Susan's Blog  
(Occasional comments by Susan Seitel)

July 22, 2009

Jack Welch set off a firestorm recently. The former General Electric Co. CEO had what some called "blunt words" for women trying to climb the corporate ladder: "There’s no such thing as work-life balance," he told attendees at SHRM’s annual conference in New Orleans. "There are work-life choices," he said, "and you make them, and they have consequences," and you may have to choose between taking time off to raise children and reaching the corner office.

Duh. We’re trying to figure out what it was about that speech that came as a surprise. We know of no one who is unaware that choices have to be made and that they have consequences.

But regardless of the choices we make, what most of us do need is a little help, both at home, from other family members, and at work.

If you're lucky, you'll have a manager that provides that help. What can a manager do? More and more, research tells us that making the shift from hallway management to managing by results is critical. The ability to set goals and know how success will be measured opens the door to all kinds of flexible work arrangements, including telecommuting.

It empowers workers, treats them like adults and enables them to work in the way they work best. There may be no such thing as work-life balance, but that’s about as close as you can get.

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July 9th, 2009

Are You Father-Friendly?

 A Guest blog by Ken Gosnell, Associate Vice President of National Programming at the National Fatherhood Initiative.

 More and more men state that work-family balance issues prevent them from being a successful parent, and more and more women are saying that they want their husbands to be more available so that they can balance their work-family priorities, as well.  

I was privileged to talk with several other experts on Kojo Nnamdi's NPR show last week - Work-Life Balance : A Male Perspective.  As Generation Y men enter the workforce and become parents, they're placing more emphasis on their role as a father and are looking for companies who will do the same, even in tougher economic times. 

With Father's Day just passed, it's a good time to analyze what are you doing for the fathers in your company.  Many work-life programs offer parenting resources for both women and men, but with information and a style that is geared more for women.  Maternity leave is a standard, but paternity leave is only starting to catch on. 

Focusing on fathers will boost your bottom line - studies show that good fathers are better leaders - and it doesn't have to be expensive.  Here are some ideas:

Include Men/Fathers In Marketing Collateral.  If you're advertising a seminar/workshop or hosting a presentation, make sure the imagery includes men and fathers so that men feel welcome and at ease. 

Offer Literature Specifically for Fathers.  Brochures/pamphlets with specific information for men on topics like balancing work and family, keeping children safe, and other parenting tips will get more traction among men. 

Organize a Dads Group.  Encourage men to meet over lunch and invite in guest speakers.  This will give them a safe place to talk about fathering and support each other. 

To see how father-friendly your company is, you can use a free diagnostic tool - the Father Friendly Check-Up.  Offered by the National Fatherhood Initiative, it helps you pin-point strategies for becoming a more father-friendly organization. 

Don't let your fathers get left in the dust during these tough economic times.  With just a little ingenuity and resourcefulness, you can actively and effectively support the fathers in your company. 

You can reach Ken at kgosnell@fatherhood.org. Or go to www.fatherhood.org 

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