This Week's Herman Trend Alert Women---Expanding their Sphere of Influence

The Herman Trend Alert May 2, 2000 Work-Life: Sharp Line or Fuzzy? 243 days until January 1, 2001 The "buzz" today emphasizes the importance of balance between work life and personal life. The message clearly separates the two aspects and suggests they should remain separate and distinct. Or is that really the message? This work-life issue is confusing, fuzzy, and bewildering. Workers aren't sure what they want or what to do. Employers are equally baffled. On one hand, there is a belief that work and personal lives should be totally disconnected. When people leave work, they should enter a life experience that is apart from work. When they return to work, their personal lives should be left at home. The talk about balance says people should not work late, should not work on their days-off, and should not take work home. On the other hand, there is so much to do at work. All those tasks must get done, no matter how long it takes. It's essential to take care of the customers-or clients-no matter what time investment is required. They pay our salaries. Sound familiar? The labor shortage means we don't have enough people to get the work done "normally," so we all have to pitch in. We'd hire more people if we could, but we just can't find enough qualified applicants. Then the guilt sets in . . . or is it some sort of strategy to keep people working and make work attractive as sort of an extension of personal life? Flex-time helps workers blend work and personal time demands. Concierge services relieve the personal errand strain. Now employers are offering on-line shopping to workers, using work or home computers. Proponents say the opportunity to shop on-line (perhaps with company-sponsored discounts), refinance your mortgage from your desk, buy flowers or clothes or groceries, and even do your banking from work actually increases productivity. The time savings alone, not considering the stress and the distraction, suggest that doing personal things at work makes sense. This mixing of work and personal-on the job and at home-blurs the fine line between the two lives. This issue will be confusing for a while, maybe years. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." EMPLOYERS AND JOBSEEKERS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS Advertise at or attend VetJobs Virtual Career Fairs. VetJobs, the top veterans' job board, and PSI, the premier diversity job fair producer, are teaming up to launch these VeteransCONNECT events. Employer registration is now open with loading by February 15th. Candidate loading begins March 1st. Expect 25-30 employers and an attendee goal of 2,000 skilled jobseekers. Promoted extensively, early registration begins NOW. To register or request additional information, contact VetJobs at 877-838-5627 or email info@vetjobs.com; Employers: Mention the Herman Trend Alert to receive a Bonus. LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE VALENTINE’S GIFT? Give the gift of leadership advice in our weekly Lessons in Leadership to help your supervisors and managers remind your leaders about what’s really important The 52-week subscription is only $47, a bargain when you think about the savings to your organization in reduced turnover. Quantity discounts available by emailing Joyce at joyce@hermangroup.com. http://www.hermangroup.com/store/subscription_all.html#3 Order today! PREVENT EMPLOYEE TURNOVER IN 2012 Yes, you can prevent costly employee turnover, when you train your supervisors, managers, and executives. They will learn dozens of low and no-cost strategies and tactics that they can implement right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carl at 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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