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Work / Life Issues

How much time off for children’s school activities?

09/01/2007

Q. With school starting, can you remind us what our obligations are to grant workers time off to participate in their children’s school-related activities? …

Plan now to reduce impact of flu pandemic in the workplace

09/01/2007

It’s a doomsday scenario worthy of a movie: A virus spreads around the globe, killing millions and sending millions more to hospitals. Panic ensues, infrastructure breaks down and commerce comes to a halt. But this isn’t a scriptwriter’s invention. Many scientists believe this nightmare is only a matter of time—when the next influenza pandemic hits. What should businesses do to prepare for a pandemic? Employers must be proactive and consider how they will sustain their operation in truly trying times …

Consulting firm’s ‘Full circle’ program lets new moms put careers on hold for 5 years

08/07/2007

At New York-based PricewaterhouseCoopers,  the HR staff realized there was a group of women who wanted to step out of the work force and into parenthood while keeping their jobs. The result: It created the "Full Circle" program …

Keep parents at work with backup child care benefit

08/01/2007

If too many of your employees are using their leave to stay home with sick children, it might be time to add back-up child care to your menu of benefits …

Let workers personalize their flex schedules: 3 case studies

08/01/2007

When 10 companies asked small groups of employees to figure out how to flex their hours while improving their teams’ productivity, they jumped at the chance. Here are three creative solutions …

IBM begins big investment in financial-Planning perks

08/01/2007

When Armonk, NY-based IBM announced it would change its pension programs in 2008, the company promised employees a financial-planning and education-benefit program to ease the transition …

Atlanta ranks second in combined housing & transportation costs

08/01/2007

For families earning between $20,000 and $50,000 a year, Hotlanta may not be so hot …

Georgia limits workplace rights for breast-Feeding mothers

08/01/2007

Q An administrative staff member who recently gave birth is scheduled to return to work in a few weeks. She plans to have her mother bring the baby to the office several times a day so she can breastfeed. Our office manager says that’s not going to happen. Doesn’t Georgia law give women the right to breastfeed in the workplace?

Employees’ kids in the workplace: To ban or not?

08/01/2007

A participant in the Forum section of our HR Weekly e-letter (www.theHRSpecialist.com/weekly) complained of the “constant, low-grade distraction” of employees’ children in the office—particularly in summer. He posed this question: “Is it best to ban employees’ kids from the workplace?” Here are some of the comments from other HR professionals …

Women in HR: Boost your career by writing your own annual report

07/31/2007

The bad news: You don’t earn as much as your male counterparts. And no one wants to hear you ask for a raise. The good news: You can reinforce "Brand You" by writing a personal annual report. Here’s a six-question template …