Comments on: Fast Company: Conundrum–One Person’s Flex Job is Another’s Underemployment http://worklifefit.com/blog/2010/02/fast-company-conundrum-one-persons-flex-job-is-anothers-underemployment/ Fit, Not Balance. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:09:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Cali http://worklifefit.com/blog/2010/02/fast-company-conundrum-one-persons-flex-job-is-anothers-underemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-33994 Cali Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:11:51 +0000 http://worklifefit.com/blog/?p=990#comment-33994 Kathy, there are resources out there, but they tend to be local. Where are you located and if I know of a resource happy to share! Kathy, there are resources out there, but they tend to be local. Where are you located and if I know of a resource happy to share!

]]> By: Cali http://worklifefit.com/blog/2010/02/fast-company-conundrum-one-persons-flex-job-is-anothers-underemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-33993 Cali Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:10:56 +0000 http://worklifefit.com/blog/?p=990#comment-33993 Barbara, I couldn't agree more. With health care reform stalled my hope is that perhaps the true rationale--the need to uncouple health coverage from work--takes center stage. Barbara, I couldn’t agree more. With health care reform stalled my hope is that perhaps the true rationale–the need to uncouple health coverage from work–takes center stage.

]]> By: Kathy Pfeiffer http://worklifefit.com/blog/2010/02/fast-company-conundrum-one-persons-flex-job-is-anothers-underemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-33988 Kathy Pfeiffer Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:14:13 +0000 http://worklifefit.com/blog/?p=990#comment-33988 I would love a part time/flexible job for balance in my life. I gave up on getting health insurance with my job years ago. I buy individual policies, stay healthy, and don't get unnecessary tests. In order words, I only go to the doctor when I need it. So far this has worked for me. Because I am under less stress, I believe it keeps me healthier so I don't need a lot of health care. Is there a resource for connecting people with good part time of flexible hour jobs? I would love a part time/flexible job for balance in my life. I gave up on getting health insurance with my job years ago. I buy individual policies, stay healthy, and don’t get unnecessary tests. In order words, I only go to the doctor when I need it. So far this has worked for me. Because I am under less stress, I believe it keeps me healthier so I don’t need a lot of health care. Is there a resource for connecting people with good part time of flexible hour jobs?

]]> By: Barbara Saunderes http://worklifefit.com/blog/2010/02/fast-company-conundrum-one-persons-flex-job-is-anothers-underemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-33983 Barbara Saunderes Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:31:59 +0000 http://worklifefit.com/blog/?p=990#comment-33983 I second Chrysula's comment. Uncouple health insurance from individual jobs (even if it's financed by businesses) and the dynamic changes. Workers who would prefer higher hourly pay and more flexible hours could negotiate for that. Employers who would rather create a full-time or part-time role than hire a contractor for a particular position could do so. Job locked people could retire early, start businesses, or make their experience available to younger companies - which would improve the job market for everyone. I second Chrysula’s comment. Uncouple health insurance from individual jobs (even if it’s financed by businesses) and the dynamic changes. Workers who would prefer higher hourly pay and more flexible hours could negotiate for that. Employers who would rather create a full-time or part-time role than hire a contractor for a particular position could do so. Job locked people could retire early, start businesses, or make their experience available to younger companies – which would improve the job market for everyone.

]]> By: Chrysula Winegar http://worklifefit.com/blog/2010/02/fast-company-conundrum-one-persons-flex-job-is-anothers-underemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-33982 Chrysula Winegar Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:20:40 +0000 http://worklifefit.com/blog/?p=990#comment-33982 As you point out, in the USA, all roads lead to health care. We do not full understand how deeply the idea of "benefits" (read health insurance) has traumatized the national capacity for work life flexibility, entrepreneurship and boldness. It's bred entitlement, shut down our creativity. We are trained from day one, by our education system, the generations before us and an entire social system: "Get a good, steady job, settle down. Play safe. Be careful." Isn't the work life community's dream to show people there are other ways? It certainly is for me. Frightening, maybe. But if we don't embrace the flexible side of the disposable/flex worker debate, it will be forced upon most anyway. Advocacy at the policy level and from within organizations to make flexible options actually work is the next layer of the challenge. It is exciting to empower people to take charge and find the possibilities within and outside of the "system" - you are clearly doing that. Thank you Cali. Great piece. As you point out, in the USA, all roads lead to health care. We do not full understand how deeply the idea of “benefits” (read health insurance) has traumatized the national capacity for work life flexibility, entrepreneurship and boldness. It’s bred entitlement, shut down our creativity. We are trained from day one, by our education system, the generations before us and an entire social system: “Get a good, steady job, settle down. Play safe. Be careful.”

Isn’t the work life community’s dream to show people there are other ways? It certainly is for me. Frightening, maybe. But if we don’t embrace the flexible side of the disposable/flex worker debate, it will be forced upon most anyway. Advocacy at the policy level and from within organizations to make flexible options actually work is the next layer of the challenge.

It is exciting to empower people to take charge and find the possibilities within and outside of the “system” – you are clearly doing that. Thank you Cali. Great piece.

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