BALANCING ACT

Cindy Krischer Goodman
Cindy Krischer Goodman's weekly column on work and family issues will explore the conflicting demands of career and personal life -- and how South Florida employees and employers are dealing with that perennial struggle.
Visit Cindy's weblog at momsmiami.com. Email Cindy at cgoodman@herald.com.

Top Story

Claudine Sada is grieving over loss of family in Haiti. Her employer, Miami-Dade County, has gone out of its way to be compassionate. Co-workers are buying her lunch every day and giving her money and medication for family back home. She works as a translator with two other employees from Haiti. Here she is on Tuesday morning with some of her friends, from left, Deborah Dean, Alain Decade, and Niquette Sengupta.

LILLY ECHEVERRIA/MIAMI HERALD

Support for grieving employees makes a difference

Jean St. Fleur, a cashier in a discount clothing store in downtown Miami, learned her son had been pulled out dead from the rubble in Haiti. Overwhelmed, she went to work in tears, torn between grieving and keeping her job. But the store owner's response surprised St. Fleur. ``He told me, go do what you need to do for a few days. Your job will still be here.'' He even advanced her pay.

BALANCING ACT

There are ways to find a mentor

Recently, a friend called me, frustration in her voice. She wants to move up the career ladder but feels no one in her office has the time or interest to groom her.
BALANCING ACT

Seniors struggle to rebound from unemployment

At age 69, Mario Gutierrez arrives at the Pepsi Bottling facility at 5 a.m. and ends his work day about 12 hours later. While traditional retirement age was four year ago, for Gutierrez it's not even in his near-term vision.
BALANCING ACT

New year is a good time to get organized

If I asked a random group of American workers how they felt coming out of 2009, I'm pretty sure what they would say -- exhausted. So how do we shake that feeling in 2010?
BALANCING ACT

For 2010, make realistic work/life balance goals

Coaches and other experts weigh in on whether some typical career goals are attainable in 2010.
BALANCING ACT

2009: For workers and employers, a yearlong high-wire act

This was a year American workers needed the sharp reflexes of circus performers. We had to jump and grab onto whatever semblance of work/life balance -- or a job -- that might come our way.
Employees seek second jobs amid economic woes

With employees suffering from salary cuts or other financial woes, many are considering second jobs. But it's best to clear it with the boss first.
BALANCING ACT

Holiday ballet rehearsals require a real balancing act

Parents of aspiring ballet stars struggle to maintain work schedules and get their kids to rehearsals on time.
BALANCING ACT

Employers struggle to decide who gets holiday time off

It's the time when Jaime Franqui becomes the most popular and most hated guy at his workplace. He's the guy with final say over vacation schedules for about 40 workers at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston.
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

Prepare business to grow, women are told

Speakers at a conference for women entrepreneurs urged their listeners to get ready now for the coming economic recovery.
WORK/LIFE BALANCING ACT

E-mail marketing is growing stronger

Whether to draw customers to stores or to promote events, e-mail marketing has become a key tool for small or big businesses.
BALANCING ACT

Couple clears clutter before wedding

His e-mail entry to our Balance Makeover contest arrived as an SOS: ''Help! I write a list every night and stress about it until I fall asleep.''
BALANCING ACT

Organizer helps family conquer clutter

I want to join the conversation taking place in Pamela Fero's living room. But to make room for myself on the couch I must push aside Christmas lights, bags of beads, kids' school papers and toy trains. I clear a spot just big enough for my rear to hang over the edge of the cushion.