Thursday, July 9, 2009

Are You Father-Friendly?

More and more men state that work-family balance issues prevent them from being a successful parent, and more and more women are saying that they want their husbands to be more available so that they can balance their work-family priorities, as well.

I was privileged to talk with several other experts on Kojo Nnamdi's NPR show last week - Work-Life Balance : A Male Perspective. As Generation Y men enter the workforce and become parents, they're placing more emphasis on their role as a father and are looking for companies who will do the same, even in tougher economic times.

With Father's Day just passed, it's a good time to analyze what are you doing for the fathers in your company. Many work-life programs offer parenting resources for both women and men, but with information and a style that is geared more for women. Maternity leave is a standard, but paternity leave is only starting to catch on.

Focusing on fathers will boost your bottom line - studies show that good fathers are better leaders - and it doesn't have to be expensive. Here are some ideas:
Include Men/Fathers In Marketing Collateral. If you're advertising a seminar/workshop or hosting a presentation, make sure the imagery includes men and fathers so that men feel welcome and at-ease.

Offer Literature Specifically for Fathers. Brochures/pamphlets with specific information for men on topics like balancing work and family, keeping children safe, and other parenting tips will get more traction among men.

Organize a Dads Group. Encourage men to meet over lunch and invite in guest speakers. This will give them a safe place to talk about fathering and support each other.
To see how father-friendly your company is, you can use a free diagnostic tool - the Father Friendly Check-Up. Offered by the National Fatherhood Initiative, it helps you pin-point strategies for becoming a more father-friendly organization.

Don't let your fathers get left in the dust during these tough economic times. With just a little ingenuity and resourcefulness, you can actively and effectively support the fathers in your company.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

My recent radio appearance on the Kojo Nnamdi Show

Work-Life Balance: A Male Perspective

Click Here to listen to this WAMU American University Radio interview which “examines the [work-life] concerns of young working men and looks at how employers are beginning to respond.” Featured in this interview are Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute; Kathleen Gerson, Professor of Sociology, New York University; and Ken Gosnell, Associate Vice President of National Programming, National Fatherhood Initiative.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Woman Has Twins With 2 Different Dads

There is a moral to this story. I think this is an example of how society thinks fathers are replaceable....In my opinion this is a very sad story!

"Like most twins, 11-month-old Justin and Jordan have a lot in common. But it’s what they do not have in common that has a lot of people, including their parents, calling them a miracle of science.

“I have twins, but they’re by different fathers,” said Mia Washington.

The twins’ parents contacted FOX 4, wanting to go public with their story. Washington admits she had an affair that resulted in two babies, born at the same time, fathered by two different men.

“Out of all people in America and of all people in the world, it had to happen to me. I’m very shocked,” Washington said.

The parents went to Dallas DNA Lab Clear Diagnostics after noticing the twins have different facial features.

According to the paternity test, there’s a 99.999 percent chance Justin and Jordan do not have the same father, and zero percent chance they do. The lab has never seen this type of result, nor do they expect to see it again.

“It is very crazy. Most people don’t believe it can happen, but it can,” said Clear Diagnostics President Genny Thibodeaux.

Read the entire story at: http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/woman-has-twins-with-2-different-dads/

Wednesday, May 13, 2009