Here’s advice, insight and the latest news from the world of work/life balance:
Resources for elder care: “Many businesses don’t have employee assistance programs, so workers are forced to figure out for themselves how to care for their aging parents–while keeping their job at the same time,” observed Deborah Frandsen, director of development for Missoula Aging Services in Montana. “But there are a number of resources out there.”
The best place to start, the elder-care expert says, is on the Web at Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov). “It will lead you to the closest area agency on aging,” said Frandsen.
“A phone call or e-mail to its information and referral program will help connect you to all the different resources available in the community,” she added.
The director points out that volunteer opportunities also are listed for elders who “are relatively fit and active.” For those more infirm, “programs such as Meals on Wheels can help guarantee your parents are getting good food in addition to being checked on. You also can find specialized transportation for help in getting your parents to doctors’ appointments, allowing you to stay at work.”
These resources are among many that can help employees with elder-care responsibilities to assist their parents–and themselves.
Getting benefits: If you’re a woman who wants to have a strong support from your employer in trying to balance your personal and professional responsibilities, you might want to work for a company that has women in top jobs.
“Communications companies with more women on their boards of directors all tend to have more women in executive positions, more women-friendly benefits packages and better maternity leave,” according to a report by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
That conclusion is based on the center’s study of 57 top communications companies. But before you rush out to find a job at a media organization, there’s another statistic that might dampen your enthusiasm somewhat–and also realistically limit your opportunities:
The report also found that women at these firms comprise only 15 percent of executives and only 12 percent of board members.
Another observation is that communications firms “have not moved beyond tokenism.” And, according to Susan Ness, former FCC commissioner, that means “the glass ceiling is firmly in place.”
Solving work/life problems: Workers who want to achieve balance in their lives first need to “envision, negotiate and then implement a work/life arrangement that is good for you and makes business sense for your company,” according to Cali Williams Yost, author of “Work + Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right For You” (Riverhead Books, $25.95).
Yost, president and founder of Work/Life Visions Inc. in Madison, N.J., has this advice on how to be successful in making an arrangement that works for you:
“Take the initiative,” the work/life consultant advises. “Propose your work/life fit to your manager in spite of fearing the answer might be no. Create a business case to support your formal proposal. Be patient and persevere.”
And here’s another important caveat she posits: “Know that as your work and personal life evolve, your work/life fit will change.”
Benefits that really matter: Ted Townsend, owner of Townsend Engineering in Des Moines, has the right idea when it comes to making his 185 workers happy.
More Top Picks Puzzles
Here are the initiatives he’s used to attract and retain qualified employees: He gives every employee a parking spot. He picks up the tab for workers to send flowers once a year to anyone they want to. And even more “rewarding” is something he did in 2002: He took the entire staff on a company outing to Puerto Rico.
Now that’s what I call initiative!
———-
Carol Kleiman’s columns also appear in Tuesday and Thursday’s Business sections. Hear her on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:21 p.m. and 10:22 p.m. each Monday and at 11:20 a.m. each Saturday. Watch her “Career Coach” segments on CLTV. Send e-mail to [email protected].