With the economy in free fall is flex time history?
EmailSo Claire and I are finishing up our book – Womenomics – which explores the premise that women want to, and now can, work more flexibly. Women don’t want to do 60 hour weeks that leave us no time to look after our families, but we do want to use our expensive educations and stay in the workplace. It turns out that we have more power than ever to negotiate better work deals because companies are discovering that women are good for business. Literally. Companies with more women in senior positions make more money.
But is our dream of a more manageable work life disappearing down the same sorry tubes as the stock market? Can women expect more flexibility and fewer hours tied to their cubicles when companies are super strapped?
Well, yes. If you make your pitch right.
First of all don’t panic. Most businesses make labor decisions based on a 6 year cycle not a 6 week cycle and part of your female clout comes from irreversible long term demographics – America faces a shortage of educated labor. Since women out rank men in education (even masters degrees) you are an attractive commodity. The economy is stretched thin right now but it still needs talent, and educated women are the hottest talent there is (and no, we’re no, don’t call the Palin campaign, we are not being sexist). So perform well, and you are still in a very strong position to negotiate a more flexible deal.
Also remind your boss that flexible workers are proven to be more productive. When Best Buy implemented a company-wide flex scheme, productivity shot up by an average of 40%. In tough times there’s even more reason to let women have control of their schedules, we’ll increase productivity.
And here’s a tactic. Say your company needs to economize, maybe you can help out by freeing up office space and working from home a day a week or even taking a pay cut and going to a four day week, if you are lucky enough to have that financial option. This might sound more appealing than you think in these tight times.
These are scary times for everyone. We don’t know where the economy is going to be tomorrow, let alone in a year. But we do know that today’s business world needs talent, women are that kind of talent and women want to work differently. This new business trend is not going away – miserable DOW or not.
Katty
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In a recession or any economic tsunami it comes down to the employees willing to do the necessary tasks on time and over time. Swim for all you can and if the person next to you is the stronger swimmer, they ride the wave.
If a woman can’t do that, all the talent won’t matter. Hit the bricks. The same goes for the men.
Poverty is an equal opportunity destroyer. I suggest you not follow that line of ‘We are women. Make us poor’ BS. Get ready to compete ferociously for every dollar.
Posted by: len | October 8, 2008, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
I think flextime and telecommuting will survive if the people who take advantage of those benefits are able to do the job and go beyond — as Len rightly said.
However, some jobs simply don’t, and never will, lend themselves to flextime or telecommuting, regardless of the economy. And in bad times, companies will be less inclined to keep employees they can’t count on to put in the necessary hours to do those jobs.
People who have children and can’t do those jobs should understand that the world doesn’t revolve around them and their reproductive choices.
Posted by: Alexandra | October 8, 2008, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
It’s not my fault.
Posted by: Jane doe | October 9, 2008, 3:58 am 3:58 am
This becomes blistering for the single divorced mother who wants to keep custody of her children.
Now is when we see individuals doing the right thing. When the legal economy goes sour, the underground economy thrives. It is simple kindness that causes a porpoise to save a drowning swimmer.
Posted by: len | October 14, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am