Society of Women Engineers Releases Free Work & Life Integration Playbook

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flipping magazine pageThe Society of Women Engineers (SWE) wants to help employees successful integrate their work and life—and its offering a playbook to do just that. The organization recently unveiled the “Work & Life Integration Playbook,” its first eBook that offers tools and case studies in policies, methods and tactics for encouraging employees to maintain a healthy relationship and balance between home life and career pursuits.

“Maintaining a balance between personal and professional pursuits is a challenge every engineer faces regardless of gender,” Karen Horting, SWE’s executive director and CEO, said. “We are committed to providing the best resources for employers to attract and retain high-quality engineers, which this book facilitates.”

SWE said its 2012 survey of more than 400 participants illustrated the need for the free resource. The survey data revealed that 72 percent of respondents believe work-life integration policies have not contributed to fulfilling their career goals.

The new playbook features stories from women engineers who have struggled “to achieve a happy medium between reaching professional goals and maintaining connections with friends and family outside the workplace.”

The book includes:

  • Case studies of successful practices leveraged by companies such as Dell, GE Aviation, Raytheon, Motorola Solution, Inc. and The Home Depot
  • Examples of how to strategically create an environment that encourages the health and wellbeing of all employees
  • Different methods for achieving work-life balance, including various flexible working arrangements, parental programs, health and wellness initiatives, dependent care and programming aimed at assisting employees with the financial issues

“We compiled the most useful, transferrable examples of work and life integration, showing practical strategies for small and large organizations alike,” said Karla Tankersley, the chair of the SWE committee that edited the book. “Our ultimate goal is for these resources to be applied in the workplace in a manner that both attracts and retains women engineers.”

SWE plans to release another downloadable eBook, “Be That Engineer: Inspiration and Insight from Accomplished Women Engineers,” during the summer. The book is an inspirational collection of insights from members of SWE’s Corporate Partnership Council.

By Shala Marks