Closing the Gap on Career-Family Choices
Women with infants are one of the fastest-growing segments in
the U.S. workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 31
percent of mothers with children under a year old worked in
1976; this number grew to 55 percent in 2002
The Journal of Managerial Issues also found that companies that
offered a telework program had greater profits than those that
did not offer such benefits.
Three out of four women with children are in the workforce
The United States joins Australia and New Zealand as the only
industrialized nations that do not provide paid maternity leave
and health benefits by law, according the International Labor
Organization. Women in the U.S., depending on the size of the
company, can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave
each year for childbirth or the adoption of a child under the
U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993...that is it.
Two incomes is a necessity in many households.
Career or Family? Thanks to a new resource, a choice does not
have to be made. Responding to this need of family-friendly
employment is a new niche job board to help weed through the sea
of non-legitimate family friendly jobs. New England Mother's
Organization lists part-time, tele-commute, job share, and
family friendly employment listings each week on the websites
job board. It is free to members who access the site through the
site, www.nemothers.org. Employers instantly connect to top
level job seekers who are still on top of their game but nseek a
bit of flexibilty due to family needs. These job seekers are
grateful for a company that understands the balance issue and
are more loyal.
Employers will gain lots of exposure to their listings and
"flexible jobs" are truly a hot benefit in what seekers are
looking for in a position. Newscasts commonly report on the fact
that the parent of today is looking for flexibility in the
workplace. Top companies like IBM, S.C. Johnson & Son, SAS, and
Wachovia Corporation know that it pays to offer a
family-friendly/company culture. Statistics show a significant
increase in employee retention, job satisfaction and
productivity. When the Swedish furniture-maker, IKEA, with U.S.
headquarters in Plymouth Meeting, PA, started incorporating
family-friendly benefits like full benefits, including health
care, to all employees working at least 20 hours per week, it's
employee turnover rates dropped over the past three years from
76 percent to 36 percent.
Back in the fall of last year, Jeanne Girard, realized that
this was an issue that struck home. Girard has a flexible job as
the director of an environmental, non-profit organization, The
Westport Fishermen's Association and a 2-year old son. "Because
of my flexible position, many people commented to me that they
would also like to find a similar opportunity. They wished they
had some flexibility or could work part-time so that they could
contribute financially to the household but also be with their
children more." Girard continues, "I was fortunate to have a
flexible, family-friendly job but wanted to help others connect
with those type of opportunities."
New England Mothers Organization (N.E.M.O.) was born. "I have
always worked in the non-profit sector and wanted to do
something to help with this social/work issue. N.E.M.O. offers
members access to a weekly list of flexible job listings, which
is accessed on the web. Employers can list their family-friendly
positions. Whether full-time, part-time, or virtual
opportunities. Jobs are updated weekly and members look at the
site and reply directly to the employer. N.E.M.O. is basically a
Mommy Monster.com"
N.E.M.O. has over 5,000 members since officially starting in
the spring of 2005. Girard notes, "N.E.M.O. is free of charge to
job seekers. We have about a dozen new members sign on daily. It
really resonated with parents and serves an incredible need of
connecting family-friendly employers to the talented and
motivated job applicants."
Flexible work schedules are the new benefit in an employers
package. It is increasingly becoming as looked for in a package
just as much as insurance. Savvy employers know flexible
scheduling is an instrumental offering to recruiting top
employees.
N.E.M.O. is also taking on the challenge of staying on top of
legislative and family/work life issues for the area. The hope
is that businesses and members will utilize N.E.M.O. as a one
stop resource site for work/life issues. N.E.M.O. serves all
states. For more information on N.E.M.O. visit their website at
www.nemothers.org You can also e-mail jamgirard@msn.com
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