People want to prosper professionally without having to live at their jobs. They want technology for convenience, but they are tired of answering to voice mail and e-mail around the clock. People do tell Todd they want to travel less. Or they'll take a lower salary if they get equity in the company. The company agreed to give her a part-time flexible schedule for a year, until she finishes her degree.
Vacation time is a popular bartering tool, too.
Some workplace analysts argue that giving time to employees is rife with hidden costs. That's a real cost,'' says Mitch Potter, a consultant at William M. Mercer in Minneapolis, which advises companies on work-force issues. It's not just putting the plan in place but changing the culture to make it happen,'' says Tamra Lair, who specializes in organization measurement at Watson Wyatt, a workplace consulting firm. Everybody has money,'' says Potter. Low unemployment gives workers the luxury of shopping for corporate culture, for that nebulous fit that allows them to advance their career and still pursue a life outside of work.