Work-Life Supports That Truly Help Your Organization

Work-Life Supports That Truly Help Your Organization

Author: Harvard Business Review September 6, 2022 Duration: 27:32
Work-life support programs have long been known to lower turnover and raise employee loyalty. But new research shows they also have a positive effect on promoting diversity among managers at those firms, an effect that’s even stronger than that of some popular racial-equity programs. Alexandra Kalev chairs the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Tel Aviv University, and she explains why having strong, thoughtful policies around flexibility, time off, and dependent care pay off for companies. With Harvard sociologist Frank Dobbin, Kalev wrote the HBR article “The Surprising Benefits of Work/Life Support.”

Each week, the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review sits down with experts whose ideas are shaping the world of work. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a conversation focused on practical insights for leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs navigating real challenges. You'll hear from scholars, CEOs, and innovators dissecting topics across management, marketing, and organizational strategy, translating complex research into actionable advice. The discussions get into the nuances of building effective teams, driving growth, making strategic decisions, and understanding the forces transforming industries. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to the forefront of business thinking, a resource for anyone looking to sharpen their skills and lead more effectively. The consistent, in-depth dialogue provides a valuable perspective that goes beyond headlines, offering a deeper understanding of how to succeed in a competitive landscape. It's a direct line to the ideas that matter, presented through thoughtful conversation designed to provoke reflection and inspire change in your own professional approach.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

HBR IdeaCast
Podcast Episodes
Working Parents, Let Go of the Idea of Balance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:04
Stewart Friedman, organizational psychologist at The Wharton School, and Alyssa Westring, associate professor at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, say it’s a mistake for a working parent to think of caree…
Real Leaders: Oprah Winfrey and the Power of Empathy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:10
In 1976, broadcast journalist Oprah Winfrey moved to Baltimore to coanchor the evening newscast at a local TV station. But she struggled in that spot and was moved to the morning talk show. That demotion led Winfrey to d…
Adjusting to Remote Work During the Coronavirus Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:21
Tsedal Neeley, a professor at Harvard Business School, says that there are simple ways leaders can help their employees stay productive, focused, and psychologically healthy as they work from home during the current glob…
Real Leaders: Abraham Lincoln and the Power of Emotional Discipline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:22
In 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln wrote a scathing letter to his top Union general, who had squandered a chance to end the Civil War. Then Lincoln folded it up and tucked it away in his desk. He never sent it. Linc…
Real Leaders: Rachel Carson Seeds the Environmental Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
In 1958, writer Rachel Carson began her exhaustive research on the effects of widespread pesticide use for her next book, Silent Spring. Over the next four years, she built up an airtight case showing how the world’s mos…
Why Capitalists Need to Save Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
Rebecca Henderson, professor at Harvard Business School, says that both capitalism and democracy are failing us. She argues that it will take public and private leaders working together to simultaneously fix these two sy…
Real Leaders: Ernest Shackleton Leads a Harrowing Expedition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:45
In 1915, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship became trapped in ice, north of Antarctica. For the next two years, he kept his crew of 27 men alive on a drifting ice cap, then led them in their escape. How Shackleton d…
How Workplaces — Not Women — Need to Change to Improve Equality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:07
Michelle King, director of inclusion at Netflix, says it’s time to stop telling women to adapt to the male-dominated workplace and time for the workplace itself to change. Her prior academic research shows that diversity…
Rules for Effective Hiring — and Firing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:29
Joel Peterson, chairman of JetBlue Airways, has spent a career leading teams, building businesses, and managing people at every level. Along the way, he's learned valuable lessons about the best ways to bring on new tale…