By Sophie Fletcher (Chicago)
As Jenna Porter drops her four-month old son, Milo, off at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, she thinks to herself how much easier it is to say goodbye to this son compared to her 12 year old; he is still too young to hang on her leg and ask, ‘Mommy, do you have to work?’
“That’s not to say Milo doesn’t know what is going on,” said Porter. “He smiles when I come back but he doesn’t have a concept of time.”
by Anna T. Collins, Esquire (Portland, Maine)
Today’s workplace is a multi-generation melting pot. While Generation Xers step into positions formerly held by Baby Boomers, members of the Millennial generation, also called Generation Y, are filling entry-level positions while also competing for more coveted opportunities. The entrance of the Millennials is infusing a new perspective into the work/life balance debate, one that underlines the unique skills of Generation Y women and the challenges they cannot overcome without successful mentorship.
In Part I of this article this morning, writer Paige Churchman wrote: “How wide is the gap between how you live and your ideal? Does your work feed or drain you? How do you give your career everything it needs and still know who you are? The Glass Hammer took these questions out into the corporate world to see how some top women find their balance or, if they haven’t found it, what they dream of. We talked to someone in a company known for its quality of life (Cisco Systems, number six on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For ), someone in an industry known for its long hours (law), and seven women in an industry that’s hurting (finance).” This morning’s part covered the women at Cisco and in law. This afternoon, Ms. Churchman finishes with a conversation with seven women in finance.
Women in Finance
Seven women in finance spoke anonymously about what might give them some balance. The two youngest, both single, want some time for themselves. They’re looking for freedom in how and where their hours go so they can develop in new directions.
by Paige Churchman (New York City)
How many times have you and friends, equally frazzled, fantasized about a three-day (or shorter) workweek? Something’s wrong with this picture because maybe like me, you actually love to work. Maybe throwing yourself into a project invigorates you, makes you feel important, connected to the world and happy.
So what’s wrong? A flame needs tending. It needs fuel to keep it going and it needs to be kept in check so you don’t burn out. First on my list of fuels is the work itself. I have to believe in it. My other fuels all start with P -pride, prestige, power and, yes, the paycheck. What keeps the flame from burning me up are the things that ground me and keep me human: good fresh food, sleep, nature, movement, music, meditation, family, friends, new ideas to bend my mind and lots of creativity. But when I’m burning too high, I often don’t know it.
How wide is the gap between how you live and your ideal? Does your work feed or drain you? How do you give your career everything it needs and still know who you are? The Glass Hammer took these questions out into the corporate world to see how some top women find their balance or, if they haven’t found it, what they dream of. We talked to someone in a company known for its quality of life (Cisco Systems, number six on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For ), someone in an industry known for its long hours (law), and seven women in an industry that’s hurting (finance).
by Sima Matthes (New York City)
Balanced gender representation on teams means a proportionate increase in innovation, and a company’s commitment to work/life balance is the key to ensuring such balanced gender representation. So says a report entitled Innovative Potential: Men and Women in Teams by the Lehman Brothers Center for Women in Business. The report was based on the research of Professor Lynda Gratton, Dr Elisabeth Kelan, Andreas Voigt, Lamia Walker and Dr Hans-Joachim Wolfram.
by Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)
Mentoring, flextime arrangements, networking, and opportunities for frank discussions about issues women face are all essential components in the programs KPMG has put in place to increase retention of women in their ranks. Through its Women’s Advisory Board, KPMG has created and rolled out over 300 programs designed to increase diversity in the workforce and keep women engaged throughout their careers.
Kathy Hannan, Midwest area managing partner for Tax Services, is the head of the KPMG Women’s Advisory Board. Interviewed by The Glass Hammer, Ms. Hannan proudly stated, “from when KPMG first created an advisory board through last fiscal year, there has been a decrease in female turnover by 30.3 percent. In particular, there’s been a reduction in turnover at the manager and senior associate levels. We’ve seen an increase in the number of women overall and an increase in promotions overall. This is a testament to building a pipeline. And it shows in our work environment surveys which show that [approximately] 81 percent of our women say KPMG is a great place to work–as compared to 66 percent in 2004–so we know the programs are working.”
by Elizabeth Harrin (London)
It’s not easy balancing work and a home life. Throw in clients who need you to be available at all hours, managers who don’t believe in vacations and court dates that change at the drop of a hat and you have to wonder why anyone chooses the legal profession at all.
by Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)
As the firm at the top of Consulting magazine’s “10 Best Firms to Work For” for the sixth year in a row, Bain & Company knows a thing or two about keeping their employees happy and engaged. “The most important thing to understand about consulting is that the retention of top talent is a major business priority,” said Heidi Locke Simon, a Partner in Bain’s San Francisco office. “We at Bain have a history of flexible work options for both men and women. These policies are designed for all top talent, not for employees of a particular gender.” While not solely for women, the programs in place are helping their female employees stay in the Bain family, or easily “on-ramp” after leaving due to familial obligations.
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Contributed by Alicia Anderson of AttacheServices.com
Usually, when we think of work-life balance we automatically picture examples of work encroaching upon our personal time and space. But now, the tables are turning – the scale is tipping. The pressures and stresses of our personal lives are overshadowing our ability to be productive and focused while at work.
Contributed by Donna Deming
While at work, is your mind distracted by all the things you need to do when you get home? When you’re home do you think about things you need to do at work? Our minds travel at light speed jumping from one thing to another. Think back to your early school days when you daydreamed out the window during class. Or maybe you were bored near the end of summer wishing for school to start? It seems like we have a hard time focusing on the here and now!