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Results tagged “work/life balance”

Career Center | Women have to learn how to say 'no' at work

Joyce E. A. Russell / The Washington Post “No is a very simple word. One syllable. Two letters. One of the shortest words in the English language, yet one of the most difficult for women to say at work.” This

Career Center | Family and Medical Leave Act still helps some, but not all

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The Miami Herald In the struggle to balance our family and work lives, one law has made a giant difference for 35 million American workers -- the Family and Medical Leave Act. In February, the

Career Center Blog | Co-working spaces may increase your productivity

As we've seen recently since the kerfuffle regarding Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's decision to suspend her company's telecommuting policy, the definition of the nation's workspace is rapidly broadening to reach outside the traditional corporate environment. One of the more popular

Career Center Blog | How to work at home and still keep your job

Here in the digital age, we thought that working from home -- a beloved practice of introverts, parents with small children and the disabled -- was a secure "right." But if Yahoo's recent move to ban working from home is

Career Center Blog | Yahoo policy: A watershed moment for telecommuting

For those Seattle-area workers currently telecommuting at their jobs, let us take a few moments to give thanks to Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo. Mayer recently sent out an order to all telecommuting employees demanding that they get their

Career Center Blog | Can flexible work hours help your love life?

One of the most sought-after perks cited by job seekers is the ability to control their hours at work. Decent pay and quality health care are always high on the list, of course, but flexibility in their daily schedule is

Career Center | Unplugging: Some employers helping workers disconnect

By Tanya Mohn / New York Times News Service In this age of hyper-connectivity, some companies are adopting policies aimed at weaning employees from their electronic devices. Atos, an international information technology company, plans to phase out all emails among

Career Center Blog | How to love a job you hate

Sure, the economy is getting better -- slowly. The key word here is "slowly." Getting a job can still be tough. Therefore, if you happen to already have a job, you should feel lucky. Right? Right. In theory. But what

Career Center Blog | Achieve work-life balance naturally with these 5 tips

We all know at least someone who amazes us with the amount of energy they have and the ease with which they juggle demanding careers and social lives. They seem to not only excel at their jobs, but also find

Career Center Blog | Forget work/life balance; strive for happiness

I'm surprised at how often I'm asked for tips on balancing work and life. Whenever this question comes up, I like to ask people why they believe they need work/life balance -- and they usually look at me like I'm

Career Center | 2012's workplace trends loom large for 2013

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The Miami Herald As the country recovers from a recession, our workplaces are moving forward in new ways with new rules. Changes are afoot from how our offices look to who runs them and what

Career Center | Too busy to volunteer? Here's how to squeeze it in

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The Miami Herald Erin McHugh had been working as a bookseller during the day and author at night. Her jam-packed work schedule left her little time for volunteering. Feeling unfulfilled, she decided to try an

Career Center | Job burnout: Who's at risk, what causes it and how to fight it

By Ellen Jean Hirst / Chicago Tribune While the economy is flashing signs of a rebound, it’s a markedly different story for a growing number of workers, according to a survey released in late October. More workers than ever report

Career Center Blog | How to make a case for 'workflex' policies in your office

In August of this year, Glassdoor.com released a list of the top 25 companies in terms of work-life balance, as voted on by their own employees. Kent-based REI (ranked No. 6) and Seattle's Slalom Consulting (No. 15) were the two

Career Center Blog | Can Seattle's sick leave law restore balance to office life?

Can you feel the change in the air? That magical time that brings us all together and reminds us of our shared humanity? Yes, cold and flu season is now upon us, so you'd better start decking the office halls

Career Center Blog | Do you have a terrible job or just a bad attitude?

We've all had some jobs in our experience that we regret — the high-school cash register job, the unappreciated office drone, the back-breaking summertime construction job. They're all part of our career evolution. But have you ever been in a

Career Center | Is independent contracting right for you?

By Allison Ellis / Special to NWjobs David Robison was laid off from his full-time job more than a decade ago. Soon after, the Seattle resident began contracting as a user-experience designer -- and has never looked back. “Starting a

Career Center Blog | Confronting the passive-aggressive boss

A friend of mine took on a part-time job not long ago at a small nonprofit organization. The pay was decent, the hours fit with her freelance schedule and she liked the causes being supported. Still, each time I saw

Career Center Blog | First be good at what you do and the passion will follow

Follow your dreams? Just child's play. Discover your true calling? An impossible fantasy. Work your way up the company ladder? Sucker! While never stated quite this bluntly, these are some of the harsh admonitions that author Cal Newport aims at

Career Center Blog | Get out of that cow-print robe: Top 10 tips for working well from home

I hear it all the time from people I know who either work from home or want to: "It's so great to be able to just roll out of bed and go right to work in your pajamas." Um, no,

Career Center Blog | Perennial 'Parachute' still guides job seekers at 42

Few mass-produced books have shorter lifespans than guidebooks. Whether the subject is world travel, local restaurants or advice on how to find a good job, most of these manuals can help you immediately, but they become obsolete within months of

Career Center | 8 ways to beat work stress

Salary.com Stress is a lot like Michael Jordan in his prime -- you can’t stop him. You can only hope to contain him. So even though we can’t totally eliminate stress from our lives, here is a list of ways

Career Center Blog | Workers want flexibility so badly, we're willing to sacrifice salary

A new survey just released by Mom Corps, a national flexible staffing firm, shows what many of us know anecdotally: Flexible work options are so important to many workers that they are willing to sacrifice a chunk of salary to

Career Center Blog | Are you a negative or positive self-talker? To succeed, love yourself

In a Harvard Business Review blog post this week, strategic adviser Peter Bregman wrote about the right way to speak to yourself. Although you might think his topic is too touchy-feely to be a critical career issue, it is, in

Career Center Blog | Millennial job seekers have good reason to stay in Seattle

Of all the demographic groups that have been studied for their economic vulnerability, the Millennials arguably have become the poster children of post-Great Recession victimhood. These young workers in the Seattle market, however, may soon become a bellwether for better

Career Center Blog | To stand out, focus on 'why' instead of 'how' or 'what'

The changing nature of today's job market has caused many job seekers to fiddle almost daily with their resumes to cater to specific audiences. From past work experience to lists of relevant skills to job-specific training programs, the variations of

Career Center Blog | Learning from the 'Missed Ops' in your job search

New job opportunities can pop up when you least expect them. And sometimes, even when you think you've weighed all options, fate throws a wrench in the plans. A few years ago, I got a call out of the blue

Career Center | Let's get on board with paid leave for new parents

By Rex Huppke / Chicago Tribune We are living in the Golden Age of hypocrisy. There's an obesity epidemic, and we're baking hot dogs into pizza crusts. People spend tens of thousands of dollars on off-road vehicles that will never

Career Center | When you're happily married -- to a job

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / Miami Herald Sheryl Cattell’s passion for her work is so intense she is often still at her desk at midnight. “I just go into a zone and literally have no idea of space and time,”

Career Center Blog | Reaching for that phone at 3 a.m.? There's help for you

We often think of habits as good things, signposts or guidelines in our lives that, if developed and groomed over time, can help keep us on track, doing the things we need to do. Sometimes, of course, habits are bad

Career Center | Work-life balance out of whack? Try these tips

By Dawn Dugan / Salary.com In today’s busy world, prioritizing between your work and your personal life can be a huge challenge. But studies show that a poor work-life balance can result in unhealthy levels of stress, unhappiness and reduced

Career Center Blog | Personal brand plus consulting: a recipe for flex success

The buzz on the parenting and work/life balance front over the past couple weeks has been about whether working women can "have it all." A provocative essay in the most recent issue of The Atlantic magazine written by former State

Career Center Blog | With planning, you can work from home this summer with kids

Last Friday, I was in the hall of my kids' school on the afternoon of the last day of the year. As the final bell rang and a collective cheer rose up from 500 kids free for the whole summer,

Career Center | Thanks, Dad: Readers share fathers' work wisdom

In honor of Father’s Day, NWjobs asked readers to share what their fathers taught them about work. Here are excerpts. "One important lesson I learned from my dad was when to be quiet. At our little family business, sales were

Career Center | Trains, planes and Seattle supercommuters

By Lora Shinn / Special to NWjobs For two years, technology product manager Ned Hayes would rise before the sun at 4 a.m. every Monday to drive to SeaTac airport from his home in Olympia. He would hop a flight

Career Center Blog | For Mother's Day, honor mothers by changing the workplace

On Sunday, mothers around the country will be showered with flowers, gifts and pancakes by their appreciative children and families. I will be part of this national lovefest, and I will enjoy it as I do every year. But I

Career Center Blog | Five reasons to commit to an unplugged vacation

As you read this, I should be thousands of miles away from Seattle, hopefully in the blazing sun under a palm tree, a drink in my hand, listening to the delighted squeals of my kids as they splash in a

Career Center | What to do if the spark is missing at work

By Marie G. McIntyre / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Q: I am a happily married man in my mid-40s with three young children. During my career, I have built a successful business and accumulated enough wealth so that I have no

Career Center | When you tire of being the workplace doormat ...

By Liz Reyer Minneapolis Star Tribune Do you feel surrounded by slackers at work? As if you’re doing your job and the jobs of your co-workers? If so, you need to focus on finding the right balance between being and

Job Calendar | Balancing Act: Build a Business, Work a Job and Still Stay Sane

Meet Power Chicks and enjoy dynamic networking plus get a blast of business advice from an expert who can help you rock your success. We're meeting at Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery, where you'll enjoy yummy appetizers, a drink of

Career Center Blog | Spring cleaning will help revive home and office workspaces

The slog of winter came to a head for me a few weeks ago. Things pile up with the rain and the gray. On my desk, and in every room of the house (where I also work), stacks of papers

Career Center | Work out: Fitting in fitness at work

By Heather Dugan / Salary.com Remember the gym? You first wandered in months ago. Hopeful. Resolved. You made promises. Maybe you’ve broken them now. It’s tough to fit in fitness. You have enough challenges in your life; fitting into your

Career Center | Job hunting while pregnant? Mum's the word

By Karla L. Miller / Special to The Washington Post Q: I am in the early stages of a job search and in the early stages of pregnancy. If things go well, when do I need to let potential employers

Job Calendar | 'Health, Happiness and Family Balance' talk

Local pediatrician and mom Wendy Sue Swanson will discuss the work/home juggling act, technology use and the role of smart decision-making in caring for our children in a talk titled "Seattle Mama Doc: Health, Happiness and Family Balance." Purchase advance

Career Center | Marital support key to managing work stress

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The Miami Herald You come home after a stressful day at work, kick off your shoes, and continue to stew about the unrealistic demands of a customer or an insult from your jerky boss. If

Career Center | Multi-distracted: Juggling tasks causes more harm than good

By Anita Bruzzese / Gannett While you may know that studies have found that multitasking hurts productivity, the truth is you really haven’t stopped trying to do more than one thing at a time, have you? After all, while

Career Center Blog | Hey, boss, it's dark here: Bring on the Vitamin D

When I was a kid in grade school, a cart was wheeled from classroom to classroom every day. The cart carried two things deemed, by the powers that be, critically important for our developing bodies and minds: Milk and fluoride.

Career Center Blog | Making the 'leap' to a career that you love

As calendar events go, Leap Day has always been a bit of an afterthought. It was tacked on to our calendar by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. to make up for lost time when it was noted that a year

Career Center Blog | Making milk on the clock? Know your rights

After reading recently about the federal judge's ruling against a Houston mother who says she was fired after asking for a place to pump breast milk, I felt momentarily glad for the situation I faced when I went back to

Career Center Blog | 'Sharpen Your Heels': Sound, and wobbly, career advice

Normally I bristle at advice tailored to either men or women. So I admit that my reaction upon receiving the newly released lilac-colored book "Sharpen Your Heels: Mrs. Moneypenny's Career Advice for Women" was to roll my eyes and set

Career Center Blog | Weather, sick days leave working parents snowed under

Nothing like a snowstorm to bring a smile to children's faces, fill the air with the smell of fresh-baked cookies and ... summon the two-headed demon of work-life balance and gender-role conflict. So it was in my house last month,

Job Calendar | Maximizing Personal Productivity seminar

This free seminar isn't just another time-management workshop; instead the focus will be on managing your whole life, not just your time. You'll get help identifying self-defeating behaviors, time thieves, ineffective habits and processes and much more. You will also

Career Center Blog | Five organizational tips from a self-confessed slob

I'm a slob. This is not conjecture or self-deprecation, it's a personality trait. Ask my mother. When I was a teenager she referred to my room as a pigsty. She'll tell anyone I'm a slob. I actually think she exaggerates,

Career Center | How to balance single parenting, new job

By Marie G. McIntyre / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Q: I’m a single mother who has been unemployed for about six months. In my previous position, I had a flexible schedule which allowed me to easily attend school events or schedule

Career Center Blog | Sweetening the deal with 'creative compensation'

One of my favorite scenes in the excellent AMC television drama "Mad Men," about the pressure-cooker life of ad executives in the early 1960s, comes from an episode called "The Suitcase." While working late, young copywriter Peggy Olson, the first

Career Center | Does working make mothers happier and healthier?

By Jeannine Stein / Los Angeles Times Working mothers may be less depressed and healthier than their stay-at-home counterparts, a study finds. There may also be advantages to working part time as opposed to full time, as women who put

Career Center | Working overtime without getting paid for it

By Rex Huppke / The Chicago Tribune Q: My daughter-in-law works for a very big company and is paid for 40 hours a week, but she winds up working about 90 hours a week with no other compensation. Jobs are

Career Center | Tips for going back to work after a break

By Liz Reyer Minneapolis Star Tribune Q: After being out of work for quite a while, I'm happy to say that I'm starting a new job. But I'm concerned about getting back into the routine smoothly. What can I do

Career Center Blog | Blazing a more flexible career path for women

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a report from LinkedIn declaring that only about 19 percent of 1,000 professional women surveyed in the United States said they had been "mentored" in their careers. To me, the tone of the

Career Center | Don’t drag: How to avoid a personal energy crisis at work

By Liz Reyer / Minneapolis Star Tribune Energy slumps go hand-in-hand with desk jobs. Here are some simple movement and nutrition steps that can help you stay focused and keep the yawns at bay. Start with an assessment of your

Career Center Blog | Secretly videotaping your co-workers with your smartphone

There's sure to be lots of talk of scary supervisors and creepy co-workers this week. But you know what's really scary? The person at work who secretly uses their smartphone to record unflattering, embarrassing, or compromising videos of their

Career Center Blog | How to keep the conference high alive after you get home

I spent this past weekend at the most inspiring writing workshop I've attended in I don't know how long. [Flickr photo by jemsweb] No matter how energizing a professional event, though, my usual MO is to slip back into

Career Center | Perks at work: Unconventional benefits can attract and keep employees

By Karyn JohnsonSpecial to NWjobs Despite an economy where many employers are struggling to maintain traditional employee benefits, some Seattle-area companies are offering unique perks to keep their employees satisfied and productive. Happy hours, pet-friendly offices, ice-cream breaks and rooftop

Career Center Blog | Going to work sick: Sometimes you have no choice

On Monday, the Seattle City Council is expected to pass a bill requiring local businesses to grant their employees paid sick leave. [Flickr photo by ghindo] As the Seattle Times reported yesterday: Advocates say the law will enhance public

Career Center Blog | When the boss cries in front of you

Crying at work is back in the news. This time, it's because Dick Cheney suggests in his new memoir that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a bit of an on-the-job sobber. Much can be said about how those

Career Center Blog | Four easy ways to build community at work

From a social standpoint, office settings can make for some pretty awkward encounters. [Flickr photo by naotakem] Sure, employers try their darnedest to bring teams together with company picnics, holiday parties, and other morale events. But as anyone who's

Career Center Blog | Unexpected benefits of using a standing desk

You've probably seen the scary statistics about how sitting all day can drastically cut short your lifespan. Thanks to a bad back and some pesky stiffness in my legs, I was already contemplating purchasing an adjustable desk that I

Career Center Blog | What's your work mantra?

Sunday night, after a glorious weekend on the Olympic Peninsula, I came home to several hours of uncompleted work. Due 9 a.m. Monday, hard stop. After two leisurely days of beach strolls and sunsets, communing with my computer was

Career Center Blog | Who's telecommuting and who isn't

Every time I write a blog post or article about telecommuting, the reader questions come pouring in: How can I find a telecommuting job? Do work-from-home jobs for entry-level workers exist? I like my job and could do some

Career Center Blog | Night shift workers: What's your sleep strategy?

A recent NWjobs article and another on MSNBC gave a glimpse into the lives of people who prefer to work the night shift. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 3 percent of the country's full-time workforce pulls the

Career Center Blog | A guide to vanpool etiquette

I recently wrote about the pros and cons of vanpooling for NWjobs. While researching the story, I learned that each van has its own code of conduct, no matter how informal. As my article mentions, "Don't keep your vanmates

Career Center Blog | Post-recession dads: Less willing to give up breadwinner role?

When it comes to work/life balance, the recession has left more than a few working dads gun-shy. According to CareerBuilder's Annual Father's Day Survey, working dads are more reluctant to let go of the breadwinner role than they were

Career Center Blog | Are workers becoming more comfortable with flexibility?

A new national survey says yes. According to survey sponsor Work+Life Fit, Inc., which helps companies create flexibility programs, today's full-time workers are less worried than they used to be that having a flexible work schedule will affect their paycheck

Career Center Blog | When crisis hits home, should your job take a backseat?

By now, you've probably seen the video of U2 performing "Beautiful Day" at Qwest Field last Saturday. From a video monitor above the stage, Space Shuttle Endeavor Commander Mark Kelly sends his love to wife Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords via

Career Center Blog | Outrage of the week: On maternity leave? No home loan for you!

There are so many reports of maddening workplace and work-related practices these days that I've decided to create a recurring feature called Outrage of the Week. This week's outrage: [Photo by Flickr user Xbeckie boox] The New York Times

Career Center Blog | Summer vacations: Who's taking one and who's not

We've reached Memorial Day, which means it's time for my annual post about who's taking a vacation this summer and who's not. [Photo by Krystal International Vacation Club] A New CareerBuilder survey of 5,600 U.S. workers found that 24

Career Center Blog | Stressed and proud? You're not impressing anyone

You know the type: The co-worker who darts around the office like a headless chicken, telling everyone within earshot how crazy-busy they are. (Note: If your co-workers always seem to disappear from their desks before you reach them, you probably

Career Center Blog | A better Mother's Day gift for working moms (and dads)

What did you get your mom this Mother's Day? Flowers? Chocolate? Jewelry? [Photo by pizzodisevo] Barbara Kelley, co-author of the book Undecided, which I profiled last week, has a better idea: pressuring those at the top for change in the

Career Center Blog | Women: What to do if you're undecided about your career path

One of the drawbacks of having infinite career options is the indecisiveness that can ensue. Such is the plight of many young women today, writes mother and daughter team Barbara and Shannon Kelley in their new book Undecided: How

Career Center Blog | Redefining retirement, work, and play for those over 50 and 60

Over 50 but feel like those AARP notices you keep getting in the mail aren't speaking your language? Feel more like you're embarking on a new chapter of life than moving toward retirement? Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of

Career Center Blog | The tolls are coming! Do you plan to adjust your commute?

As you've no doubt heard, tolling on the 520 bridge has been pushed back to June. Still, if you're a cross-lake commuter, it's never too early to start thinking about how you'll handle this increase in the cost of getting

Career Center Blog | April Fool's Day pranks at the office: Yea or nay?

Like March Madness office pools, there will always be killjoys vehemently opposed to having a little innocent fun in the workplace on April 1. [Photo by sandman_kk] A few days ago, one labor attorney issued this warning by way of

Career Center Blog | This just in: Work gets in the way of the rest of your life

I'm not a parent, but I have many friends, family, and colleagues who are. I hope that qualifies me as enough of a parenting ally to comment on what has begun to strike me as an irksome trend: the numerous

Career Center Blog | In defense of March Madness office pools

It never fails. Once the flowers start blooming, my inbox bubbles with press releases warning against the evils of participating in March Madness office betting pools. Please. That's about as effective as telling employees not to swipe the occasional pen

Career Center Blog | Leaving work early today? What's your excuse?

Perhaps you saw the CareerBuilder poll released last week about the weirdest excuses employees use for showing up late to work. [Photo by subflux] Among the tales of traffic snarls and faulty alarm clocks were gems like "My Botox appointment

Career Center Blog | How to handle an office romance

If you're like a majority of U.S. workers, chances are you've dated, had a fling with, or fallen in love with someone from the office at some point during your professional life. [Photo by Sister72] A new survey of 2,000+

Career Center Blog | Are hugs appropriate in the workplace?

Depends on where -- and with whom -- you work. Work at a yoga studio, and you're more likely to experience warm and fuzzy displays of affection during the workday than people who work at, say, a bank. [Photo by Julie

Career Center Blog | New year's resolutions: It's not too late to salvage them

Now that we're five weeks into the new year, I have to ask: how are those resolutions going? [Photo by graymalkn] If your best-laid plans to work out before work, get more rest, or investigate making a career change already

Career Center Blog | Is the magic gone from your career? Free teleclasses that can help

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Seattle career coach Curt Rosengren is offering three free, one-hour teleclasses (conducted over the phone) designed to help you: Rekindle your passion for the way you make a living, Replenish your lagging energy

Career Center Blog | Telecommuting: Less green than we think?

Those who champion telecommuting (yours truly included) are fond of mentioning that working from home is better for the environment. Less cars on the road. Less corporate offices to heat, cool, and light. Less clothing and drycleaning required. And so

Career Center Blog | How to survive grad school while working full-time

Before the holidays, I mentioned that the University of Washington was hosting a panel for professionals thinking of enrolling in graduate school while working full-time. [Photo by alamosbasement] If you missed the event, you're in luck. UW Professional and

Career Center Blog | Prediction: The biggest workplace stories for 2011

Although it was no 2009, this past year was another doozy for the U.S. workforce. So rather than reminisce about the many ways 2010 whooped the collective hide of the working public, let's look forward to the new year. Following are

Career Center Blog | Self-employed? 7 ways to avoid burnout

Welcome to the month of the self-employed professional. Last week marked the second annual Global Entrepreneurship Week, which mobilized current and hopeful self-employed folks to participate in 30,000 small business events around the world. Not to be outdone, President Obama

Career Center Blog | Questions about grad school? Free UW event on Nov. 10 can help

Pondering graduate school while working, but not sure how you'll handle hitting the books on top of holding down a day job? The University of Washington wants to help. On Wednesday, November 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., UW Professional

Career Center Blog | Halloween costumes at the office: Fun or tiresome?

The other night, I talked to a friend who was scrambling to affix a set of bat wings she'd fashioned from a black umbrella to a black sweatshirt she'd just bought. Not only was she annoyed about spending an

Career Center Blog | Is it ever okay to talk politics at work?

Between President Obama's recent pit stop at Top Pot Doughnuts, the bevy of hot-button initiatives on the November 2 ballot, and the incessant churn of Beltway gossip this election season (paging Ginni Thomas), it's becoming increasingly difficult to not talk

Career Center Blog | Single women outearning their male counterparts? Not so fast

Since last week was Unmarried and Single Americans Week, I thought it fitting to look at some contradictory statistics about single women's salaries I've seen floating around lately. But first, let's revisit just how prevalent not being married has become.