MSU WorkLife Office

479 West Circle Drive,

Linton Hall, Suite 116/118

East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (517) 353-1635

E-mail: work life@msu.edu

Website: http:/ / work life.msu.edu

Making Flexibility Work

Calendar of Events at a Glance See what’s coming up Page 4

IN THIS ISSUE:

FlexWorx Column Introducing the new column that will give you an inside scoop on creating flexible work arrangements that really work Page 3

WorkLife

Connections

JANUARY 2017 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WORKLIFE OFFICE

During 2016, several WLO events focused on the what, how and why of flexibility practices. At our April 2016 kick-off symposium, “Academic Work Life Compatibility,” keynoter Dr. Brad Harrington from Boston College’s Center for Work and Family discussed the experience of millennials and particularly fathers in the workplace. MSU’s Dr. Ann Austin moderated a panel on strategies for implementation of flexibility, and Dr. Sandy Gahn from Iowa State University illustrated the cost benefits of flexibility. Dr. Gahn’s research demonstrated savings of over $83,000 per hire being achieved by implementing flexibility instead of recruiting, replacing and onboarding new faculty. Symposium presentations and materials can be accessed on our website at https://worklife.msu.edu/research/April2016-symposium. For October’s National Work and Family Month 2016, we held a conference, “Honoring Your Work and Personal Lives: Implementing Flexibility.” We welcomed Dr. Ellen Kossek to acquaint us with what leaders and employees should know about flexibility, and determining personal flex styles. Sessions also

By Dr. Barbara Roberts

With increased awareness of

benefits and strategies for implementation, flexibility is changing the workplace. Flexibility has been shown to save costs by reducing employee turn-over and absenteeism, and increasing productivity, well-being and community engagement (Kossek, Hammer, Thompson and Burke, 2014). The WorkLife Office (WLO) has taken flexibility as our theme this year, so we want to share some of our efforts and resources with you. There are many ways to arrange a flexible work schedule. For example, moving breaks or start/finish times within the day or week respects people’s most productive times, or accommodates commutes. Working four, 10-hour days instead of five, eight-hour days can be used to support dependent care responsibilities, or educational or personal goal attainment. If an employee can complete their work tasks from anywhere, working remotely can help with office space constraints, limited parking, or other resource allocations at work, and with child or eldercare at home, not to mention reducing environmental impacts and stresses of commuting. Job sharing between two people who prefer part-time work can enhance coverage options, and bring two perspectives and skill sets to a department. Regardless of what model is used, flexibility has been shown to generate loyalty, commitment and higher productivity with less absenteeism (Kossek et al, 2014).

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Commuting Options: Be “Spartan Green” and Save Money Getting to Campus

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

12:00pm-1:00pm

Chittenden Hall, Room 110

Considering commuting to campus for school or work? Not sure about your options? Need to get more information to make a decision that will fit your needs? Join us for a discussion with experts who will share information about services that you could use to get to and from campus and home. Save money, save the environment, and “Be Spartan Green!”

CATA is launching a new ride matching software in early January which will give MSU employees the capability to find fellow employees/students to form a carpool, vanpool, or bike together to campus. When searching for alternative travel modes, users will see the cost, time, and mileage of each mode.

Learn about:

CATA Clean Commute Options – a free service that helps interested individuals find alternative ways to commute to work; including car/vanpooling, bus, bike, and walking. Learn about the options that fit your commute and the Emergency Ride Home program, which acts as “commuter insurance” if you’re ever left without transportation.

CATA Bus Service on and off campus, including the Spectran service for individuals with physical mobility concerns in the tri-county area.

MichiVan Vanpool Program – sponsored by MDOT and operated by vRide and Enterprise Rideshare, this program supplies fully insured passenger vans to commuter groups.

Biking – with support from MSU Bikes to help navigate your way safely to campus.

Participants will also hear experiences from a panel of commuters. Panelists: Jennifer Bruen—MSU employee, vanpool commuter; Layne Cameron—MSU employee, bicycle commuter; Dana King—Michivan/Enterprise; Pam Latka—CATA Marketing Assistant; Tim Potter—MSU employee, Sustainable Transportation Manager, MSU Bikes, bicycle commuter; Grace Noyola—Communications Manager, MSU Sustainability, Infrastructure Planning & Facilities; Chloe White—CATA Clean Commute Options Coordinator

This session is FREE and open to all.

RSVP to the MSU WorkLife Office by emailing worklife@msu.edu (subject line: “Commuting Options) or by calling (517) 353-1635.

Co-sponsored by: CATA; Clean Commute Options; Michivan/Enterprise; MSU Bikes; MSU Council of Graduate Students; MSU Graduate School and Graduate Student Life and Wellness; MSU Recycling and Sustainability; MSU WorkLife Office.

JANUARY 2017

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provided tools and strategies for exploring, negotiating and implementing flexible arrangements, and how to utilize performance management as an opportunity to incorporate flexibility in employee goal attainment. Conference sessions can be accessed at https://worklife.msu.edu/2016-worklife-conference. Looking towards the spring semester – as a follow-up to the October conference – Lori Strom, WorkLife Office Lifespan & Family Services Coordinator, will host two workshops addressing flexibility resources and strategies available at MSU in order to achieve high performance on the job and at home. We are also excited to launch a new column in WorkLife Connections. Have a look at the introductory “FlexWorx” column in this edition. Throughout the upcoming semester, we’ll keep you up-to-date on policies, practices and research in the area of flexibility at work. We are also excited to announce that in March 2017, the WorkLife Office will collaborate with the Academic Advancement Network and the College of Education to co-host a symposium on faculty retirement. We hope to stimulate discussion on various paths and alternatives to traditional retirement and explore flexibility in the later stages of one’s career. For additional information and a discussion of a wide range of flexibility elements that contribute to recruitment and retention of faculty, check out the American Council on Education’s Alfred P. Sloan Projects for Faculty Career Flexibility at http://www.acenet.edu/leadership/programs/Pages/Alfred-P-Sloan-Projects-for-Faculty-Career-Flexibility.aspx.

As always, if you have any questions about flexible work arrangements, or other work-life matters, don’t hesitate to contact our office. We would be happy to set up a consultation with you! Source: Kossek, E., Hammer, L., Thompson, R., Burke, L. 2014. Leveraging Workplace Flexibility: Fostering Engagement and Productivity. Alexandria VA: SHRM Foundation.

It’s a new year and we’d like to introduce you to a new column! FlexWorx will be your inside guide for making flexibility work at Michigan State University. The column will include several unique ways of providing you with the information you need about flexibility...

The WorkLife Office staff will conduct interviews with recipients of the Outstanding Supervisor Award to give you a first-hand perspective about introducing flexible work arrangements

in various departments across campus. You will hear about the challenges and the successes for implementing flex.

JANUARY 2017

You can stay up to date on all of the WorkLife Office Initiatives on our website and social media accounts. For a complete listing of upcoming WorkLife events, visit our website: https://worklife.msu.edu. Interested in receiving weekly e-mails about upcoming programs and events? Join the WorkLife Listserv, by sending an e-mail with the subject line “WorkLife Listserv” to: worklife@msu.edu. Be sure to indicate your name and e-mail address. While you’re at it, be sure to follow us on social media!

Welcome to FlexWorx. We look forward to sharing our first featured article in the February edition of Connections!

S tay C o n n e c te d ! WorkLife Office Social Media & Events Calendar

Join us on Facebook: Search: MSU WorkLife Office

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MSUWLO

Flex for U: Tools to Implement Flex for Support Staff

Thursday, February 16, 2017 3:00PM—5:00PM

Linton Hall, Room 113

It is now more challenging than ever to manage our responsibilities and feel satisfied in both our work and home lives. Have you considered a flexible work schedule, but are not sure how to approach your supervisor? In this interactive session, tips will be shared about implementing a flexible schedule with guidance on how to talk to your supervisor, how to meet your supervisor's business needs and your co-workers’ needs, and create a successful win-win arrangement in the unit.

Presenter: Lori Strom, MSU Work Life Office, Lifespan and Family Services Coordinator.

Flex for U: Tools to Implement Flex for Supervisors

Thursday, March 16, 2017 3:00PM—5:00PM

Linton Hall, Room 113

In this interactive session, participants will discuss and learn more about issues related to workplace flexibility, with tips to implement flexible work arrangements in your unit from a supervisor’s perspective. Positive leadership ideas will be shared to help create and support a culture of flexibility to enhance productivity and positive morale in the workplace.

Presenter: Lori Strom, MSU Work Life Office, Lifespan and Family Services Coordinator.

For both sessions: RSVP by email to worklife@msu.edu (subject line: Flex for Support

Staff) or by phone (517) 353-1635.

Sessions are FREE and will include light refreshments.

Flexibility Workshops

Becris

The column will include quick tips and facts about implementing flexibility—for staff, faculty, and supervisors.

In-depth Interviews

Quick Tips & Facts

Featured Research FlexWorx will feature contemporary research in the area of flexible work arrangements. Readers will be given premium access to recent findings about the benefits (and potential limitations) of flexibility in the workplace. The column will draw upon the research of experts across the field of work-life.

Freepik

JANUARY 2017

Calendar of Events @ a Glance

January 2

Michigan State University closed.

January 17

6:00PM—7:00PM: How to Repair Your Credit. MSU Federal Credit Union-Farm Lane Branch Community Room (4825 E. Mt. Hope Road, East Lansing). Co-sponsored with the MSU Federal Credit Union.

January 18

12:00PM—1:00PM: Commuting Options: Be “Spartan Green” and save money getting to campus. Linton Hall, Room 113. Co-sponsored with several units.

January 24

12:00PM—1:00PM: Estate Planning. MSU Federal Credit Union-Farm Lane Branch Community Room (4825 E. Mt. Hope Road, East Lansing). Co-sponsored with the MSU Federal Credit Union.

January 25 12:00PM—1:00PM: Perspectives on Aging Series: Caring for Aging Parents. Linton Hall, Room 113.

For a full listing of events with details and RSVP information, visit https://worklife.msu.edu.

The mission of the Women’s Networking Association is to connect professional women across campus through meaningful and empowering relationships. Events are free and open to all. This semester ’s theme is Be True to Your Personal Brand.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 Building Bridges for Building Your Brand

8:30AM—10:00AM, Chittenden Hall, Room 110. Presented by D. Venice Smith, MSU Retiree, Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. RSVP for all events by emailing worklife@msu.edu or calling (517) 353-1635.