9to5 Speaks Out for Good Jobs, Labor Standards

  More and more employees — women and men — need flexibility to manage work and family responsibilities ("Moms, part-time work is overrated," The Forum, May 11).   Others want time for education or community involvement. The result is an increasing number of people interested in reducing their work hours, at least for portions of their work lives.   What these employees seek are quality part-time options — a chance to work fewer hours at an equivalent hourly pay rate, with pro-rated benefits and paid time off, and access to training and promotional opportunities.   An increasing number of employers offer quality part-time options, including reduced work weeks, job sharing, phased-in return from leave and phased-out retirement. These employers do so not as a favor to women or to parents, but as a better way to do business.   Employers say that offering quality part-time jobs improves recruitment, retention, morale, efficiency, productivity, customer service, flexibility, employee well-being and community reputation. Voluntary, equitable, quality part-time work is a win-win for working women, men, their families and their employers.

Linda A. Meric, Executive director, 9to5, National Association Of Working Women; Denver