This week, the coronavirus (or COVID-19) took a more serious turn in the U.S. with warnings that it could very well impact how, when, and where we work: “Disruption to everyday life may be severe,” Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, cautioned at a news conference Tuesday. “Schools could be closed, […]
My husband, Andy, and I kicked off the new year by co-presenting to 25 college students from our alma mater, Bucknell University, who participated in a week-long leadership intensive over their January break. This was a hand-picked group of impressive, motivated young people. All had to apply for acceptance into the program, and most were from the school’s Management […]
In a matter of days, organizations have gone from contingency planning for the coronavirus/COVID-19 to having to rapidly execute a 100% remote work crisis plan for employees with jobs that will allow it. Suddenly, more and more organizations that have little to no experience with work flexibility find themselves implementing the most extreme form–100% remote work. Any implementation […]
How do you implement a flexible work crisis plan that keeps everyone healthy, safe and as productive as possible during a very challenging period when remote work isn’t an option for certain jobs or organizations? “Flexing” where people work is getting the most airtime and attention, but flexing when and how people can work together is another option to consider. […]
When I read the recent New York Times article, “Young People are Going to Save Us All from Office Life,” I had two reactions. First, I thought it clearly outlined why the traditional work model, under disruptive pressure for years, is broken as employers grapple with the next generation’s inherently flexible approach to work and life. […]
Initially, when I talk to a leader about reimagining how, when and where their people work, they’ll often say, “oh, they already have work flexibility.” They aren’t wrong. According to our 2018 research, 98% of full-time U.S. workers said they had some degree of flexibility in the way they work and manage their lives. What’s missing […]
Last week multiple people have asked me, “What do you think about Microsoft’s 4-Day Workweek.” Whenever this happens, I’m reminded why these stories strike a chord. People respond enthusiastically to this and other “work reimagined” successes, including one in which a German company instituted 5-Hour Workdays, because it’s inspiring to see an organization try something new, even […]
Recently, I met with a forward-thinking leader who recognized his organization had reached a tipping point. He knew the current approach to flexibility in the way work is done was too random, inconsistent, and organic. It needed to be more coordinated and strategic to address a variety of business challenges, including attracting and retaining the diverse, knowledgeable talent required […]
Recently, I was interviewed for an insightful article in USA Today entitled “More Employers Offer Flexible Hours, but Many Grapple with How to Make It Succeed” reporting the results of a national survey of hiring managers. After that interview, I re-read the recent article in the New York Times, “Young People are Going to Save […]
Thank you CBS Sunday Morning’s Faith Salie for your commentary, “An Open Secret: Open Office Plans Are the Worst.” The segment was important because it reported the results of a Harvard Business School study that, because it was released over the summer, didn’t get as much coverage as it should have given what it found–open office workspaces (as currently implemented) don’t achieve the […]
Sign up to receive our latest insights and inspiration to help you reimagine work (and life) for success NOW and in the future.