| Women with infants are one of the fastest-growing | | | | family-friendly benefits like full benefits, including |
| segments in the U.S. workforce. According to the U.S. | | | | health care, to all employees working at least 20 |
| Census Bureau, 31 percent of mothers with children | | | | hours per week, it's employee turnover rates |
| under a year old worked in 1976; this number grew | | | | dropped over the past three years from 76 percent |
| to 55 percent in 2002. | | | | to 36 percent. |
| Three out of four women with children are in the | | | | Back in the fall of last year, Jeanne Girard, realized |
| workforce | | | | that this was an issue that struck home. Girard has a |
| The Journal of Managerial Issues also found that | | | | flexible job as the director of an environmental, |
| companies that offered a telework program had | | | | non-profit organization, The Westport Fishermen's |
| greater profits than those that did not offer such | | | | Association and a 2-year old son. "Because of my |
| benefits. | | | | flexible position, many people commented to me that |
| The United States joins Australia and New Zealand as | | | | they would also like to find a similar opportunity. They |
| the only industrialized nations that do not provide paid | | | | wished they had some flexibility or could work |
| maternity leave and health benefits by law, according | | | | part-time so that they could contribute financially to |
| the International Labor Organization. Women in the | | | | the household but also be with their children more." |
| U.S., depending on the size of the company, can take | | | | Girard continues, "I was fortunate to have a flexible, |
| up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each | | | | family-friendly job but wanted to help others connect |
| year for childbirth or the adoption of a child under the | | | | with those type of opportunities." |
| U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993...that is it. | | | | New England Mothers Organization (N.E.M.O.) was |
| Two incomes is a necessity in many households. | | | | born. "I have always worked in the non-profit sector |
| A recent ABC News Poll even pointed out that nearly | | | | and wanted to do something to help with this social |
| 14% of employees have left a job simply because of | | | | work issue. N.E.M.O. offers members access to a |
| the commute. | | | | weekly list of flexible job listings, which is accessed |
| Responding to this need of family-friendly | | | | on the web. Employers can list their family-friendly |
| employment is a new resource to help weed through | | | | positions. Whether full-time, part-time, or virtual |
| the sea of non-legitimate family friendly jobs. New | | | | opportunities. Jobs are updated weekly and members |
| England Mother's Organization lists part-time, | | | | look at the site and reply directly to the employer. |
| tele-commute, job share, and family friendly | | | | N.E.M.O. has over 1,000 members in the New England |
| employment listings each week on their job board. It | | | | area since officially starting in the spring of this year. |
| is free to members who access the site through the | | | | Girard notes, "N.E.M.O. is free of charge to job |
| site, [ It is also a wonderful resource to find lifestyle | | | | seekers. We have about a dozen new members sign |
| listings and advocates for work-life issues. | | | | on daily. It really resonated with parents and serves |
| Not just job seekers benefit from this local resource, | | | | an incredible need of connecting family-friendly |
| employers will gain lots of exposure to their listings | | | | employers to the talented and motivated job |
| and "flexible jobs" are truly a hot benefit in what | | | | applicants." Flexible work schedules are the new |
| seekers are looking for in a position. Newscasts | | | | benefit in an employers package. It is increasingly |
| commonly report on the fact that the parent of | | | | becoming as looked for in a package just as much as |
| today is looking for flexibility in the workplace. Top | | | | insurance. Savvy employers know flexible scheduling |
| companies like IBM, S.C. Johnson & Son, SAS, | | | | is an instrumental offering to recruiting top |
| and Wachovia Corporation know that it pays to | | | | employees. |
| offer a family-friendly/company culture. Statistics | | | | N.E.M.O. is also taking on the challenge of staying on |
| show a significant increase in employee retention, job | | | | top of legislative and family/work life issues for the |
| satisfaction and productivity. When the Swedish | | | | area. The hope is that businesses and members will |
| furniture-maker, IKEA, with U.S. headquarters in | | | | utilize N.E.M.O. as a one stop resource site for work |
| Plymouth Meeting, PA, started incorporating | | | | life issues. N.E.M.O. serves all states. |