Work/Life Balance: A Career-Killing Phrase?
By Laura Vanderkam | April 19, 2011
http://www.bnet.com/blog/time-management/worklife-balance-a-career-killing-phrase/400?promo=713&tag=nl.e713
Sometimes words have more baggage than they should.
I was reminded of this recently when reading about a new Robert Half Management Resources survey. The company asked 1,400 financial officers from firms with more than 20 employees about the greatest challenge facing them these days. Some 38% — the highest amount — said “time management given competing work priorities.” This was a more popular answer than “staying current with accounting regulations,” which strikes me as pretty important.
Only 13%, however, chose “achieving work/life balance.”
I find these results fascinating. To me, “time management given competing work priorities” and “achieving work/life balance” mean exactly the same thing. If we’re trying to manage our work priorities, it’s so they don’t consume the entire 168 hours we have each week. In other words, so we can have a life. Perhaps even a balanced one.
Unfortunately, though, to many people, “work/life balance” has come to mean something else. Namely, it’s become a code phrase for women wanting to scale back and work part-time.
Yes, yes, this shouldn’t be the case. Work/life programs are for men too. And no, they don’t have to involve fewer work hours. The best work/life programs aren’t programs at all, but cultures that encourage people to work wherever, whenever, as long as the work gets done well. One recent study from Brigham Young University found that when people could work from home sometimes and set their own hours, people could work 57 hours per week before a quarter experienced work/life stress. Those stuck in offices during set hours could only work 38. In case anyone has trouble with the math, 57 is more than 38. A full 50% more.
But that kind of culture would involve such radical change for many managers that it’s easier to create part-time mommy tracks and assume that you’ve done your duty. Of course, a side effect of this pseudo-solution is that “work/life balance” becomes synonymous with such tracks. Anyone who wants to be seen as a go-getter will avoid using the phrase “work/life balance” at all costs.
And so, we say “yes” to time management and “no” to other words that describe the same thing. I can’t decide if that’s sad or silly, but until more workplaces treat people like grown-ups, it’s probably wise to watch our mouths.
MY THOUGHT
Believe me-you get more work done working from home than working in an office. Of course, this is probably circumstancial. But if you've managed your home office well and have oriented family members as to your working hours, working from homesdoes tend to allow you to produce more and better results. In my case, there's less stress-no traffic, no unscheduled meetings, no office politics.
I suggest you try it ourt part-time and see of it's for you. Here are some workshops yu can attend to get you started.
ONLINE WEALTH BREAKTHROUGH SEMINAR - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4274270
INTERNET MARKETING - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1336839
ONLINE MENTORING CLUB - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4272657
CEBU VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SEMINAR - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4273835
MANILA VA SEMINAR - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4268349
VA DOWNLOADED SEMINAR (you can do it at home) - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4268351
SOCIAL MENTORING CLUB - http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4278581
I've attended a couple of these workshops and I'm very happy with the results.
Showing posts with label online employment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online employment. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Will your work still SUCK if you WORK AT HOME?
How to fix a workplace that sucks
By Malcolm Smith
How often do you hear it? "Work sucks." This week I‘ve heard it from academic colleagues, my mailman, my wife, my son and a host other of characters in my life.
Needless to say, I was intrigued when a new version of a book hit my desk this week titled "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It," by Cali Ressler and Jody Thomson. First published in 2008, this wonderful little book has come out in an expanded paperback format. It really gets you thinking.
My intrigue with the book stems from a rising volume of literature that indicates that our families, our health and our productivity are suffering because of the disharmony that exists between our work lives and our personal lives. Americans are spending less time with their families, working longer hours and suffering more medical problems related to stress than ever in our history.
In addition, research shows that we are becoming meaner to one another in work environments.
Workplace bullying is at an all-time high and our workplaces are increasingly unhealthy. There are also indications that our spouses, children and friends are suffering from the effects of our work life.
According to Ressler and Thomson, the basis of this "suckiness" can be found in the very culture we create around work: Endless meetings that aren't productive; rigid schedules that don't mesh with our personal lives and the needs of our families; and a variety of rules and policies that serve only to justify a worker's existence and don't contribute to the bottom line.
Their solution? The Results Only Work Environment, or ROWE. The authors believe that, with the exception of those who must staff a sales floor or operate a machine, most "service" jobs should be performed in an environment where the only question that matters is, "Did this person get results?"
Obvious benefits
In the work world of "no suck," there's no concept of sick or vacation time, no tardiness, no gossiping about who is or isn't at work, and no worrying about when someone takes lunch or runs an errand. You work only when it helps you meet your assigned goals.
The authors say the ROWE model has been used successfully at the corporate end of Best Buy, as well as at a variety of other shops. Although there's a distinction between salaried workers and hourly workers who must perform their service at a particular time and/or place, ROWE certainly could work for many people in service, education, sales, and a lot of other industries.
Imagine a world where you napped if you wanted, as long as you met your goals. Imagine that as long as you produced quality work, no one snuck around your cubicle or your office door to see if you were "busy." Imagine being at home to greet the plumber and feeling no guilt when your child needs you to take her to the doctor.
In the ROWE model your time is your own, to manage as you see fit, from wherever you work best or need to be at the moment. In other words, under a ROWE structure, you would be considered a grown-up, rather than someone who needs to be "managed." If you need the team, you will meet with them. If you don't need them, you will proceed to do what you need to do.
The benefits are obvious. More work from home means less driving and less heating of office spaces. You control the clock, so the conflicts you encounter are your own. You have total autonomy, which has been linked to higher productivity and less stress.
What Ressler and Thompson are suggesting here is a revolution in the workplace, where everyone becomes focused on results, as distinguished from process.
Thus a college professor would worry more about his students and meeting their needs than impressing a review committee. An editor wouldn't feel guilty admitting that she does her best work on a laptop in a busy coffee shop with Wi-Fi.
This book was written by relatively young people - part of the new generation of American workers who will soon step into leadership roles in our companies and our board rooms. We may be just a step away from finding ourselves in a revolution in the corporate environment.
Work is taking a toll on our health, our families and our lives that's not sustainable. It would be nice if all of our work environments sucked a little less.
You can follow Ressler and Thompson's blog and get a copy of the book on their website, gorowe.com.
Dr. Malcolm Smith is family life and family policy specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension and teaches in the University of New Hampshire Family Studies Program. He can be reached at 603-862-7008 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 603-862-7008 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or malcolm.smith@unh.edu.
MY THOUGHTS
It's working! If you have been introduced into the world of home-based work, you should look into it. Seriously. Remote employers don't care where you graduated, what happened in your previous work nor whatever issues regular employers will look into before hiring you. Remote employers only care about your skills and eventually the results that you would produce. Applying for work-at-home jobs also provides less hassle - you're invited (or you apply),they send you on-line tests (monitored via webcam and screenshots), then you get interviewed via Skype. Once you're hired, it's purely results based. Go check on oDesk. You'll understand it better.
By Malcolm Smith
How often do you hear it? "Work sucks." This week I‘ve heard it from academic colleagues, my mailman, my wife, my son and a host other of characters in my life.
Needless to say, I was intrigued when a new version of a book hit my desk this week titled "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It," by Cali Ressler and Jody Thomson. First published in 2008, this wonderful little book has come out in an expanded paperback format. It really gets you thinking.
My intrigue with the book stems from a rising volume of literature that indicates that our families, our health and our productivity are suffering because of the disharmony that exists between our work lives and our personal lives. Americans are spending less time with their families, working longer hours and suffering more medical problems related to stress than ever in our history.
In addition, research shows that we are becoming meaner to one another in work environments.
Workplace bullying is at an all-time high and our workplaces are increasingly unhealthy. There are also indications that our spouses, children and friends are suffering from the effects of our work life.
According to Ressler and Thomson, the basis of this "suckiness" can be found in the very culture we create around work: Endless meetings that aren't productive; rigid schedules that don't mesh with our personal lives and the needs of our families; and a variety of rules and policies that serve only to justify a worker's existence and don't contribute to the bottom line.
Their solution? The Results Only Work Environment, or ROWE. The authors believe that, with the exception of those who must staff a sales floor or operate a machine, most "service" jobs should be performed in an environment where the only question that matters is, "Did this person get results?"
Obvious benefits
In the work world of "no suck," there's no concept of sick or vacation time, no tardiness, no gossiping about who is or isn't at work, and no worrying about when someone takes lunch or runs an errand. You work only when it helps you meet your assigned goals.
The authors say the ROWE model has been used successfully at the corporate end of Best Buy, as well as at a variety of other shops. Although there's a distinction between salaried workers and hourly workers who must perform their service at a particular time and/or place, ROWE certainly could work for many people in service, education, sales, and a lot of other industries.
Imagine a world where you napped if you wanted, as long as you met your goals. Imagine that as long as you produced quality work, no one snuck around your cubicle or your office door to see if you were "busy." Imagine being at home to greet the plumber and feeling no guilt when your child needs you to take her to the doctor.
In the ROWE model your time is your own, to manage as you see fit, from wherever you work best or need to be at the moment. In other words, under a ROWE structure, you would be considered a grown-up, rather than someone who needs to be "managed." If you need the team, you will meet with them. If you don't need them, you will proceed to do what you need to do.
The benefits are obvious. More work from home means less driving and less heating of office spaces. You control the clock, so the conflicts you encounter are your own. You have total autonomy, which has been linked to higher productivity and less stress.
What Ressler and Thompson are suggesting here is a revolution in the workplace, where everyone becomes focused on results, as distinguished from process.
Thus a college professor would worry more about his students and meeting their needs than impressing a review committee. An editor wouldn't feel guilty admitting that she does her best work on a laptop in a busy coffee shop with Wi-Fi.
This book was written by relatively young people - part of the new generation of American workers who will soon step into leadership roles in our companies and our board rooms. We may be just a step away from finding ourselves in a revolution in the corporate environment.
Work is taking a toll on our health, our families and our lives that's not sustainable. It would be nice if all of our work environments sucked a little less.
You can follow Ressler and Thompson's blog and get a copy of the book on their website, gorowe.com.
Dr. Malcolm Smith is family life and family policy specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension and teaches in the University of New Hampshire Family Studies Program. He can be reached at 603-862-7008 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 603-862-7008 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or malcolm.smith@unh.edu.
MY THOUGHTS
It's working! If you have been introduced into the world of home-based work, you should look into it. Seriously. Remote employers don't care where you graduated, what happened in your previous work nor whatever issues regular employers will look into before hiring you. Remote employers only care about your skills and eventually the results that you would produce. Applying for work-at-home jobs also provides less hassle - you're invited (or you apply),they send you on-line tests (monitored via webcam and screenshots), then you get interviewed via Skype. Once you're hired, it's purely results based. Go check on oDesk. You'll understand it better.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
FBI warning on work-from-home schemes
FBI warning targets work-from-home schemes
http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=13372054
SOUTH CAROLINA (WMBF)- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a consumer warning Wednesday, as thousands of consumers continue to lose money from work-from-home scams. Officials claim scam victims are often recruited by organized cybercriminals through a variety of outlets, ranging from newspaper ads to online employment services and unsolicited emails. Once a person is recruited for the job, officials say often times the consumer becomes a "mule" for cyber criminals to steal and launder money.
Now, federal officials are warning consumers to be on the lookout for these types of scams and to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim. Those looking for work are asked to be wary of work-from-home opportunities and to research a company before signing on for work.
Other tips from the FBI to avoid work-from-home scams include:
•Be cautious about any opportunities offering the chance to work from home with very little work or prior experience. Remember: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
•Never pay for the privilege of working for an employer. Be suspicious of opportunities that require you to pay for things up front, such as supplies and other materials.
•Never give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them. A February 2010 crackdown coordinated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has continued to target these types of schemes, many of which have been fueled by a slowing economy.
Those who believe they have become a victim of a work-from-home scam should contact their financial institution immediately. Any fraudulent activity or suspicious work-from-home offers should be reported to the Internet Crime Center.
MY THOUGHTS
better safe than sorry. remember - never pay. there are home-based jobs for sure. but we shouldn't be required to pay of it's legit.
http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=13372054
SOUTH CAROLINA (WMBF)- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a consumer warning Wednesday, as thousands of consumers continue to lose money from work-from-home scams. Officials claim scam victims are often recruited by organized cybercriminals through a variety of outlets, ranging from newspaper ads to online employment services and unsolicited emails. Once a person is recruited for the job, officials say often times the consumer becomes a "mule" for cyber criminals to steal and launder money.
Now, federal officials are warning consumers to be on the lookout for these types of scams and to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim. Those looking for work are asked to be wary of work-from-home opportunities and to research a company before signing on for work.
Other tips from the FBI to avoid work-from-home scams include:
•Be cautious about any opportunities offering the chance to work from home with very little work or prior experience. Remember: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
•Never pay for the privilege of working for an employer. Be suspicious of opportunities that require you to pay for things up front, such as supplies and other materials.
•Never give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them. A February 2010 crackdown coordinated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has continued to target these types of schemes, many of which have been fueled by a slowing economy.
Those who believe they have become a victim of a work-from-home scam should contact their financial institution immediately. Any fraudulent activity or suspicious work-from-home offers should be reported to the Internet Crime Center.
MY THOUGHTS
better safe than sorry. remember - never pay. there are home-based jobs for sure. but we shouldn't be required to pay of it's legit.
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