Family Forward Oregon

The War is ON Moms, Not Between Them

Lisa — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:53:41 +0000

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Family Forward Oregon’s Executive Director, Andrea Paluso, shared her thoughts in The Oregonian about the media hype around the fake “mommy wars,” clarifying, instead, that if there’s a war at all, it’s on moms, not between them. Here’s an excerpt:

“It would have been hard to miss the recent hullabaloo over motherhood and work brought on by Hilary Rosen’s comment about Ann Romney having “never worked a day in her life.” But let’s get something straight: Despite all the rhetoric, there is no “mommy war.” American moms are not at war with each other.

The truth is, most moms have experienced periods in and out of the labor force at different times in their lives — making the distinction between work-in-home and work-outside-home moms nearly irrelevant. The real problem facing American mothers: outdated, detrimental public policies that make it hard to support and care for their children — and themselves — over the long term.”

Read her full guest column here.

The High Cost of Child Care

Lisa — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:02:31 +0000

I’ll never forget that first check I wrote to pay for child care. It was so much money! Did you know that in Oregon, child care often costs more than college tuition? That’s right. Full-time infant and toddler care, for example, costs an average of $10,392 a year, while college tuition averages $6,790. And we have 18 or so years to sock money away for college! Not so for child care, which many of us start paying for as soon as six weeks after birth. A shocking reality for most new parents.

And we’re not the only ones who think this issue deserves some attention. A few weeks back, The Oregonian’s Associate Editor Susan Nielsen wrote a terrific opinion piece on the subject – Need good child care? Start looking two years ago – that we think you’ll want to read. One point she made really jumped out at us,

“The topic of child care seems to be evolving in the public mind from a ‘personal problem for moms’ into a basic workforce issue and public policy challenge. That’s a welcome shift, to say the least.”

We couldn’t agree more. So many of the public policies that fail today’s parents are presented as our own failings. But when they affect every single one of us – as child care does in one way or another, they’re policy failures, not personal ones.

We were so pleased to see Susan’s Opinion piece we submitted a Letter to the Editor in response. You can read it here – it’s short and sweet.

What’s YOUR experience with child care in Oregon – and beyond? Most parents have one. Too expensive? Far from work? Long wait list? Substandard? Or just perfect? We’d love to know. Click here to share your experience with us – it helps us put a face on the issue when we talk with policy makers.

NPR Airs Story on Working Mom Conundrum

Lisa — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:26:30 +0000

The recent brouhaha in the national news media around Ann Romney’s work as a stay-at-home mother of five has yielded some excellent commentary that – happily – reaches far behind the old “mommy wars.” Because today’s mothers know that there are much more important issues at stake, ranging from the high cost of child care to lack of workplace flexibility and paid time off to care for sick family members. Plus, most of us do stints of paid and unpaid work throughout our time as mothers, so the divide is no longer relevant (if it ever was).

Take a minute (or 4) to listen to this excellent NPR story (aired 4.20.12) on the challenges of working mothers in the United States – it’s another positive outcome of last week’s hullaballoo.

New Report on Paid Family & Medical Leave!

Lisa — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:17:42 +0000

The Center for American Progress (CAP) just released a new report (April 12, 2012) documenting the need for a national paid family and medical leave program. The report, “The Effects of Paid Family and Medical Leave on Employment Stability and Economic Security,” explains how – “though it may seem counterintuitive – providing paid family and medical leave when people cannot work due to caregiving responsibilities actually helps keep people employed. In the short term it keeps people away from work, but in the long term it reduces the number of people who have to quit their jobs when they need time off to care for a seriously ill family member or when they have a new child. Paid medical leave serves this same purpose for workers who have short-term but serious illnesses that prevent them from working.”

In this report, CAP proposes a solution to this problem: Social Security Cares, a new program they developed that would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to qualifying workers (run through the existing Social Security system) after the following life events:

• The birth of a newborn, or the arrival of a newly adopted or fostered child.

• The serious illness of a spouse, domestic partner, parent, or child.

• The worker’s own serious illness that limits their ability to work.

The proposal is quite a bit like the existing federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) passed in 1993, except leave would be paid and all workers would be covered (currently almost 1/2 of workers in the U.S. aren’t covered by FMLA; the Oregon Family Leave Act covers more workers by lowering the employer size to which it applies).

Truth is, without access to reasonable family and medical leave policies, workers are forced to choose between their jobs and their families or their health (because at some point or other, all workers have caregiving responsibilities). This issue is especially salient in these tough economic times. Once a worker has to quit in order to provide care or recover from an illness, their chances of finding work in this economy are quite low.

Read the report here.

Oregon’s 2011 Sloan Award Winners for Workplace Flexibility

Lisa — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:10:53 +0000

We know that creating a family-forward workplace takes courage and leadership. We also know that Oregon families – and businesses – do better in flexible workplaces. And in the 21st century, it’s the new way to work. So in 2011, Family Forward Oregon brought the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility to Oregon and created our own, only-in-Oregon Family Forward Leadership Award.

Congratulations to our 2011 Flexible Workplace Winners:

FMYI, Inc.
Full Access
gDiapers
Innovative Care Management, Inc.
Intel
Isler CPA
KPMG (Portland office)
Mercy Corps
Metropolitan Family Service
NPC Research
Oregon Environmental Council
Oregon Research Institute
Our House
Portland State University
PREM Group, Inc
Ride Connection
River Network
Rose City Mortgage
Stoel Rives LLP, Portland
Swift Collective

Honorable Mention: Green Building Services

Thank you

Family Forward Oregon extends our heart-felt thanks to all of these forward-thinking, family-friendly employers in Oregon. These employers recognize that the economic well-being of their employees and their employees’ families are part of building a thriving economy.

More about the Sloan Award for Workplace Flexibilty

The Sloan Award is a prestigious national award program recognizes employers that are successfully building flexible workplaces – workplaces that offer flexible hours, flexible places to work, part-time work options, and predictable work hours.

There are a lot of awards out there. This one is different because:

It emphasizes employee input
It is work-site based
Workplaces compete against a national standard, not each other

All of these elements give this award a high level of validity and ensure that it will honor what is true for people working here in Oregon.

Winners will receive national and local recognition, including tribute at an awards event in the fall, and coverage in national and local media. Everyone who applies will receive a free benchmarking report, which shows them where they are strong and how they can improve.

Any employer that has 10 or more employees can apply. This includes businesses, non-profits, government agencies, schools and universities. The 2012 online application is now open – with an April 16, 2012 deadline.

The Family Forward Leadership Award is our own, local award. Each year, we will recognize one employer that stands out in a field of innovative, family-forward employers. In 2011, Rose City Mortgage in Portland won this award for truly being ahead of the pack. When you apply for the Sloan Award, you are automatically applying for the Family Forward Leadership Award as well.

Support SB 1548 – The Fair Employment Opportunity Act

Andrea — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:57:27 +0000

60 Minutes, Aired 2/19/12:

The Fair Employment Opportunity Act Passes!

Andrea — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:55:59 +0000

CHANCES ARE GOOD you know someone who has been unemployed during the recession of the past few years. Or maybe you’ve been out of the workforce yourself? Finding a job in this economy is hard enough without adding additional barriers for job seekers who aren’t currently employed. But that’s what some employers and recruiters were doing!

Until February when our state legislature passed The Fair Employment Opportunity Act, that is. This common-sense bill that Family Forward Oregon supported in Salem - along with The Urban League – makes it unlawful practice in Oregon for an employer to include a provision in a job posting stating that the unemployed will not be considered — which is exactly some employers and recruiters were doing!

At a time when the competition for employment is extraordinarily intense – with nearly five unemployed job seekers for each opening – actively discriminating against the unemployed by advertising that they need not even apply works against those who are out of the workforce because of a sluggish economy and discriminates against those who’ve been out of the workforce for other reasons: like raising a child or caring for another family member.

The Urban League and Family Forward Oregon partnered to support this victory for Oregonians who want to work! We don’t think people who are not currently in the workforce should be shut out of certain jobs simply because they’re not currently employed. Discriminating actions like that just aren’t the way to get unemployed Oregonians working again.

Check out a clip on KATU about the Fair Employment Opportunity Act (aired 2/20/12):

And another from 60 Minutes (aired 2/19/12):

Workplace Flexibility: The New Imperative for Business Success and HR Leadership

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:52:58 +0000

When: December 14, 2011 | 11:30 am – 1 pm

Where: Double Tree Hotel, 100 NE Multnomah, Portland OR

Hosted by Portland Human Resources Management Association

Workplace flexibility has become a key business strategy to leverage the talents and skills of today’s increasingly diverse, aging, and multi-generational workforce. In this session, you will learn how flexible work arrangements such as job sharing, flexible scheduling, phased retirement, and telecommuting can drive employee engagement, productivity, retention, and benefit your organization’s bottom line. You will also examine case studies of companies that have won the national Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for their innovative programs. And you will hear about new resources and opportunities as a result of SHRM’s partnership with the Families and Work Institute, including the “When Work Works” initiative.

About the Speaker:

Lisa Horn serves as the Co-Leader for SHRM’s Workplace Flexibility Initiative and partnership with the Families and Work Institute (FWI). As a respected source for research and trend data on flexible work environments, Lisa is one of SHRM’s primary spokespeople on workplace flexibility, regularly interviewed by the media and sought out as a speaker for human resource audiences. Lisa also oversees the organization’s workplace flexibility public policy efforts and advises on the Society’s workplace flexibility educational offerings.

Cost for the Monthly Event is $25 for members of PHRMA and Affiliated Organizations, $40 for guests. To register, click here.

Great Ideas at Work: a Celebration of Workplace Innovation

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:27 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS to Oregon’s 2011 Sloan Award Winners!

This prestigious national award recognizes employers across the country that have successfully integrated flexible policies and practices to meet both business and employee goals.

There are a lot of awards out there. The Sloan Awards are unique for their high level of validity and national as well as local recognition. Rigorous criteria, emphasis on employee input, and focus on individual work-sites ensure that this award honors what is true for people working in Oregon.

COME CELEBRATE: November 18th

Great Ideas at Work: a Celebration of Workplace Innovation
Friday November 18th
11:30am – 1 pm
at the University Club, 1225 SW 6th Ave, Portland

We will celebrate the Sloan Award winners. We will present the first-ever Family Forward Leadership Award, highlighting one employer whose supportive workplace culture stands out in a field of innovative employers. Local and national leaders will share their stories, and we will all leave with new ideas for how work can work.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

FMYI, Inc. (www.fmyi.com)
Full Access (www.fullaccess.org)
gDiapers (www.gdiapers.com)
Innovative Care Management, Inc. (www.innovativecare.com)
Intel (www.intel.com)
Isler CPA (islercpa.com)
KPMG-Portland, OR (www.kpmg.com)
Mercy Corps (www.mercycorps.org)
Metropolitan Family Service (www.metfamily.org)
NPC Research (www.npcresearch.com)
Oregon Environmental Council (www.oeconline.org)
Oregon Research Institute (www.ori.org)
Our House (www.ourhouseofportland.org)
Portland State University (pdx.edu)
PREM Group, Inc (www.premgrp.com)
Ride Connection (www.rideconnection.org)
River Network (www.rivernetwork.org)
Rose City Mortgage (www.rosecitymtg.com)
Stoel Rives LLP, Portland (www.stoel.com)
Swift Collective (www.swiftcollective.com)

In addition, one company received an Honorable Mention:

Green Building Services (www.greenbuildingservices.com)

THANK YOU

Increasingly, research shows that organizations that are willing to be flexible with their employee’s time are seeing big pay-offs in employee retention, employee satisfaction, and productivity. It’s clear that innovations in workplace practices are good for families, good for business, and good for Oregon.

Oregon’s Sloan Award winners announced!

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:52:33 +0000

The Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility is a prestigious national award that recognizes employers across the country that have successfully integrated flexible policies and practices to meet both business and employee goals.

Learn more about Oregon’s 2011 Sloan Award winners.