I’ve just put a bow on my busiest season, the late spring and summer months when I work with companies to put together the best possible submissions for next year’s Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. In other words, I spend each summer helping my clients tell their stories—stories about how they work […]
25 Years after FMLA, Paid Leave Remains a Pipedream
In 1992 I moved to New York, got married, and starting working in the media department (ok, as the media department) for Families and Work Institute. Families and Work, which recently folded, was a research institute, not an advocacy group, but at the time we were a small, passionate, unabashedly liberal staff. So I well […]
What Makes a “Great Place to Work?” The Rules Have Changed
Last month I attended the Great Place to Work Institute’s annual conference, and once again I was struck by how things have changed. Great Place to Work Institute (aka GPTW) is the organization responsible for Fortune’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, as well as a bunch of other best workplace lists published […]
Women Are Entering Worlds Once Dominated By Men. The Same Can’t Be Said in Reverse.
My son graduated from music conservatory with a degree in composition last spring, so naturally he’s back in his old bedroom and, currently, earning some part of his keep by babysitting. His job includes picking up kids at a private school, often afterwards heading to the school playground. The school has even issued him an […]
What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Engagement?
“A growing body of research shows that an engaged workforce is the key to better customer experience.” I came across that sentence the other day and sighed. Talk about stating the obvious. It’s a bit like saying, “a growing body of research shows that ice cream tastes good.” Of course engaged workers are going to […]
Taking on the “Should-Dos” in a Sea of Distraction
I haven’t blogged in months. I feel bad about that. While I doubt any of my subscribers are waiting on the edge of their seats for the next post, I still feel I’ve broken some sort of commitment. Besides, blogging is an important part of my business model. It serves to remind current and potential […]
What Makes an Employer One of “The Best”?
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 […]