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Work / Life Issues

Flexible schedules bill runs into inflexible congressional calendar

07/30/2014
Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced the Schedules that Work Act, which would give nonexempt employees the right to request flexible work schedules without fear of retaliation.

America’s Top 5 benefits

06/18/2014
U.S. workers value health care and medical benefits above all other workplace perks. A new SHRM poll found these benefits were rated most important.

SC Johnson touts ‘respect for life outside work’

04/04/2014
At SC Johnson, work/life benefits are the company’s signal that it respects employees’ lives outside of work.

CPA firm involves employees in creating work/life benefits

03/07/2014
Each new hire at CPA giant Plante Moran is assigned an experienced “buddy” to show him or her the ropes—and a team partner tasked with helping the newbie achieve personal and professional career goals. An employee committee researches and recommends programs and policies that promote work/life balance.

Gender Discrimination

01/11/2014

HR Law 101: Your supervisors probably understand that they can’t pay a male more than a female to perform the same job or dole out promotions only to males. What they may not appreciate are the more subtle forms that gender discrimination may take. They may not make an effort to scrutinize their decisions to uncover any entrenched patterns of discrimination and practices that discourage women from applying for promotions or asking for raises …

Mattel offers paid leave for school activities, volunteering

12/16/2013

Mattel employees who want to attend their children’s soccer games and school plays can take 16 hours of paid time off each year to do it. Full-time employees may participate in their children’s school activities or volunteer at school events that don’t involve their own kids.

72 AEP employees use $3,000 adoption benefit

11/19/2013

American Electric Power employees who adopt children get a little help from their employer: 30 hours of paid leave and $3,000 per child. One of the largest utilities in the country, American Electric Power has helped 72 of its employees with adoptions.

March of Dimes offers array of benefits to expectant employees

10/30/2013
CEO Dr. Jennifer L. Howse says the March of Dimes’ attention to employee benefits reflects its mission of supporting healthy families, starting with its own employees.

Brokerage firm lends bikes to fitness-minded employees

09/11/2013
For years, managers at Heffernan Insurance Brokers have organized bike outings for employees who participate in team-building and fitness activities. Now, employees can borrow bicycles from their employer for exercise or running errands.

Real-life examples of simple, low-cost work/life efforts

05/13/2013
Studies show that work/life programs can help improve employee engagement and productivity. You may think effective strategies are expensive and require a big-business budget. Not true.