Interesting twist on work flexibility and the President

Thursday, September 1st, 2011 Karen Ambrose Hickey, Editor

The President is also a mobile worker, balancing priorities with other commitments.

The Careerist had this article regarding the Mobile Workforce Report and the desire of mobile workers for more flexibility, called Flexibility for Me, Not Thee, by Vivia Chen

Ms. Chen writes:

“Everyone wants more work freedom, but being physically in the office carries more weight than you’d expect in this day of nonstop communication. We seem to confer greater legitimacy to the efforts of those who toil in the office. Are we suspicious that people working out of the office are goofing off? Or are we just uptight that they have too much autonomy?

Consider the grief that President Obama has been getting for spending time away from his office during this current economic crisis.”

The author also cites Lauren Stiller Rikleen, the executive-in-residence at Boston College’s Center for Work and Family in Forbes magazine about the example that President Obama is setting:

“When the White House sets a positive example that shows parenting as a priority, the lesson learned is good for families everywhere.”

(BusinessInsider had some pictures of the workshifting happening – balancing work and vacation, as many of us seem to do, in IN PICTURES: What Obama Really Did In The Month Of August)

In the survey, when asked “If you ever completely disconnect from technology during waking hours, where, when and why?” The #1 answer was “To spend time with my family/children” at 48%. The next was “during theatre, stage or other performances” at 47%.

Also, as I mentioned earlier today: 51% of you feel more relaxed with your ability to workshift, or balance your work with your personal commitments. But your colleagues need to realize that 75% of you are working more hours because of this flexibility.