from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Santa Fe - The National Association of Mothers' Centers recently told a bipartisan U.S. Senate working group that a lack of flexibility in the workplace is punishing vast numbers of family caregivers in New Mexico and the rest of the country.
According to the National Association of Mothers' Centers, many American workers are victims of public policy and a corporate culture forged in the middle of the last century when "dad" went to work and "mom" cared for the kids at home. "Bring us into the 21st Century!" was their message to a U.S. Senate work group looking into work/life reform.
Linda Lisi Juergens, executive director, National Association of Mothers' Centers says, "There has been a change in the demographics of how families are functioning, who is working, who is able to be home. And the policies and the corporate culture don't support that."
While employers during an economic downturn see fewer reasons to worry about their workers leaving for jobs with better benefits, Juergens says when the expected upturn arrives, those who offer flexibility will profit in the long run through less turnover. Juergens notes that workplace flexibility reform measures should not be viewed as running counter to the interests of businesses. She says studies show that companies that integrate flexibility into their corporate culture find it enhances employee morale and productivity, "The companies that are the most effective - part of the characteristics of what make them effective are their flexibility in terms of their workforce and what their workforce needs."
The group's Washington DC-based blog has current posts about related legislation here: http://www.womaninwashington.org.
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