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A Long-Proven Business Strategy, Flexibility Also Helps Lower-Wage Workers Pursue Education
 The June 2011 jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday was yet another signal that the U.S. economy is struggling on its path to recovery. With unemployment rising to 9.2 percent, not counting nearly a million discouraged workers who have given up looking for work because they believe their job prospects to be so dismal, the labor market and growth remain an urgent priority for policymakers, businesses and working families in America.
In this context, how can businesses maintain their competitive edge while also helping to improve the lives of low-wage workers? New research, published by Workplace Flexibility 2010 at Georgetown Law and the Institute for Workplace Innovation at the University of Kentucky, illustrates the unique role workplace flexibility plays in addressing this issue. John Wilcox, Corporate Voices' Deputy Director, participated in a recent discussion about this research at the New America Foundation. He discussed research published by Corporate Voices for Working Families which documents the positive business impacts of flexibility and how it can be used in innovative ways to help low-wage workers pursue higher education. Read more about this research, and access Corporate Voices' flexibility toolkits and other resources, on Corporate Voices' blog. |
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As Vocational Schools Face Budget Cuts, Employers Have Unique Role to Support Learn and Earn Partnerships
 On Sunday, July 10, The New York Times featured a front page article exploring the effectiveness of vocational schools and the budget cuts they face. The article is the first in a "Learn to Earn" series, which will be accompanied by video portraits, examining vocational education and training.
Vocational education and training can play an important role in addressing the skills gap employers face, and in engaging students in practice fields to place them on meaningful educational and career pathways. In a tough federal and state budget climate, read about how employers can support workers in gaining vocational education and credentials through innovative Learn and Earn partnerships, and how this will help improve the competitiveness of the U.S. workforce, on Corporate Voices' blog.
This "Learn to Earn" series is sponsored by a partnership between Purple States, The New York Times, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Downtown Community Television Center.
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Save the Date! The New Face of Flexibility: Innovations Across Industries-Upcoming Webinar
Amidst stubbornly high levels of unemployment and sluggish levels of economic growth, how can the business community use workplace flexibility to maintain a competitive advantage? Best-practice businesses have long known the business case for workplace flexibility and have adopted flexibility practices to build more effective, modern workplaces. What are the new trends in flexibility, and how are businesses using it as a key way to facilitate other best-practice employee support and talent development programs? How can global organizations use flexibility in reporting frameworks to measure corporate progress on social issues?
Please save the date for a webinar Corporate Voices will hold on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 3 p.m., where researchers, practitioners and business leaders will discuss these issues.
Please look for the announcement and registration instructions in Corporate Voices' Weekly Update newsletter next week!
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Corporate Voices' Partner Company Gets Help from Ken's Krew
 One of the challenges for young adults with special needs is finding and retaining meaningful jobs in the mainstream work world. With opportunity and support, individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to work hard, learn, achieve and deeply enrich workplace culture. And through satisfying work they gain confidence, independence and become productive members of the community.
Ken's Krew enables individuals with intellectual disabilities to successfully enter the workforce by providing access to good jobs and to professional training and support to prepare for and sustain employment.
Through its model of one-on-one skills assessment, vocational training, job access and continuous support, Ken's Krew helps individuals perform at their highest levels in jobs at The Home Depot and Corporate Voices' partner company CVS Caremark.
As employees, Ken's Krew enables its participants to experience success, camaraderie and appreciation from their peers and communities. Their employers and co-workers are often surprised by the impact of their contributions on the work environment. And families see personal growth and professional development as signs their loved ones are on a path toward increased independence, productivity and integration.
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What We're Reading
Where Have America's Jobs Gone?, The Wall Street Journal, July 12, 2011.
Community College as a Bridge to New Skills, The New York Times, July 11, 2011.
Mixed Signals: Hiring Rate Declines in July, Recruiting Difficulty Rises Again, Society for Human Resource Management, July 2011.
National Study of the Changing Workforce: The New Male Mystique, Families and Work Institute, 2011.
2011 Work+Life Fit™ Reality Check Summary, Flex+Strategy Group, 2011.
The Educational Experience of Young Men of Color: A Review of Research, Pathways and Progress, College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, 2011.
The Educational Experience of Young Men of Color: Capturing the Student Voice, College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, 2011.
An Invitation to the Big Picture: Implementing a Local Collaboration for Youth (LCY) in Your Community, National Collaboration for Youth, June 2011.
Portraits: Initial College Attendance of Low-Income Young Adults, Institute for Higher Education Policy, June 2011.
Plugged In: Positive Development Strategies for Disconnected Latino Youth, National Council of La Raza, April 2011.
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