Innovation in work/life balance

Fast Company has another great article today, about an
innovative program in Des Moines. Local businesses donated space and some supplies,
and the school board agreed to set up a school on the location. The school is connected
via walkways to the local office buildings, and programs are scheduled around lunchtime
for parents and kids.

Wow. Talk about your killer app. I thought I had it
pretty good - work and home are within walking distance, and my son's daycare is a
5 minute drive away. But I'm feeling distinct pangs of envy for the parents whose
children are within walking distance during the day, that's fantastic.

Way to go Des Moines! (now how often do you get
to say something like that, eh?)

It makes me wonder how we'll look at work/life balance
and childcare in 20 years. How will technology affect it? I already know of one daycare
center with fingerprint identification for front-door security and webcams so that
parents can check up on their children during the day - where will we go from there?

Comments

• Anonymous
  November 07, 2003
  For years, Fischer-Price has had on site day care for employee's kids. For the company, it's a bonus...it's also their test lab. They give new toys to the kids to see how they use them. Somethings have surprised the designers. Many toys have also flopped.
• Anonymous
  November 07, 2003
  That is so spiffy, thanks for letting me know. I wonder if they publish the 'flop' toys anywhere, that would be interesting to see...