Comments on: Workplace flexibility …for the chronically ill? I doubt it. http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/03/06/workplace-flexibility-for-the-chronically-ill-i-doubt-it-2/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:22:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Arizona http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/03/06/workplace-flexibility-for-the-chronically-ill-i-doubt-it-2/#comment-264 Arizona Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:39:17 +0000 http://keepworkinggirlfriend.com/2007/03/06/workplace-flexibility-for-the-chronically-ill-i-doubt-it-2/#comment-264 Work/life flexibility/balance is difficult enough to obtain without stereotyping or limiting the idea. Flexibility programs should extend to ALL - moms, dads, singletons, healthy, ill, old, young, etc. The problem with most flexible work arrangements is that they're not all encompassing. For example, Telecommuters are labeled those that "live really far away" and don't "want" to come into the office. The REASON that people seek alternative work arrangements shouldn't matter as long as they're being productive employees. Don't companies spend money to select the right employees? If so, then they should trust their decisions and ultimately trust their employees. I read an article in BusinessWeek about a seemingly ultimate, ideal workplace flexibility program called ROWE - Results-Only Work Environment. After doing some digging, I found that ROWE was created by former Best Buy employees that have spun off to create a new company called CultureRx. Initially, I thought this sounded too good to be true. But after reading more on their site: www.culturerx.com, I realized that this really could be the solution for everyone. It doesn't matter exactly WHAT you have going on in your personal life. If you need the flexibility, then it's there for the taking. The catch...you have to achieve! Work/life flexibility/balance is difficult enough to obtain without stereotyping or limiting the idea. Flexibility programs should extend to ALL - moms, dads, singletons, healthy, ill, old, young, etc. The problem with most flexible work arrangements is that they’re not all encompassing. For example, Telecommuters are labeled those that “live really far away” and don’t “want” to come into the office. The REASON that people seek alternative work arrangements shouldn’t matter as long as they’re being productive employees. Don’t companies spend money to select the right employees? If so, then they should trust their decisions and ultimately trust their employees.

I read an article in BusinessWeek about a seemingly ultimate, ideal workplace flexibility program called ROWE - Results-Only Work Environment. After doing some digging, I found that ROWE was created by former Best Buy employees that have spun off to create a new company called CultureRx. Initially, I thought this sounded too good to be true. But after reading more on their site: http://www.culturerx.com, I realized that this really could be the solution for everyone. It doesn’t matter exactly WHAT you have going on in your personal life. If you need the flexibility, then it’s there for the taking. The catch…you have to achieve!

]]> By: Beth http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/03/06/workplace-flexibility-for-the-chronically-ill-i-doubt-it-2/#comment-209 Beth Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:35:59 +0000 http://keepworkinggirlfriend.com/2007/03/06/workplace-flexibility-for-the-chronically-ill-i-doubt-it-2/#comment-209 Workplace flexibility is now being extended to people so they can take care of their PETS, for pete's sake, but forget taking care of the chronically ill and/or aging parents and/or sick kids - the attitude is that long term care facilities exist for them, there is adult day care, sick children's day care, you can hire people, so there is no excuse for not being at work, and if you were that sick you shouldn't have accepted the job in the first place. The ADA demands workplace accommodations for the disabled, then backs out by saying that if it would put an "undue burden" on the company then they don't have to abide by the law - I don't know of any company that isn't paying a lot of lawyers to prove that it's an undue burden to fix things up for chronically ill. They could make the accommodations for less than the salary of one of those shysters most of the time, but they'd rather fight it. AND - Has anyone besides me noticed what I call the invisible salary cap? If you have been at your job 5 years or more, go look at the salaries for what you do in the current marketplace. They're flat or depressed. They also usually have more responsibility than your current job did when you started, especially if the salary matches your current level. All that means is that they're going to work you to death to keep your job since going to another is going to be the same or worse than your current overload. But the executive staff salaries and perks and bonuses have skyrocketed - even if the CEO buries the company alive they get so much money that with modest living they would never want for a thing, and they are still eligible for Medicare and social security even with all that dough rolling in. And chances are, some other company is going to hire them at 2 or more times what they got from the company they sent under. So now, they're out there burying some other group of workers alive. Also have you noticed the increase in demands at your job for the same money? Ask for a raise, it's going to be minimal or non existent and you might even be threatened with disciplinary action or termination for not being a "team player." Evaluations are downgraded under the excuse that for years they were artificially inflated. No matter how hard you work, it's not enough. You'll get the same mediocre evaluation as the person that does the bare minimum, but try slacking off and your evaluation will be downgraded - "we compare this year to year and you just haven't pulled the same weight this year" - you say that so and so hasn't pulled that load, makes an equivalent or better salary, and got a raise, they say that the person improved relative to what they were before. The lesson? Be a slacker once you're out of orientation and off probation. Then marginally increase what you do and you'll get sweet raises and no one will expect much of you. It's always been true that some get away with being slackers. You work your butt off, even with your chronic illness, going through mealtimes and even checking messages from home and doing work at home to meet deadlines. They get to come in right at start time and not a second sooner, take all their breaks and lunch times and then some, and they are packed up ready to go out the door as soon as quitting time rolls around, even if their work is not done. The boss says something, they say it's too much for them. Who gets their overflow? YOU. Why? They want you OUT so you don't use your health benefits and their bonuses are bigger. And so they can hire someone cheaper and healthier. With the number of chronically ill people in this country, that's a pipe dream. And yes, we use our health benefits, but we also contribute and pay taxes until we are totally unable to do so. But they're too short sighted. If the bottom line looks good on their watch, that's what they're after. You can go fly a kite. They'll leave for another cushy job where they can abuse people and get rich, someone else will come in and start firing people to meet the emergency budget, your job will get worse or you'll get fired, until someone finally buries the company and your job, and you have the option of living in poverty on disability (assuming you can get it) the rest of your life, or getting a job that pays less and demands more. Just my rant for the day...but I still want to keep working. I can't imagine not being as productive as the illnesses allow. Mine are not as bad as some people's, for which I am grateful, but they're enough to keep me busy! Workplace flexibility is now being extended to people so they can take care of their PETS, for pete’s sake, but forget taking care of the chronically ill and/or aging parents and/or sick kids - the attitude is that long term care facilities exist for them, there is adult day care, sick children’s day care, you can hire people, so there is no excuse for not being at work, and if you were that sick you shouldn’t have accepted the job in the first place.
The ADA demands workplace accommodations for the disabled, then backs out by saying that if it would put an “undue burden” on the company then they don’t have to abide by the law - I don’t know of any company that isn’t paying a lot of lawyers to prove that it’s an undue burden to fix things up for chronically ill. They could make the accommodations for less than the salary of one of those shysters most of the time, but they’d rather fight it.
AND - Has anyone besides me noticed what I call the invisible salary cap? If you have been at your job 5 years or more, go look at the salaries for what you do in the current marketplace. They’re flat or depressed. They also usually have more responsibility than your current job did when you started, especially if the salary matches your current level. All that means is that they’re going to work you to death to keep your job since going to another is going to be the same or worse than your current overload.
But the executive staff salaries and perks and bonuses have skyrocketed - even if the CEO buries the company alive they get so much money that with modest living they would never want for a thing, and they are still eligible for Medicare and social security even with all that dough rolling in. And chances are, some other company is going to hire them at 2 or more times what they got from the company they sent under. So now, they’re out there burying some other group of workers alive.
Also have you noticed the increase in demands at your job for the same money? Ask for a raise, it’s going to be minimal or non existent and you might even be threatened with disciplinary action or termination for not being a “team player.” Evaluations are downgraded under the excuse that for years they were artificially inflated. No matter how hard you work, it’s not enough. You’ll get the same mediocre evaluation as the person that does the bare minimum, but try slacking off and your evaluation will be downgraded - “we compare this year to year and you just haven’t pulled the same weight this year” - you say that so and so hasn’t pulled that load, makes an equivalent or better salary, and got a raise, they say that the person improved relative to what they were before. The lesson? Be a slacker once you’re out of orientation and off probation. Then marginally increase what you do and you’ll get sweet raises and no one will expect much of you.
It’s always been true that some get away with being slackers. You work your butt off, even with your chronic illness, going through mealtimes and even checking messages from home and doing work at home to meet deadlines. They get to come in right at start time and not a second sooner, take all their breaks and lunch times and then some, and they are packed up ready to go out the door as soon as quitting time rolls around, even if their work is not done. The boss says something, they say it’s too much for them. Who gets their overflow? YOU. Why? They want you OUT so you don’t use your health benefits and their bonuses are bigger. And so they can hire someone cheaper and healthier.
With the number of chronically ill people in this country, that’s a pipe dream. And yes, we use our health benefits, but we also contribute and pay taxes until we are totally unable to do so. But they’re too short sighted. If the bottom line looks good on their watch, that’s what they’re after. You can go fly a kite. They’ll leave for another cushy job where they can abuse people and get rich, someone else will come in and start firing people to meet the emergency budget, your job will get worse or you’ll get fired, until someone finally buries the company and your job, and you have the option of living in poverty on disability (assuming you can get it) the rest of your life, or getting a job that pays less and demands more.
Just my rant for the day…but I still want to keep working. I can’t imagine not being as productive as the illnesses allow. Mine are not as bad as some people’s, for which I am grateful, but they’re enough to keep me busy!

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