When Work Works is a nationwide initiative to highlight the importance of workforce effectiveness and workplace flexibility as strategies to enhance businesses’ competitive advantage in the global economy and yield positive business results. When Work Works is a project of Families and Work Institute (FWI) sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in partnership with Institute for a Competitive Workforce, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Twiga Foundation.

When Work Works is both a national and community-based initiative. In Phase I (2004-2005), business forums were conducted in 8 communities ( Brooklyn , NY ; Chicago , IL ; Dallas , TX ; Detroit , MI ; Durham , NC ; Long Beach , CA ; Providence , RI ; and Salt Lake City , UT ) to share the research on workplace flexibility as an important component of workplace effectiveness. In these same communities, businesses have applied for, and winners were selected for, the inaugural Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility.

Building on the success of Phase I of the When Work Works initiative, Phase II extended the number of communities participating in business forums and the Sloan Awards to 16 in 2006 and 24 in 2007. In 2008, When Work Works will be partnering with 30 communities to provide educational forums on workplace flexibility and effectiveness and the Alfred P. Sloan Awards will recognize organizations in these communities that are using flexibility to achieve employee and business goals. When Work Works will continue to provide a variety of new materials including several research reports based on nationally representative data such as the National Study of Employers and other studies that emanate from the Sloan Centers on Working Families; a business toolkit to guide organizations in implementing flexible work practices; and extensive online materials including case studies on promising practice in workplace flexibility. When Work Works will also provide access to expert speakers on flexibility issues and will continue to recognize employers with outstanding flexibility practices.

Research

The When Work Works initiative is grounded in the results of research around workplace effectiveness and flexibility. This research, funded by IBM, reveals that when flexibility is used as a tool to help both business and employees, both can win. In other words, working flexibly enhances employees’ effectiveness, engagement, and commitment on the job, and improves employees’ well-being.

Employees with flexibility are more likely to:

• Be engaged in their jobs and committed to helping their company succeed;
• Plan to remain with their employer; and,
• Feel satisfied with their jobs.

Real Stories

To kick off Phase I of the When Work Works initiative, a series of interactive business forums were held in 8 communities across the country. In 2005 and 2006, forums were held in an 16 and 24 communities, respectively, per year. In these forums, conducted through the local chambers of commerce, research results and case studies are used to start a conversation about workplace effectiveness and flexibility with business and policy leaders and local media.

In-depth profiles of the 2006 winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility were published in a report titled "Making Work Work: New Ideas from the Winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility". A new edition profiling the 2007 winners of the awards will be published in early 2008.

Recognition

The When Work Works initiative awards the Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility to companies that have successfully used flexibility to meet both business and employee goals. Using a rigorous methodology that includes employees’ views as well as employer practices in its scoring, the Sloan Awards honor organizations that have made real commitments to using workplace flexibility as a tool to enhance business and employees’ success. A complete list of winners is available at www.whenworkworks.org. The application process for the Sloan Awards in the 30 participating communities will be open in 2008. For eligibility rules, click here.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Workplace Flexibility Initiative is a collaborative effort designed to make workplace flexibility the American standard. It is based on 10 years of research revealing the benefits of workplace flexibility for employers and employees alike. The Foundation funds a variety of projects at the national, state and local levels that coordinate with business, labor, government and advocacy groups to advance flexible work arrangements.