Comments on: The joy of flex http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/ Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:59:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-23 Michelle Goodman Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:56:56 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-23 That is weird, but not surprising. In more uptight corporate environments, I think people do know that you get tagged as someone who has a life outside of work (the horror!) as opposed to someone who will give their last pint of blood for the company. Hyperbole, but you know what I mean. And I think that must spill over into the casual offices too; either that, or people can't afford to get paid for less hours worked. Supercool that you have a down-to-earth employer in an industry where flex is commerce, baby! I wish more people would ask for flex hours/arrangements, too. Then those of us who do ask wouldn't have to feel like the office divas quite so much. That is weird, but not surprising. In more uptight corporate environments, I think people do know that you get tagged as someone who has a life outside of work (the horror!) as opposed to someone who will give their last pint of blood for the company. Hyperbole, but you know what I mean. And I think that must spill over into the casual offices too; either that, or people can’t afford to get paid for less hours worked. Supercool that you have a down-to-earth employer in an industry where flex is commerce, baby! I wish more people would ask for flex hours/arrangements, too. Then those of us who do ask wouldn’t have to feel like the office divas quite so much.

]]> By: Ariel http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-22 Ariel Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:39:18 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-22 As someone who managed to negotiate a 32 hr/4 day work week, I think the biggest issue is that people just don't know they can ask! When I interviewed for my job, I told them very clearly that if they were looking for someone 40 hours a week, I wasn't the right person for the job. I guess they wanted me badly enough to negotiate, and now I think I'm the only permenent employee in a company of 150 people with this schedule. Why? I'm the only one who asked for it! It's weird. As someone who managed to negotiate a 32 hr/4 day work week, I think the biggest issue is that people just don’t know they can ask! When I interviewed for my job, I told them very clearly that if they were looking for someone 40 hours a week, I wasn’t the right person for the job. I guess they wanted me badly enough to negotiate, and now I think I’m the only permenent employee in a company of 150 people with this schedule. Why? I’m the only one who asked for it! It’s weird.

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-19 Michelle Goodman Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:25:39 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-19 DDV, it didn't cover men, just focused on women. I've read tons of articles/reports like this in the past year and all research points to women using/asking for flex work options more than men, although more and more men are getting with the work/life balance program, too. Polls/research shows that women are more likely to pony up to the pay cuts/career stagnation that comes with many flex work options (this totally depends on the company of course) than men are. Chalk it up to traditional gender roles (women stereotypically as caregivers, men as breadwinners) still in play. But that IS an interesting dilemma you pose -- who's helping Gen X/Y white guys get ahead if the old boys' club is fading fast? Technically you should be able to get the same perks/training from your employer as women and minorities. I'm sure no employer would deny them if you asked, but then again, how many men ask? I'm going to look into this, but if anyone else wants to chime in with their own flex experiences (male, female, animal, mineral), please do...! DDV, it didn’t cover men, just focused on women. I’ve read tons of articles/reports like this in the past year and all research points to women using/asking for flex work options more than men, although more and more men are getting with the work/life balance program, too. Polls/research shows that women are more likely to pony up to the pay cuts/career stagnation that comes with many flex work options (this totally depends on the company of course) than men are. Chalk it up to traditional gender roles (women stereotypically as caregivers, men as breadwinners) still in play. But that IS an interesting dilemma you pose — who’s helping Gen X/Y white guys get ahead if the old boys’ club is fading fast? Technically you should be able to get the same perks/training from your employer as women and minorities. I’m sure no employer would deny them if you asked, but then again, how many men ask? I’m going to look into this, but if anyone else wants to chime in with their own flex experiences (male, female, animal, mineral), please do…!

]]> By: ddv http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-18 ddv Wed, 11 Oct 2006 16:22:35 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2006/10/11/the-joy-of-flex/#comment-18 Did the ABC piece mention if men are offered the same chance to come back after a "family leave". It appears that the glass ceiling women have been dealing with for so long is now starting to afford them "perks" not available to men--Though I don't know if the perks are worth the pay gap... ~ddv Did the ABC piece mention if men are offered the same chance to come back after a “family leave”. It appears that the glass ceiling women have been dealing with for so long is now starting to afford them “perks” not available to men–Though I don’t know if the perks are worth the pay gap…

~ddv

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