The Right Balance: Finding and Creating Flexible Work

to Fit Your Life

Speaker: Emily Seamone

• Introduction to flexible work• What do you want and need?• Most flexible career fields and jobs• Setting up a flexible arrangement with your current

employer• Finding a new flexible job and employer• Creating your own flexible work• Flexible work advocacy• Summary

Overview

• 19th Century: Agriculture, and after the Civil War, factory jobs increased; men and women worked about 70 hours per week, 6 days a week

• Early 20th Century: By WWI, workers demanded a five-day work week; Henry Ford adopted the five days for plant workers in 1926

• Depression and WWII: Work hours went up and down, but stabilized in the end to the standard 40 hours, five days a week

• Later 20th Century: The need for flexibility increased during the latter half of the 20th century as the demographics of the workforce began to change.

• Start of 21st Century: The flexible movement gains momentum

Brief History of Flexible Work

Reasons for Wanting Flexible Work

• Achieve better work-life balance

• Take care of children, elderly parent, or someone else

• Improve health and reduce stress

• Pursue a hobby

• Start a business

• Focus on an artistic endeavor

• Manage a disability or health issue

• Observe religious traditions

• Make a career change

• Slow down

• Downshift to retirement

• Study or pursue additional training or a degree

Types of Flexible Work

• Flextime

• Flexplace

• Job share

• Part-time

• Telecommute

• Compressed

schedule

• Weekend work

• Phased retirement

• Partial retirement

• Leave/sabbatical

• Part-year/summers

off

• Career on/off-ramps

Benefits of FlexFor Individuals:• Increased life satisfaction

• Reduced stress

• Improved physical and mental health

• Less time and money spent commuting, parking, clothing, etc.

• Better work-life balance

• Reduce negative spillover

For Employers:• Increased employee

morale, engagement, commitment, and productivity, job satisfaction

• Reduced absenteeism • Reduced turnover• Less costly employee

benefits (in retirement and health care coverage)

• Better suited for fluctuating business levels

• Less fixed costs • Attract skilled and

motivated staff; develop image as employer of choice

• Increased employee morale, engagement, commitment, and productivity

• Increased employee job satisfaction • Reduced employee absenteeism and tardiness• Reduced employee turnover• Less costly employee benefits (in retirement and

health care coverage)• Better suited for fluctuating business levels• Less fixed costs (can reduce office space and/or

related expenses)• Attract skilled and motivated staff; develop image

as employer of choice

Benefits of Flex: for Employers

Drawbacks of Flex

• Stigma• Manager skepticism• Less visibility in

company• Viewed as less

productive, less committed

• Skipped over for promotions

• Reduced bonuses, raises

• Lose good projects• Envious co-workers• Fear of negative

consequences to career

• Line between work and home becomes more blurred

What do YOU need and want?

• Career and Life Values - Priorities: What is most important to you at this point in your life?

• Skills: What skills do you enjoy using? What are you good at? What would you like to further develop?

• Interests: What is most interesting to you at this time? What catches your attention?

• Personality Traits: Where do you gain your energy? How do you take in information and make decisions?

• Personal Situation: What is going on in your personal life? How does work need to fit into your life (rather than life fitting into work)?

Assess Yourself

Values Exercise:• Review the list and check off what is currently most

important to you at this point in your life; add any that are missing

• Consider both aspects that you value in your career as well as personal life

• Narrow your final list down to your top ten values; try to prioritize these in a ranked order; get your list down to your top five must have’s

Career and Life Values

• Advancement and promotion• Power and authority• Feeling of accomplishment/achievement• Contribute to family earnings/wealth• Flexibility• Life balance• Being healthy and physically active• Quality time with spouse/children• Pursuit of a hobby• Public service/politics

Values Example

• Put aside all thoughts or concerns about what types of jobs you can or cannot do or what kind of money you need to earn. Give yourself this time to brainstorm, be creative, and ideal.

• Imagine you have the perfect flexible work arrangement that works for you and your personal situation. Think about the reasons for wanting a flexible work arrangement and the benefits that you are reaping.

• Now it is Sunday evening, and you are planning your week with your ideal flexible work arrangement. Imagine doing things this week that only energize and excite you. What are these tasks?

• Jot down what you experienced, and you will use this to create your “ideal week vision”

Ideal Week

Most Flexible Career Fields and Jobs

• Culture of the field in general

• Tasks of specific job and fit with flexibility

• Culture and beliefs of company or organization

• Beliefs and support of those in charge or those with decision-making power

• Beliefs and support of direct manager

Recipe for a Successful Work Arrangement

Most Flexible Career Fields

• Computer-based• Web and Software

Development• Medical and Health• Education and Training• Writing• Creative

• Counseling and Human Services

• Accounting and Finance

• Business• Research and Analysis• Other*

Based on research of online articles and studies – no order

(*Includes: administrative, event planner, business owner, consultant)

Top 20 Flexible Fields with Most Posted Jobs

• Medical and health• Sales• Education and training• Computer and IT• Customer service• Administrative• Web and software

development• Marketing• Engineering• Program/project

management

• Research• Account management• Accounting and finance• Manager• NP and Philanthropy• Bilingual• Business Development• Consulting• Writing• Entry-level

Based on data from Flexjobs.com – ranked order

• Medical and Health – physician, nurse, clinical research associate, speech-language pathologist

• Sales – regional sales manager, senior sales executive • Computer and IT – senior project manager IT, programmer• Marketing – market research manager• Engineering – security engineer (information services),

aerospace engineer, principal software engineer, technical sales engineer

• Research – clinical research associate• Account Management – account manager• Accounting and Finance – actuary, accountant, tax manager,

financial planner• Consulting – management consultant• Writing – ghost writer

Other for High Pay: compensation analyst*, graphic designer*, lawyer*, general counsel*

Flex Jobs with Higher Pay and Demand

(research based on flexjobs.com, as well as high paying flex jobs from Payscale.com and Ranker.com)

Set Up a Flexible Arrangement with

Your Current Employer

• Check with HR to see if there are any formal policies already in place

• Get a sense as to who is already working flexible work arrangements and talk to these people

• Figure out what would work best for you

• Try to understand how your arrangement will impact your boss and team

• Anticipate any challenges that may arise

• Think about any concerns your employer may have

• Consider how a flexible arrangement could help with a problem that already exists. How will it benefit your employer? What would be a win-win solution?

Research Your Current Employer

Check out a proposal form, either one offered at your company or an online template. Fill out a proposal even if this is not needed. Include the following:

• Outline of your proposed schedule• How the arrangement will benefit your employer• How you will deal with challenges that could arise• Details of your home office, if applicable• A regular review and check-in meetings to discuss

progress• A trial period to see how arrangement works and then

make decisions for long-term

***Keep in mind: it all about the employer!***

Proposing a Flexible Arrangement

Finding a New Flexible Job and Employer

Network:• Conduct informational interviews with those in a

company that you are interested in • Attend professional association meetings in your field• Talk to others who have flexible work arrangements• Tap into alumni networks• Utilize online social and professional networks

Locate companies:• Look into small companies, small firms, nonprofits• Check out Best Company lists and award lists • Review company websites for mention of flexible work• Review message boards and websites about companies

Finding a Flexible Job

• FlexJobs.com Guide to Best Companies for Flexible Work (search by top 100, by popular job categories, accolades, and location)

• Working Mother Magazine’s 2013 Best 100 Companies List

• Working Mother Magazine’s 2013 Best Law Firms for Women

• Working Mother Magazine’s 2013 Best Companies for Hourly Workers

• Glassdoor.com’s Top 25 Companies for Work-Life Balance• CNN Money and Fortune’s 2013 100 Best Companies to

Work For - also sort by: • 2012 Best Companies for Work-Life Balance• 2012 Best Companies for Telecommuting

• Forbes Magazine Best Companies to Work For• The Flex Pages Directory• Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace

Effectiveness and Flexibility

•  

Best Company List

• Flex Jobs: online job posting site listing all types of flexible work• Moms Corps: staffing firm that helps moms to find flexible jobs• 10 til 2: staffing firm highlighting part-time positions• Hire My Mom: job listings for home-based professionals• Flex Professionals: recruiting and staffing service specializing in part-

time business professionals in the Washington, DC metro area• Momentum Resources: staffing firm listing part-time and flexible

roles in Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC metro area; particular focus on accounting, law, project management, and non-profit positions

• Flexible Resources: consulting firm with flexible jobs in the New York City metro area

• Aquent: staffing firm with freelance and contract jobs in marketing and design

• Mom M.D.: website for women in medicine with a job board listing work opportunities

• Flexible Executives: staffing firm that places professionals in executive-level part-time, contract work

• Part-Time Pros: staffing company that unites degree-educated professionals with companies who have part-time, contract and full-time staffing needs.

Flexible Job Postings

• Research company and job description• Check scam lists: BBB, FTC, Scam.com• Do not pay money for ANYTHING!• Forget about getting rich quick• Read offers carefully, be wary of being offered a job

without applying or a discussion• Be careful with employers that offer few details

about the job• Protect personal information

***If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is***

Avoiding Scams

Evaluate the Company:• Review website for policies, mentions of flexible work• Watch for comments from interviewers, recruiters, and

those you know for references to work-life balance, friendly culture, accomplishments, not face time and long hours

• Ask questions that might get at these points:• In what ways is a career with your company better than

one with your competitors?• What do you enjoy most about working here?• What characteristics do the achievers in this company

seem to share?• What are the flexible work/work-life balance policies at your

company? Are they used? (use this direct question with caution)

***Also take note of office environment, employees' desks***

Assess Company in Interview

Evaluate a Potential Boss:• How do you measure your employees’

performances?• How do you communicate with your employees?• What traits do you value in an employee?• What qualities are you looking for in the candidate

who fills this position?• How would you describe your management style?• Why did the person who held this job before leave?

If have chance to talk with other employees:• What is it like to work with your boss?• Does everyone get along well in the department?• Why did the previous employee leave?

Assess Boss in Interview

Preparation for Negotiation:• Assess likelihood of openness from interview and your research• Come up with two possible schedule options• Fill out a proposal form to prepare and maybe share• Be ready and firm from the start about what you are or are not

willing to accept in salary, flexibility, and other terms• Are you willing to risk having the offer withdrawn?• Another option is to work for a while and then propose

Negotiation Discussion:• Thank the employer for offer and state you would like to

discuss your work schedule and some ideas for a flexible arrangement; share flexible options and how will benefit, offer proposal

• Be prepared for them to say “no” and plan how you will respond: • Will you go forward, perhaps negotiate another item (e.g.,

salary)? • Or will you not take the job?

Negotiating in Interview

Create Your Own Flexible Work

• Freelancing can be called temporary, part-time, self-employed, and project work

• Legally called an “independent contractor” (doesn’t have the legal status of employees)

• Growing part of American economy• Currently 25-35% work as freelancers in U.S.; expected

to grow to 40% due to more project-based work• Think like an entrepreneur:

• Deliver good service• Set up a business plan• Manage own money and taxes

Freelance-Contract-Consulting

Work

Business and Freelance Work:

Pros and ConsPros:• Flexible in hours and location

• Choice of projects

• Meet new people, grow network

• Tax-deductible business expenses

• May earn more per hour than “employees” would (20-40% more)

• Potential for making great money

• More room for creativity and implementing own vision

• Great satisfaction in work

Cons:• Great risk

• No guaranteed income or job security

• No employer benefits (health insurance)

• No paid sick days, vacation

• No unemployment insurance

• Lack of structure

• Isolation

• Constant transitions

• Blur lines of work and home life

• Difficulty getting paid in a timely manner

• Could involve long hours

Franchise Business: Pros and Cons Tablet repair

Pros• Turnkey system

• Marketing support

• Business support

• Reduced risk

• You are the boss

• Franchise support

• Brand name – established

• Lower inventory prices

• Easier staff recruiting

• Training

• Access to proprietary

methods

Cons• Risk• Less creative freedom• Royalty payments• Higher start-up costs, initial

payment• Marketing, advertising fees• Limited creativity/flexibility• Sole sourcing• Locked into long-term

contract• Dependent on franchisor

success• Limited independence• Restriction on post-term

competition• Lack of legal recourse

Examples Tablet repaiHome

Freelance, Contract, Consulting, Home-Based, Online Businesses:• Website designer• Software trainer• Online course instructor• Online store• Weeknight meal plan• Organization service• Blogging/writing• Home staging• Child proofing• Patient advocacy• Digital media conversion• Genealogy service• Office relocation service

Franchises:

• Mathnasium• Goddard School• Hand and Stone Massage

Spa• Geeks On Call• Wag ‘N Wash• Bricks 4 Kids• Fitness Revolution• Challenge Island• Brain Balance Achievement

Centers• Fresh Healthy Vending• OsteoStrong• Bach to Rock• The Children’s School of

Yoga

• October is “National Work and Family Month” and October 15, 2013, was the first “National Flex Day”

• Join One Million for Work Flexibility, which launched just this year as the “first national initiative to bring people together and create a collective voice in support of work flexibility”

• Monitor WorldatWork’s Public Policy Legislative Track and click on the Work-Life category; see how you can get involved to support legislation related to work-life and flexibility for all

• If you are a manager, check out WorldatWork’s Alliance for Work-Life Progress tools for businesses, where you can find resources for businesses regarding flexibility

• Be ready to chat with people everywhere (e.g., at your workplace, a cocktail party, children’s soccer game) about the benefits of work-life and flex in general; see the Families and Work Institute and Society for Human Resource Management’s resources and infographics on When Work Works for some talking points

Flexible Work Advocacy

• Take some time to assess yourself, particularly your values, skills, interests, and personality traits. Consider where you are at in your life and what you want and need.

• Consider the best flexible career fields and jobs lists; do they fit with your current and/or past work? Do you think you might need to change careers?

• Do some research on your current employer – it might be possible to arrange a flexible arrangement where you are at now.

• Another option is to use the tips and resources to target an employer who is known for flexibility or who has listed a job as a flexible arrangement.

• A final option is to go out on your own and create your own flexible work by starting a business, buying a franchise, or selling your own services as a freelancer, contract worker, or consultant.

Summary of Main Points

Emily SeamoneCareer Counselor and Work Life Specialist

www.womenworklife.com