All of a sudden it seems the world has gone flexible work mad. The South Korean government has outlined plans to increase labour market participation among women, the Aussies have just thrown up their hands and given some of the most pro-flex legislation I've come across - probably a bit too 'pro' in my view, I'll get to that in a future post - and in the European Union women have filled 6m of the 8m new jobs created since 2000. My work is done, I'm going to play with the kids.
But hold on a damn minute. Aren't women still being paid less? Aren't the middle classes still juggling with the flex v's childcare conundrum? Many women feel they have to choose between their children and their careers. Women who prosper in high-pressure companies during their 20s drop out in dramatic numbers in their 30s and then find it almost impossible to regain their earlier momentum. Less-skilled women are trapped in poorly paid jobs with hand-to-mouth child-care arrangements. Motherhood, not sexism, is the issue: in America, childless women earn almost as much as men, but mothers earn significantly less. And those mothers’ relative poverty also disadvantages their children.
I'm afraid there's a long way to go on the flexible work front and the only way to change things is through education. We need to change the mind-set of the corporate world and those that govern us. Make them play by a new set of rules that they actually act on and not just give lip service to in the hope of gaining good PR or votes.
Sorry kids, I think Dora's on Nick, I've got work to do.
If you have a story to tell or experience to share regarding your search for flexible work please let me know through our facebook page or in the comments. In building a library of concerns we can both address them and use them to reflect the need for a change in the workplace.
Related Flexible Work Articles...
One Year Later--Flexible Downsizing and Hard Choices Post ...
A year ago, the economic downturn was in full gear. As layoffs gained momentum, I loudly promoted a more flexible approach to downsizing as an alternative to knee jerk job cuts. If executed correctly and strategically, compressed workweeks, ... The work has returned and requires the same number of headcount to complete, but is generating less revenue. This means tough choices still need to be made, and creative, low-cost means of reward and engagement pursued. ...
CareerMums: Family and work flexibility: Flexible work options
Where an employee works for a certain number of months a year and then is granted unpaid leave for the remainder of the year (works for employers with seasonal work demands and employees needing more time off than the average 4 weeks ...
Employers See a Brighter 2010 : The Work Buzz
We can safely say that 2009 was a year where the economy struggled, and we still have some work to do in 2010. However, this year 20 percent of employers plan to add new employees in 2010–in 2009 only 14 percent said so. ... They also intend to implement flexible work arrangements that help employees maintain a good work-life balance and consequently keep them happy. And in an effort to retain top talent, many organizations will ask some employees to postpone retirement ...
Flexible Work In Government | hiremyparents blog
Governments in Europe and the States have been making a big push on the flexible work front over the last few years. ... to protect jobs – and finding an additional £3bn to help people find new work quicker. … The Government's flexible tax credits system has risen to the challenge of the downturn, delivering substantial support to families to compensate for this loss of pay. So far this year, because of tax credits 400000 families whose income has fallen have benefited … ...
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- America and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Jobs Numbers (meganmcardle.theatlantic.com)
- Stewart Acuff: A Decade of Disaster for Workers (huffingtonpost.com)
- The Predicament of the American "Middle Class" (liveactivecultures.net)
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