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Want to commiserate about the Monday back to work blues or get tips on scheduling playdates from your desk? This is the place to quench your thirst for all things work/life related. Watercooler's editorial host is Jennifer Sey, the VP of global marketing for Dockers. She is joined by Vicki Larson, a journalist and single mom who writes at The OMG Chronicles; Denise Berger, the global leader of the Women’s International Network (WIN) at Aon Corporation; and Kerry Rivera, a real mom from the "O.C." who is the Marketing and Advertising Manager for Toyota. |
Why I Hate the Phrase "Having it All."
During a meeting recently, I found myself uttering this dreaded corporate buzzword: synergy. I really hadn’t spoken that word since I found myself writing talking points for a dot-com merger in the year 2000. But here I was, seven years later, speaking corporate mumbo jumbo which really should only be reserved for people who are really, really rich from such synergies. more
Afternoon Activity Shuffle.
Getting kids to after school activities can be accomplished when you work, but, sometimes, it's not pretty. more
How Does Your Job Rank?
Everywhere I look at work these days—the break room, the lobby, even my office chair—fliers and signs are proclaiming McGraw-Hill, my employer, one of the 2007 Working Mother 100 Best Companies. In case my co-workers and I failed to notice these missives, a video is playing in a non-stop loop on television screens around the office featuring some of McGraw-Hill’s top brass talking about the company’s exemplary Work/Life policies. more
Working at Home Exposed.
Do you really “work” when you’re at home? Every now and again I’ll stay back from the office and work from my house. Er, every now and again I’ll stay back from the office and “work” from my house. I say “work” because we all know that when you tell your boss you’re going to work from home, what you really are saying is: “I need some time to go get my nails done, run to the grocery store and organize my file cabinets.” more
The Scarlet Letter.
School hadn’t even started yet, but I already failed one of my first assignments as the parent of a newly minted preschooler this week.
Work & Motherhood: Still Hazy After All These Years.
I've never liked the term "working mother." It says that I am some kind of sub-category; not a full member of the club. Maybe I'll feel better about it the day I hear someone called a "working father." more
It's Not Fair.
What normal 42 year old stamps their emotional foot while their husband and kids are sleeping, and, she's getting ready for work? As much as I hate to admit it, that was me for a couple of years. more
Do Working Moms Blog?
It’s not news that working mothers have the least amount of available leisure time. Even executives can schedule their leisure time (with the cocktail hour doubling for business purposes). Rich people have assistants to help with household chores and errands. Most working women and I don’t have those luxuries. Something must give. It’s the blogging. more
Monday Morning Working Mom.
This past Monday, I couldn't wait to go back to work. That's one thing I've learned since I had my son a year ago - weekends don't mean weekends anymore - at least in my sense of the word. It's not like my son knows the difference between Saturday and Tuesday, so he still gets up at his same early hour. more
Why Women Work - It's Not What You Would Think.
It’s true that our ideal American lifestyle - with all its luxury perks like big houses, yearly vacations, vehicles and the latest stuff– requires a two income family. But, do women work outside the home just to achieve that standard?