Tuition: Earn More, Pay More? December 6, 2007

Damast , A (2004, Dec 4). Tuition: Earn More, Pay More?. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from Business Week Web site: http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/dec2007/bs2007124_770986.htm

Schools are using differential tuition to charge students who study an area with a larger promise of financial success more; most commonly, the business schools. The people raising the prices believe that because business students will earn more later on they can pay more now. Other schools are raising prices to stay in competition and maintain accreditation with these new standards. With the extra money these colleges are able to recruit better students and hire excellent professors.

This idea of differential tuition can discourage students from studying what they desire, if they don’t have enough money to afford the $500 extra to study in the college of business it could lead to very negative effects on the student and retention rates for the university. Although I agree that generally business students are better prepared to earn higher paying jobs I don’t think it’s right to set them apart from other people at a university.

Kelly Stillman

What Gen Y Really Wants December 6, 2007

Trunk, P (2007, July 5). What Gen Y Really Wants. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from Time Web site: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1640395,00.html

Gen Yers don’t care whether we spend more time at work or home as long as what we are doing is meaningful and useful. We will move back in with our parents if it means we can hold out for a job we want. Where travel was once seen as a negative it now makes the employee well-rounded. Gen Yers want to work with their friends and are more willing to work on the weekends as long as they have flexibility during the week.

This is a great example of the new work-life balance that is emerging in the workplace. I think it also shows how we have the power to dictate what work environment we want to work in. Baby Boomers are retiring and many companies are in need of hard workers, we are in demand!

I like that companies are willing to work with Gen Yers to find a balance that will work with both sides to be the best. If a company is willing to spend money to invest in a career counselor, or mentor for a new employee their going to get a better retention rate and employees who have greater pride in their company.

When looking for your new job remember to not put your values aside, if it was meant to be, things will work out.

Kelly Stillman

Work-life Balance 2000: Results form the Baseline Study December 6, 2007

Hogarth, T., Hasluck, C., Pierre, G., & Winterbotham, M. (2001). Work-life balance 2000: results from the baseline study. Norwich: Crown.

Brian O’Keefe

In recent years, employers and employees have come to view each other as more separate forms. Employees are worn out, stressed, and unsatisfied with their jobs, and many employers have to actively deny employees from searching for jobs on the job. To keep valuable employees, employers are looking into new ways of being, and are becoming increasingly responsive to the needs and desires of employees. The work/life balance notion has been introduced to employers as a practice that affords employees the ability to balance work with the rest of their lives. The UK government launched a “Work-Life Balance Campaign,” in 2000, and sought to find out how many employers used work/life balance programs, whether or not the programs matched employee needs, and the benefits practicing employers found. The conclusions of this study were written in the book, Work-life Balance 2000: Results form the Baseline Study. The key concepts of the book were if employers:  Permitted some flexibility to hours of work  Allowed people to work from home  Granted leave arrangements that allowed people to either meet their non-work commitment or realize their non-work goals  Provided workplace facilities to assist employees to attend work  Promoted communication and consultation between employers and employees over relevant issues The balance study found many organizations practicing a least some of the concepts looked for. The study found that more large organizations then small ones offered the above concepts of the work/life balance. Due to the lack of employees, a small business owner cannot reasonable offer the amount of accommodations a large corporation can remain profitable. Manufacturing organizations offered the least amount of balance between work and life to employees. The study pointed out the desire for flexible, and reduced working hours by employees. Employers stated in high numbers they recognized allowing employees to balance their life with work was a benefit for the business, but many employers also agreed they must first do what best for the organization. The final hope of the book is that work/life programs will be adopted and used for everyone’s benefit; the organization, employees, and the economy. The study ended up being a 352 page book with tons of charts. The pros of practicing work/life balance in an organization is that the business, employee and society all benefit. The cons are the system could be taken advantage of by some employees that could eventually wreck it forever. Productivity levels could also fall, and business might not be able to offer programs anymore. Small firms won’t be able to offer the same work/life balance concepts and could loose employees to large corporations. When implementing a work/life balance program, it is important to have good communication practices allowing for the program to work on more of an individual basis. It is also important for a small business to recognize its financial limits to obtaining certain concepts, but also to remember that they’re usually more things a company can do then they think to foster a better work/life balance.

I couldnt get the formatting to work right sorry if it looks confusing.

Voices of Canadians: Seeking Work-Life Balance December 6, 2007

Duxbury, L., Higgins, C., & Coghill, D. (2003). Voices of canadians seeking work-life balance. Quebec: Human Resources Development Canada.                                                                                        Brian O’Keefe                                                                                                                                       I really found the book, Voices of Canadians: Seeking Work-Life Balance, to be very informational and valuable for those who want to implement the work/life program as a manager in their organization. Although the book is about testimony from Canadians, the views seem identical from what I have read from American studies. The book is based on the, 2001 Health Canada Work-Life Conflict Study. One conclusion from the study said that current work/life conflicts is impairing the health of many, and creating problems between family members. The book offers recommendations for implementing work/life programs for employers and governments. Much of the focus of the book was on a manager’s role in making sure work/life programs are successful, and states that those who like their managers are much more pleased with their jobs. Flexibility was very important for employees’ happiness, and the book encourages that employers stop focusing on hours, and start focusing on objectives, results and outputs. Supportive work environments also made employees more satisfied with their jobs, as did personal attention. The book also argued that the Canadian government needs to do more to help people who are taking care of children and the elderly by starting national programs; I think that America could also benefit from this. While organizations are often varied, the data of the study suggests that employers should do whatever they can to accommodate employees needs outside of work. Balance among employees the study says, may be strongly connected to the “bottom line.” The book talks a ton about how to get managers to be better communicators including, conflict resolution, time management, and ability to receive feedback. The book views managers very highly and states that, “employees don’t leave an organization- they leave bad management.” I think that by having better managers the employees will be happier, and by having a government that helps people take care of children and elders, would alleviate a lot of stress on workers and those who want to work. Cons would be that people would have to pay higher taxes or stop funding something else if they want to provide care for children and elders. When implementing the practices we need to remember the importance of a supportive work environment being a key, and that helping employees achieve balance between work and life wherever possible can benefit the bottom line.

The Problem is You Have to Come Back December 6, 2007

Brian O’Keefe

In the journal article, Advertising age, titled, The Problem is You Have to Come Back, is about organizations that are offering paid sabbaticals that employees can go on for as long as six weeks. While sabbaticals aren’t very popular, some organizations are using them to show valued and tenured employees, that the organizations cares more about the employees lives then just their work. The employees going on sabbaticals do charity or work for non-profits, often overseas. The employees who go on sabbaticals come back to work refreshed, motivated and more loyal then ever. Sabbaticals help people to do work they are passionate about while providing them with pay and the ability to come back to their job. This technique allows for people to work jobs that they might not see as good work for, but remain encouraged by being given the opportunity to do good work at times. I think that the pros to a paid sabbatical program are that it allows employees to do good work, but it also helps employers retain valuable workers. Cons to the program are that small firms wouldn’t be able to implement sabbatical programs as easily as big firms, so they may loose good workers to these big firms. The firms must find someone to replace the job of the person on sabbatical, and training might be necessary for those who come back as technology or processes have changed. The personal contacts for those employees who go on sabbatical may be dissatisfied and take their business elsewhere. When implementing this plan it is important to do it on an individual basis, so that people don’t take advantage of a sabbatical program. It is important to make the program tailored to the individual so sabbatical time is seen more as a reward then a standard routine. It is also important to remember that offering a sabbatical won’t necessarily keep an employee faithful to your business, and it is important to acknowledge that more people are going to need to be hired to do the jobs of those who are gone, and this may not be feasible for small companies.

Creamer, M., & Cuneo, A. (2006, November 27). The problem is you have to come back … Advertising Age, 77(48), 21-21. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database

balance vs salary December 4, 2007

Ridge, Brent. "Balance: the New Workplace Perk." Forbes 19 Mar. 2007. 11 Nov. 2007 http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/19/work-life-health-lead-careers-worklife07-cz_sr_0319ridge.html&partner=rss.

1. This source discusses balance in the workplace. They discuss how corporate executive and people like that use their time and how long of work weeks that they typically work. They start to discuss how balance in the work place is almost as important now as salary is.

2. This article talks about companies that are competing for talent have to offer a work-life balance or people will turn down jobs. An increasing number of people are turning down jobs that don’t have enough work-life balance and the that a decreasing number of people are willing to disregard that balance for a good salary. They also talk about how it is becoming an employee market and that it is increasingly important for companies to allow employees to have what they want as far as time off in order to creat a better work environment for all.

3. I don’t think there are any cons to an argument like this but that the pros are endless. If employers are now having to cater more to their employees and their desire for balance then the work environment will only get better. Those that dont’ want the time don’t have to have it and those that do are able to have it. It is a win/win situation for both employee and employer.

4. I don’t think we need to keep much in mind other than doing it. It is important for people to have lives outside of work and not have work define their lives. The sooner more companies can accomplish it the better the job market will be for it.

Good work and balance November 16, 2007

Albuquerque Named Amond Cities with Good Work and Life Balance." Business Weekly (2005): 1. Academic Search Premier. Colorado State. 13 Nov. 2007.

1.  This article talks about the top 10 cities for good work in the country.  It factors in things like population growth, cost of living, access to medical facilities, average commute times, and availability of recreation among other things.  This magazine discusses why these are the best places to work and live in the country when it comes to balancing.  Colorado Springs was on the top 10 cities on the rise, behind the current top 10 cities in 2005.

2.  This article similar to other balancing articles that I have read and posted about in the sense that they discuss the importance of things like recreation but this article also brings into the argument things about commute and medical facilities; things that could bring added stress if they were difficult to get to or took a significant amount of time.  I never really thought about how stressful things like that could be since we have good access to those things here locally.  It doesn’t have as much to do with work and outside work balance but it does for balance and stress free environment as a whole.

3.  There aren’t really proposed ideas in this article since it is mostly facts and statistics about distance and availability in cities.  Some pro’s of this though are that it is a positive way to build cities around and this data will help build these places in a fashion that is positive to a stress free environment.  The con’s would be for cities that are already constructed and don’t have room to place new buildings in essential areas.  Take Fort Collins for instance if we needed to build something specific in town it would be difficult to do without removing an existing establishment.

4.  Again there isn’t really an idea to implement but I would say it is an article designed to help expanding cities and new cities.  These ideas will be beneficial for the expansion of certain markets.  As these places grow it will be important for employees work/life balance if these guidelines of the growing cities are followed. 

Work Life Balance November 16, 2007

(2007, April 24). How to achieve work life balance. Retrieved November 13, 2007, from Work Life Balance Tips Web site: http://www.work-life-balance-tips.com/work-life-balance.html

 

 

When attempting to achieve good work, the main component that I have found necessary is balance.  Balance holds everything and everyone together. I found this article from Work Life Balance and it talks about what our needs are as humans to achieve good balance and spirit. A few of the main points made in this article are: many people are not happy at work, we need to become aware of basic human needs, and finally to come up with a plan to achieve work life balance.  Good work can be done when people take the time to examine what they need in life.  Becoming aware of basic needs is very important. A few of the basic needs this article suggests are security, the need for attention, relationships, privacy, and finally the need for meaning.  When these needs are met at work, it is easier to do good work and have a work life balance.  The other idea in this article is about coming up with a plan of action in order to achieve balance and produce good work.  The article suggests a five step process that allows you to access your personal situation and examine what is truly important to you. The steps include, setting goals, determining relationships, commitment, focus, and finding your balance between work and home.  This is a way to organize what is important on an individual level when it comes to achieving good work.  The last idea for organizing practices is to take a look at individual needs and work to meeting your needs.  If your needs cannot be met, it might be time to move on.  I think this is a very positive article. Focusing on what you can to do make any situation better can help people achieve proper balance.  I really like the fact that the article gives you tips on how to evaluate your work life balance.  Finally, the fact that they mix in family and relationships with work life balance is very important.  The authors recognize that work balance depends on whether the needs of other relationships are being met. To implement these practices, we need to all evaluate our work life and home life.  We also need to make sure we are meeting our human needs and if we are not then it is time to say good-bye.  If more people would implement this into their work life people would have the chance at being a lot happier.  

 

Posted By: Sara F.

 

Custom comfort November 16, 2007

Delano, B. (2006). Custom Comfort. Residential Systems, 40.

This article is about selling but also deals with how to relate to people and presenting a product. It talks about how to ease a customer into what they are doing and showing them what is right for them to suit their needs. I think that this is a good article but it gets too much into selling technology but when looking at it and thinking of the product that an individual would sell it is very helpful. I think that this is a good article to look when going over t he balancing section with people and positions in the building. I think this is a good credible source because the author has over twenty years of writing on stories of similar topics but you have to make sure that when reading this to put your own product in place of what he is talking about selling and then it will be useful.

Balancing Work and Family Life November 16, 2007

One of the most difficult things people face in the work word is how to balance their work lives with their home lives. "There is no single formula for attaining a balanced life. It is a personal decision how one combines their career, spouse, children, friends, and self into a an integrated whole". A lot of times the stress caused by work can spill over into home life and can have a negative impact on both. It is important to plan, organize, communicate, and set limits that can be used in the home to achieve a fulfilling and balanced life. It is important that you do not try to create a balance by yourself. You need to have the support from your family and friends, as well as your coworkers. This creates good work by creating a well balanced life in both your work and home environments. It is important to take time for yourself. The stress of family life and work can take a toll on a person. Taking time away for yourself is important in maintaing an emotional blance that will help you be a better worker, as well as better member of your family

The Top 10 Tips for Balancing Work/Family Life
http://topten.org/public/BI/BI103.html