Judy Scherer

So why is it still so difficult for parents to find flexible work arrangements? While these companies offer flextime to employees, they don’t necessarily advertise openings as flextime.  Some of the advertised positions may be able to be performed flexibly, but they often look like traditional full-time jobs when advertised. And, many jobs (full- or part-time) are never advertised or listed with recruitment or employment agencies. Although it seems easier to answer ads, directly mail […]

One company at the forefront of the flextime option is Johnson & Johnson, the large pharmaceutical and consumer goods company with headquarters in Langhorne, PA and a large staff in New Brunswick, NJ.  They have 75% of their employees on flex time and offer a phase-back program with reduced hours for recent mothers.  Across the country, employers, large and small, offering a vast array of services and products, report high participation rates in flex time […]

Despite the apparent dearth of good flex time opportunities, employers report that they are increasing flex options as a way to offset the reduction in benefits during the recession and its aftermath. Many companies go so far as to cite all the benefits that flex time can offer them, such as productivity, retention, and lower recruitment and relocation costs. Based on a number of surveys conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and […]

Although 20% of advertised jobs offer some sort of flexible scheduling,  a closer examination of these jobs reveals that they are often low-paying, non-professional positions in the food, installation or personal care industries.  Exceptions to this pattern can be found in health services & practitioners, computers, and sales. Positions such as, sales representative/manager, systems and business analyst, and medical claims or patient advocate are flexible.  But, they often require a full-time commitment. Take a working mom from northern New Jersey, […]