To say that this election season is unusual is beyond understatement. Nonetheless, it looks likely to end like every other U.S. presidential election in the last 200-plus years: with a new president-elect, who will be duly sworn in come January. Even another strikingly unusual (in a completely different way) election, that of George W. Bush […]
great workplaces
What IS “Family-Friendly,” Anyway?
It’s National Work and Family Month, and I’ve been thinking: What does it mean for a workplace to be “family friendly”? Actually, since one of my regular gigs as an “employer-of-choice” writer and consultant is helping companies with their applications for “best workplace” lists, this question arises a lot. I find it fascinating how differently it can be interpreted […]
What Else Is Lost When the Kids Have Flown…
A few weeks ago, I blogged about the empty nest and me. This week, in lieu of my usual blog post, I’ve guest-written a sort of “Empty Nest Part 2” for the fabulous 1 Million for Work Flexibility. This time, I focus on the bigger picture—the potential ramifications of this life stage for telecommuters. Check […]
Helping New Moms with—Wait, a Vending Machine?
At the sprawling Johns Hopkins University and Health Care System, support for breastfeeding employees is not just a one-off policy or accommodation, it’s a comprehensive program. And it’s been some time in the making. Johns Hopkins comprises both a string of health care facilities, including Johns Hopkins Hospital, itself, and the university, which offers undergraduate […]
If Your Company Feels Like Family, Maybe This is Why
Q: What’s one of the most common comments I hear from clients, when I ask them to describe their workplace? A: “We’re like family here.” Whether or not it is healthy to have a company culture that feels like family—and there are arguments on both sides—there is at least one interesting way that all organizations […]
Recovering Ourselves: The Secret to True Diversity at Work
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is upon us, and disguise is on my mind. Let me explain. I’ve been mulling over the concept of “covering”—a word that is new to me in this context but has apparently been around since 1963, when it was coined by sociologist Erving Goffman. “Covering” refers to the practice of […]