Let’s be honest. Work before the pandemic wasn’t exactly awesome. Even then, training, talent development, and technology were just a few workplace challenges. It’s no surprise we’re struggling with those same issues now. So, why are organizations mandating employees return to the office and to a work model that was already flawed?! And what should […]
I can’t say it enough – return to office mandates that force a set number of days are often doomed to fail. Even so, now that COVID public health emergencies have expired, companies are increasingly doubling down on mandates – and many are accompanied by “or else” threats. Thankfully, the national media notices this trend. […]
The lack of childcare is a meaningful and real constraint for parental workforce participation: “There were about 58,000 fewer daycare workers in the U.S. last month compared with February 2020.” If, on average, the teacher-to-child ratio is 1:4, that means childcare for almost 250,000 children doesn’t exist, no matter how much you paid for it. […]
Excellent overview of the current state of hybrid work in 2022 by Sarah Green Carmichael. Here’s how we can build on the milestones noted in the article and take work flexibility to the next level in 2023: 2022: Hybrid work is the norm. 2023: Expand beyond the duality (onsite or home) of “hybrid.” Optimize working flexibly […]
This past week I’ve been fascinated, but not surprised, that the looming strike by railroad workers hinged not on money, but on their ability to fit work and life together. Analyzing legislation that averted a possible railroad strike, the New York Times noted Sunday that “Congress stepped in to prevent supply chain havoc, but rail […]
Download the TWEAK IT PRACTICE™ tool to…. “Tweak” What do I need to do? Small, meaningful action or priority Work and Personal Standard (Habit) and Unique (Moment) Tweaks Plan, coordinate and execute your work and personal priorities WITHIN team ”how, when and where” flexibility guardrails Tweak it Practice: Set up Work and Personal Calendar Weekly Practice (Correspond to Priority-Setting/Update Check ins) Weekly Practice […]
NYT opinion writer Jessica Grose penned an outstanding piece, “Remote Work is Here to Stay. Lean In, Employers.” this past weekend following the release of a new working paper — The Covid-19 Baby Bump – from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The paper suggested remote work was among the factors that resulted in the first […]
“What keeps you up at night?” That’s one of the thought-provoking questions the host of UC Berkeley Extension’s The Future of Work podcast, Jill Finlayson, asked during my recent appearance. Finlayson is also the Director of EDGE (Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity) in Tech Initiative at UC, and the monthly podcast she hosts focuses on the changing evolution of […]
We know per the recent McKinsey data, the top reason people STAY is “adequate workplace flexibility.” But what’s really interesting is when you flip the “top reasons for QUITTING” data from the same study from negative to the positive… You have all of the elements of well-executed high performance flexibility–a flexible, dynamic way of operating, […]
As oversight of talent and human capital issues become front and center for corporate boards, I joined KPMG Board Leadership Center’s (BLC) Spring Directors Roundtable as a panelist for a discussion about “What workers want – Understanding the new employee/employer dynamic.” We explored the factors driving employees’ needs and expectations—from personal well-being and work-life fit […]