TAPP Blog

Aahh! Just picture it: the air shimmers through the heat rising off the hoods of a seemingly
infinite line of cars and trucks crawling along a crumbling expressway like a giant, exhausted inchworm. The steamy interior of a city bus on a rainy day – elbows, backpacks, and umbrellas jabbing you as your arm falls asleep while you hold on for dear life to a virus-ridden bar over your head. Squeezing your way onto a train car, the scent of body odor and who knows what else in your nostrils, while you futilely attempt to avoid being touched by too many strangers.

I've been hearing so much lately about how, in other countries, the culture around work hours and time off is quite different from what we are used to in the US. I was curious, so I did a little research. What I found out got me to wondering about how deep into our lifestyles these differences reach.

One of my co-workers happened upon an interesting blog post that discusses a "part-time revolution" in the UK, where 5.1 million people work part-time by choice. Apparently, part-timers in the UK are protected by legislation that states they should be treated no less favorably than full-time equivalent colleagues. Read more.

In some office cultures you find co-workers participating in group social activities, like fantasy sports leagues, book clubs, and health & fitness programs. Some of these activities are sanctioned by employers and some are arranged by individuals.

As I listened to the TAPP webinar this Tuesday, I was really surprised to learn that Lynn Berger, the speaker – career coach and author of The Savvy Part-time Professional: How to Land, Create, or Negotiate the Part-time Job of your Dreams – was able to describe a proven plan of action to take with your employer when you are trying to transition to part-time.

I'm happy with free coffee, ergonomic chairs and the occasional office party, but the times they are a'changin'.