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 […]
work-life balance
New Perspective on the Empty Nest
My daughter graduated high school last week. By late August, she’ll be on her way to college, and, since she’s the younger of our two, I’ll be an empty-nester. The prospect of our quiet house, devoid of the wonderful chaos children (even the nearly-grown ones) leave in their wake, saddens me deeply. But I’m also […]
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 […]
What Makes a 100 Best Company? It Depends…
Tomorrow I’m off to the Great Place to Work (GPTW) conference in San Diego. GPTW is the company that administers Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and “50 Best Small and Medium-Size Company” lists. And although I try to make it to this conference most years, this time I’m particularly curious about it, because […]
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 […]