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[...] when our oldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I mentioned this last week, in a post on the ten best employers for work-life balance, regarding how my employer was very generous to us during that very difficult [...]
Enjoyed reading this list – I always check out the work-life balance list before the “best of” list. However, the way the lists are developed tends to score big companies higher than smaller companies, maybe because it’s easy to see and count pricey employee amenities (e.g., SAS aquatic center), as opposed to “caring boss.” I’m starting to believe that, while, financially, a big company can provide so many benefits to its employees and therefore score high on these surveys, the personal connection of an owner who cares in a smaller firm is priceless. Those smaller companies rarely make these lists – even though they should.
What these top 10 companies offer employees is impressive. But why? Because so many other employers use the “blanket” approach to management and policy development. One size does not fit all. The companies mentioned here obviously take more singular approach – what works for the individual? These companies seen to be more focused on relationship development v. policy development.
A fresh approach to how we work, which was pioneered at Best Buy seven years ago, and has been steadily gaining momentum and earning support is the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) created by Cali Ressler & Jody Thompson, This is a strategy rooted in common sense with an intense focus on results. People have the freedom and control to work whenever, wherever, and however they choose as long as the work gets done.
For more info about ROWE, please visit: http://gorowe.com
I found the list very interesting…one of my neighbors is a telecommuter for SAS and today my friend who works for Edward Jones was over. Even though the latter isn’t paid much, she said she really appreciates the flexibility she has and her boss. Your mention of your employer giving you the flexibility to deal with therapy appointments is not necessarily a given. On Friday I was riding with 2 men in an elevator at my work building and one was talking about his son’s severe medical issue and how he needed treatments in a special facility in another state and his boss had told him, “We are really too busy right now to have you taking any leave time.” I was horrified and just wanted to follow the man into his office and tell the bossman what a unfeeling jerk he was. It’s scary how out of balance so many of our lives are, that’s why I really appeciate learning the Seven Keys to work life balance
as not everyone has understanding employers so we need to learn these keys to better manage what we can.
Kendra, thanks for your comment. Yes, I know I was very blessed to have the flexible work schedule when I really needed it!
More and more people are looking for a career that promotes work-life balance. I’m glad that more companies are aware of this and are adapting.
For me, being a high-powered exec is more important than being a good parent.
Things cost money. Staying at home doesn’t buy things. Going out there and making as much money as possible is the best thing to do. Everyone wants to live the good life. But the good life costs. So what if you can’t make it to the softball game or the ballet recital! If you are bringing home big bucks, you are doing more for your family than any amount of time will.
A parent that doesn’t make a ton of money is shameful. Kids want iPhones, computers, jeans, sneakers, and other cool stuff. How can a kid be cool if mom or dad only works 40 hours a week but brings home diddley squat? I would rather work a ton of hours and make a ton of money than come home at the same time and sit in the house with a nagging wife and bratty children. A family has to understand that having things is more important than being together. Working less is not an option!
Yadgyu, do you have kids?
@ Life Compass,
I do have kids. But I am not going to let that stop me from making a lot of money. I think people use kids and/or a spouse as an excuse to be lazy. I think that you should work HARDER when you have a family, not less.
Making money is really what’s important in life. Of course workmis boring and unimportant. But since I have to work, I might as well get paid large sums of money for my suffering. I do not know anyone who works a 40 hour week that is happy with making low wages.
Families have to realize that sacrifices are necessary.
@ Yadgyu,
While there are plenty of people sacrificing currently to protect our way of life, they choose to do so in order for us to be able to do what we wish. However, are you not aware or simply do not care that work-life balance is an important thing for family health? Sure you make tons of money, but where were you when your kids took that first step? Said his/her first word? Saw their first tooth? It is things like that and many more that make more and more companies look to employee retention. Working 90 hours a week to get your gobs of money leaves you out of the best times of your children’s lives. What about ball games or band practice? You should be a family man that is supportive of his family, not just monetarily but mentally as well.
And another thing, working HARDER is not the correct way to get things done, it’s working SMARTER that is more productive. Take a look at results-only work environments (ROWE). These businesses have adapted to a very drastic change and are more profitable because of it. Granted ROWE is not for all businesses, but it allows companies to enrich and empower its employees.
@ JohnPR,
I know that “memories” are precious and valuable for many. But I myself do not get caught up in those small things. I was there when my kids were born and took their first steps. But these were not mind-blowing events. Those kids are going to grow up fast.
They are going to require a lot more than my recollections of first steps and baseball games. I know that kids do not understand money and the sacrifices parents make. But I am not going to cut out work just to spend more time with the family. It sounds horrible, but I am a provider. Many generations before us had men that sometimes left their family behind in order to work. Those men were not terrible. They sacrificed their time so they could send money back to their families. Without those men working hard and bringing in money, those families would have starved.
Money is extremely important.
Yadgyu,
Memories in quotes is an interesting take. To me, this indicates that you are a hard, cold person with too much pragmatism to truly care about anyone but yourself. This is not an insult, just an observation.
I never said money wasn’t important. After all, that is what makes the world go ’round. But have you considered that the way you are conducting yourself is an antiquated outlook on being a provider. Granted, I am a bit old-fashioned myself, as I prefer to be the sole provider for my wife and I. However, I would prefer to be with her when she needs me most, not 20 or more miles away where I cannot do anything. A work-life balance is important to maintain a healthy relationship.
Take a look at what is going on today in the work environment versus what was happening 50 years ago. The 40-hour work week that was mandated by law was a result of factory and assembly workers not getting fair recompense for their time. That same law also clarified what constituted child labor and thus what was illegal for companies to do. In today’s work environment technology abounds. We need to start leveraging the tools we have in order to up our quality of life. Therefore, my statement work SMARTER not HARDER is the best way to increase income.
Showing up early to work and leaving late from work essentially looks good to those that know no other way of conducting business. A 40-hour work week where attention to time is required and not attention to production is an outdated mode of work AND progress. Being electronically involved allows us to not be tethered to something when we know we are not being productive. Would you rather spend 2 hours “looking productive” after your work is done? Or would you rather take that two hours of “looking productive” and miss all of the crazy traffic a bunch of areas have so you can be with your loved ones? Just a suggestion here: Quit living in the past and come to the 21st century.