures. They conduct workshops, online webinars as well as one-on-one sessions with business owners who are setting up or have newly set up a business. They also run an online “virtual resource centre” that dispenses information useful and relevant to an entrepreneur.

We were fortunate to be joined by Reshma Anand, CEO – Earthy Goods, who shared her valuable experience and encouraged everyone to follow their heart and yet do it to make a difference to people.

I think my most important take-way from the workshop was the importance of putting the existence of a new business into perspective. For any business, even one set up at home, you may want to start by asking the following questions:

·      What problem or opportunity am I addressing?
·      How am I going to address it?
·      How do I plan to do it?
·      Why am I doing it?

The answers to these questions will form the outline to your business plan. Yes, it really is that easy. Having said that, what these questions typically answer are aspects like who is your customer, what is your product/service, how you plan to run the business and finally, the real reason or desire for doing the business.

While a lot of us may have thought these things through, there was still a lack of confidence about setting up the business and envisioning its growth. Almost a mental block infact – as some of us shared during the tea break, about how we are apprehensive to look at our business being more than just a “home set-up”. The fact that the idea of even using an excel sheet to organize financials is intimidating.

Prajakt helped us see that it didn’t matter where you started from, what really defined the course of your business’ growth is where you want to take it 5 years down the line. The mantra of “start small, but think big” was clearly evident and also helped us realize that it was the only way one could plan for the growth of the business.

Hence, it is the importance of the process no matter what the size of the business – thinking things through and writing a business plan that enables one to see a clear picture.

Another great insight from Reshma Anand was how to avoid falling into the “passion trap” – which means, don’t start a business to indulge yourself, do it if it actually solves or addresses a problem that affects people. A common sense method to validate your business idea.

At the end we all agreed that the workshop added value in terms of giving clarity, organizing our thoughts and deconstructing what it was that one needed to do before embarking on a new enterprise.

For those of you looking to take the plunge, look out for the next edition of this workshop in your city.

The next Planning For Your Business workshop is being conducted at Bangalore in July 2012.

Date: 6th July, 2012

No. of seats : 25

Workshop Fee: INR 2000

Registrations on first come first serve basis. To register, write to us at team@fleximoms.in.

We will also be sending you email invites, and details will be up on www.fleximoms.in soon.

Flexible Work Supports Employee Engagement

Employers believe that flexible working supports employee motivation and engagement, and can help reduce absence levels. According to a report published this week by Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), as many as 96 per cent of employers provide flexible working arrangements to at least some employees. The CIPD is now calling on the UK government to extend this right to all employees.

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Source: http://www.hi-mag.com/health-insurance/product-area/group-risk/article397978.ece

Best Gift for Mother’s Day? Job Flexibility

Working mothers are keen to return to the workplace, and are usually looking for a comfortable and rewarding transition. According to a survey by TheLadders, an online head-hunter type service, working moms are clear on what they desire most from their workplaces: Flexibility. Most women surveyed chose flexible work practices as against extended maternity leave.

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Source: http://realtybiznews.com/best-mothers-day-gift-flexible-work-hours/98712255/

Tips on Becoming a Work-at-Home Mom

Regardless of the maternity leave followed by the telecommuting options offered, returning to the workplace is often tough for a new mother. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Sara Sutton Fell, the CEO of FlexJobs, speaks on the steps women should take so that they can bid adieu to the workplace and become work-at-home moms.

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Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/05/10/become-a-work-at-home-mom/

NZ Employers Benefit from Flexible Work Options

Employers who offer their staff flexi-work options are rewarded by an increase in productivity and a rise in revenue. According to a study by Regus, 63 per cent of companies in New Zealand have admitted to higher levels of productivity as a result of flexible working practices. Of these, 68 per cent have linked rising revenues directly to flexibility.

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Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10804364

Flexibility Works as a Retention Tool

Across the world, flexible work practices are helping companies with enhanced employee productivity and greater revenue generation. In a poll by TJinsite, the research and knowledge arm of TimesJobs.com, 30 per cent employees said that cyclic workloads and personal stress hit their productivity at the workplace. Flexible working options, many said, helped them stay more motivated and turn more productive in the long run. Employers, meanwhile, back flexibility as an effective retention tool.

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Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-09/news/31641780_1_flexible-work-productivity-employees

New Moms Must Weigh Priorities and Benefits

Keen to tap the huge talent pool that new mothers comprise, many businesses are extending tangible career benefits. Each new mother has unique needs, which makes some benefits more worthwhile. Assess your priorities and decide which privileges work best for you. New mothers should ensure that they make the most of a few benefits that must be non-negotiable. These include paid maternity leave, health insurance, child care, telecommuting options and phase-back hours.

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Source: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/05/07/5-non-negotiable-work-benefits-for-new-moms

The Fleximoms Community is growing everyday with an increasing number of women joining the conversation. And while we are firmly connected to the world of work and women, what really makes an impact on all of us is hearing a simple yet inspiring story from a fellow member. Stories that truly reflect how you, with your challenges, aspirations and responsibilities, find happiness in what you do, whatever that may be.

We are a busy lot, and sometimes it is impossible to physically get to a group and connect. So here’s a space to share your story with the Community. We would love to hear what energizes you, what gets you going and what pulls you down. As someone juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, how do YOU make it work and what makes YOU tick…

A part of the Infosys quality team, Dhanashree Thosar finds it tough to lower her standards. Be it home or the workplace, she tries to give her best and maintain a fine balance. Here is her story.

What I do – my work and education: I have been working with Infosys for the past six-and-a-half years in the quality team. Before that, I worked with mid- and small-sized companies, both in the software delivery and quality assurance function. I have done my B.E. (Production) and now have 16 years of experience.

My family: My hubby, Nikhil, who is with the TCS sales team; my son, Aaryan, 14 years old and in the 9^th grade; and my daughter, Anushka, 7 years old and in the 2^nd grade.

My support system: On a day-to-day basis, my support system comprises my maids (the cook, the day maid etc.)! And I do everything possible to keep their satisfaction index high. Along with justified pay hikes, I give them other perks to ensure that they stay happy so that I am happy.

Whenever I travel, my hubby takes complete charge! He is a big support daily as well. At times, either my mother-in-law or my mother come down to be with us and help. I feel I am really lucky to have my best friend, my engineering classmate and hostel roommate, living in the same residential complex as me. We also have some other good friends living nearby. In an emergency, I can completely rely on them and be assured that EVERYTHING will be taken care of.

My inspiration to do what I do: Handling tough challenges, turning around situations makes my day. It’s basically work satisfaction, the feeling that I could manage to add that much value that keeps me inspired.

A typical day in my life: My day starts at 6 am, with preparations for the day, giving instructions to the cook, and getting the kids ready for school. By 7:45 am, I am rushing out of the house (with packed breakfast and lunch boxes) to catch my bus. The entire day goes in calls/meetings with a few much-needed breaks in between. I am back around 6 pm, hugging and talking to the kids at the same time! Then I head for a zumba fitness class. At 8 pm, we have our dinner together with everyone is talking at the same time about how they spent their day! Story time for the kids follows, after which they are in bed. After that, I and the husband have some couple time – we go for stroll or catch up on some TV. But at least 3-4 times a week, this routine is a bit different – there may be 6 am calls or 9 pm calls with onsite.

Weekends are all about cocking a snook at the clock and just lazing around with hubby, kids and friends. We also need to stock up on groceries, veggies and fruits for the entire week.

A fine balance: Many times the balance tilts towards work and I keep feeling guilty. However, over a period of time I have learnt the art of prioritisation and time management. One trick that works for me — as soon as I get up, I sit with my eyes closed and plan my entire day and list what I am going to accomplish, both officially and personally. This helps me to prioritise and execute well.

My stress buster: First of all, I do a root cause analysis (I can’t help this since I am in the field of quality!) and try and figure out what’s the reason for the stress. Many times, it actually helps to write and define the problem. Once the root cause is identified, the solution is not far away. Another thing that I do is to zoom out and look at the possible entire life span. I tell myself that this particular instance is not of significance, and so I need not get freaked out. I try to focus on the bigger picture and the stress lessens automatically.

Favourite “alone time” thing: Reading. I love reading fiction and have also developed a deep interest in books on spirituality.

Would I do it differently? I would have loved to pursue my passion as my profession. I probably would have done better in choreography, but it’s too late now.

What would I change? I would like to be able to curb the desire to eat chocolates/pastries

On a serious note, I would like to be able to control my thoughts — at times, I appear to be pre-occupied when with my family.