October is National Work and Family Month

According to the WorldatWork website, “National Work & Family Month, established in 2003 and celebrated every October, focuses on the challenges working families face every day. The month is nationally recognized by businesses, academic institutions, federal agencies, members of Congress, work-life advocacy groups and individuals who want to make it easier for employees to succeed at work and at home.”

Here at the Michigan State University WorkLife Office, Work & Family Month will be celebrated by recognizing MSU’s Outstanding Supervisor Award winners. Each recipient of the award will be honored with a surprise celebration in their unit. The award recognizes supervisors who value flexibility and create a positive environment for their work teams.

The WorkLife Office also hosted its Open House on October 3. This was the kick-off to Work & Family month and a wonderful way to engage and connect with our campus constituents and collaborators. Many resources were shared, including a look at the office’s key projects.

Last, but certainly not least, the WorkLife Office is hosting a conference titled, “Honoring Your Work and Personal Lives: Implementing Flexibility.” This WorkLife Conference will focus on helping staff and faculty at Michigan State University achieve high performance goals through flexibility in work and personal lives. This free conference is being held on Thursday, October 20, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Michigan State University’s University Club (3435 Forest Road, Lansing, MI). 

The conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Ellen Ernst Kossek, Basil S. Turner Professor at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and Research Director of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence. Dr. Kossek is also the author of CEO of Me: Creating a Life That Works in the Flexible Job Age. The title of the keynote address is “Creating a Culture of Work Life Flexibility: What Leaders and Employees Should Know.”

Concurrent workshops will include topics such as: flexibility styles, using MSU’s performance review processes to enable high performance, and tools for creating a flexible work arrangement.

Space is limited. Registration is required by Friday, October 15, 2016.  Questions? Contact the MSU WorkLife Office at (517) 353-1635 or worklife@msu.edu. 

 Join us in celebrating National Work & Family Month!