FLEX MATTERS -A Story about Sharing Genes a Job and Watching the Bottom Line

FLEX MATTERS -A Story about Sharing Genes a Job and Watching the Bottom Line

May 7, 2010

A DECLARATION OF FLEXIBILITY AND THE BOTTOM LINE

Our  featured employer this month is RSM McGladrey.  This company is a flex super star!  RSM McGladrey is a leading professional services firm offering accounting, tax, business consulting, wealth management and capital markets services to middle-market companies across the nation.  So when you think accounting and wealth management you think that this organization is certainly  a business that’s focused completely on the  bottom line—after all that’s their area of expertise --watching the bottom line. 

What’s brilliant is that this tax and accounting firm is also CRAZY OVER THE TOP fully committed to Flex work options.  For RSM McGladrey flex is not a squishy little perk to help a few employees out, it’s a way of life AND a bottom line business imperative! Leaders in the business show their commitment to flex by signing a Declaration of Flexibility.   

Says Jim Kadavy, Clients & People Leader – Great Plains & Western Markets– “By signing the declaration [of flexibility], our partners and managing directors have made a commitment to each other and to our people to support WorkLife integration in a way that works for our business. This takes our WorkLife support to the next level by requiring us to hold each other accountable for this culture change.”

SHARING GENES AND A JOB

Bethany and Debbie Hall, a mother-daughter duo in RSM McGladrey’s Minneapolis office have a unique job sharing story. During her career with RSM McGladrey, Bethany has used a combination of flexible work options to pursue her educational goals, including obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree while employed with RSM McGladrey.

Now enrolled in graduate school, Bethany’s program requires her to complete a practicum, which she must attend two days per week. “I could not have pursued my education without flexibility. RSM McGladrey allows me to vary my work schedule at any time to meet my schooling needs,” says Bethany. “It was a huge relief—both mentally and financially—to be able to continue acquiring professional skills while earning my degrees.” As Bethany continued her schooling, she knew that her mother, Debbie, was interested in rejoining the workforce.

Knowing she was empowered to be creative with her work schedule, Bethany approached her mother—a stay-at-home mom—with the idea of sharing her position. “At first I thought Bethany was joking,” says Debbie. “When I realized she was serious, I considered and accepted the proposal. I am glad that I did—I was able to re-enter the workforce, enjoy a fulfilling career, and still spend quality time with my family.” Debbie works on the days that Bethany attends her practicum, offering 100 percent coverage for their shared position. Through their job share, Debbie has helped her daughter achieve her educational goals; and in turn, Bethany has offered her mother the satisfaction of a new career!

What we love about these stories and what you will hear as a theme throughout FLEX MATTERS is that what’s good for business is also great for employees.  And these things are not just casually associated but are also causally associated.   Happy Employees work harder, are more productive,  less stressed and grateful for the opportunity to have control over integrating their work and the rest of their lives-- resulting in better performance and better business outcomes.

SHARING GENES AND THE JOB OF RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION

Ivan Axelrod, Chief Financial Officer and Human Resources Director forProvident Financial Management in Santa Monica, a division of RSM McGladrey, was one of the employees interviewed by Flex-Friendly who is a great example of how managers in a company can lead by example when it comes to working flexibly --while also reaping tremendous personal benefits.

“My first granddaughter was born 2 1/2 years ago and I wanted to be able to provide one day a week of child care for her allowing me to support my daughter and to provide me with the opportunity to spend quality time with my granddaughter during her formative years. This has been the most gratifying time of my life to watch her grow and to provide support for my family.  Allowing me to have this flexibility to work from home and to learn how to balance work responsibility with my life experience has been fantastic.”

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS FLEX?

Do you know a terrific Flex-Friendly employer?  Send us a quick e-mail to nominate them.   We’ll be sharing the great news to help other businesses to learn from your success and learn about your company.  

Thank you to RSM McGladrey and to Jim, Debbie, Bethany, and Ivan for sharing their great genes, their jobs and their stories!