Every year, I work with organizations to help them tell their stories on the “Working Mother 100 Best Companies” application. Although I have been steeped in the work-life field for nearly all my professional life, I am still frequently surprised and impressed by the smart ways my clients find to support their employees and create cultures […]
The 2017 Working Mother WorkBeyond Summit: Some Takeaways
Last week I attended the annual conference celebrating companies listed on Working Mother’s 100 Best Companies list. Rebranded as the WorkBeyond Summit, the event once again showcased an assortment of interesting research and best practices. Here are a few of my takeaways: Even as Paid Parental Leave Remains Elusive, Some Policies Embrace Everything From Dads […]
When Caregiving’s Not About Children
I am, as they used to say, “a woman of a certain age.” Not surprisingly, so are many of my friends. (Some are even men of a certain age.) And lately I’ve noticed a trend when we get together. Whereas there was a time when many of us would talk about our kids, these days […]
Here’s What You Can Do To Improve Your Business—and the World
An opinion piece in The New York Times a few weeks ago really jolted me. I’ve had my head buried in “best company” applications all summer—helping clients put together strong submissions for the Fortune 100 Best Companies list. It’s time-consuming work, which is why I haven’t managed to post a blog in months. Heck, I’ve […]
Next Year’s Father’s Day Gift? How About Paternity Leave?
Father’s Day may have come and gone, but the question of working fathers remains as intractable as ever. This once invisible group (“working father” was pretty much redundant 50 years ago) is now the stuff of cute commercials and rom-coms, but there remains a tremendous disconnect between what we say, as a society, and what […]
What Makes a Great Place to Work? Inclusiveness is Key
For probably a dozen years, I’ve attended the annual Great Place to Work Conference. It’s the biggest event of the year for the Great Place to Work Institute (GPTW), the organization behind Fortune’s various “best places to work” lists. The conference brings together HR, communications, and other professionals from companies of all sizes that have […]
Stop Ignoring This Proven Way to Make Your Case
Trying to sell a new idea or program to senior leadership? Or showcase your organization’s features to win a corporate award or land a grant? We’ve all been told that “making the business case” comes down to having good data. But while data is critical, it’s not everything. Just now I’m reading The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis. […]
Has the Customer Service Pendulum Swung Too Far?
Remember when great customer service wasn’t necessarily a given? When if you bought something that didn’t fit right you couldn’t assume it was returnable? And if you needed something the next day, you’d better go get it yourself? Lily Tomlin’s iconic telephone operator, Ernestine, exemplified at least a strain of “customer service” in the bad […]
Not On Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For List? There’s Always Next Year!
Fortune’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list came out today. You’ll recognize a lot of the organizations on the list—they’re the Googles and the Whole Foods and the REIs—companies in the news year-round for their off-the-charts benefits, HR policies and worksite amenities. They’ve been on the list many times before, and will be on […]
A Brand New Employee Distraction
I wake to NPR’s “Morning Edition” but that’s not enough—I reach for my phone to check the headlines in the New York Times. (The paper copy, waiting on my doorstep, won’t be sufficiently up-to-date.) Then I check Facebook to see what clips from other papers my friends have posted. Then I weigh in on those […]