Don't miss this aspect of returning to offices | Workplaces can accommodate breastfeeding mothers | Tyson accelerates efforts to support immigrant employees
Google's CEO Sundar Pichai, writing in a blog post, has defined an overlooked reason to return to offices: they serve as community anchors that strengthen connection and benefit surrounding businesses, columnist Jason Aten writes. Employees in offices "take public transportation, stop for coffee, eat lunch in restaurants or stop for a few errands before heading home," Aten notes.
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Employers can help reduce levels of stress and discomfort for new mothers by adding workplace solutions to accommodate breast pumping. The Affordable Care Act requires that employers provide space and time for it, but a report published in the journal Women's Health Issues indicates that only 40% of employers offer a space that is not a restroom, and 19% of working mothers say they feel pressured by their employers not to breastfeed.
Some school district officials say they are seeing an uptick in employees taking advantage of employee assistance programs to support mental health, financial and other needs. Yet, officials say employees may not be fully utilizing these resources, in part, because of the stigma associated with them and suggest the need to rebrand the programs.
Leaders can mitigate the impact of "impostor syndrome" -- especially among women and those in low-power positions on their team -- by publicly recognizing their skills and accomplishments and mentoring them, writes Rita McGrath. Companies lose out when employees feel like impostors because they will be more reticent to contribute ideas and may seek another job.
Ownerly's list of the top 25 US cities for remote work prominently features small cities, the Midwest and Northeast. Meanwhile, the West Coast does not appear to be as ideal. Interestingly, just last week, Wallethub also published a similar list, and the three states Ownerly sees as the best (New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania) didn't crack the top 10.
Morning coffee at Le Pain Quotidien on 10th Street. The Pescado Baja California tacos and margarita (on the rocks, no salt) at Oyamel on 7th Street. The black bean burger at Big Stick by Nats Stadium. The Berkeley pizza with the deep dish crust and an iced tea at District of Pi on F Street. A late night pinot noir and laughs with friends at the Pub and People on North Capitol NW.
These are some of my favorite spots to visit when I’m in DC. There’s something about places like these that help make a city feel like home.
I thought of this today as I read our top story about Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai’s explanation for why the company has been beefing up its investment in its physical offices. “Google’s offices and data centers provide vital anchors to our local communities and help us contribute to their economies,” Pichai wrote.
That’s true. As Jason Aten writes, when people commute into the office, they’re contributing to the local community -- they’re buying gas, riding the Metro, grabbing coffee, picking up dry cleaning, and meeting up with colleagues for happy hour drinks. All of this pumps money into local economies. (Just ask NYC Mayor Eric Adams who is working desperately to save his city’s economy by crafting a plan to bring commuters back to their offices. But the mayor should reconsider his messaging. People are not just looking for reasons to stay in pajamas all day.)
Is that enough to get people to leave the comfort of their homes and shuffle back to their offices? Not sure. But as employers and employees go back and forth about this question, it’s nice to have a new reason to consider -- and a smart one. Supporting our local communities and economies is always a good thing.
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