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4/03/05 WORKPLACE Women enjoy power in the workplace as much as men do, but a new survey shows women use their power differently. Such are the findings from a survey of 421 midlevel and senior-level businesswomen released by the Simmons School of Management. Of those polled, 80 percent said they were comfortable with power and liked what they could accomplish with it. They also said they actively pursued it. In all, 60 percent said they enjoyed the visibility that comes with having personal and professional power. The survey suggests that women are also trying to redefine power. They also see power differently. While their male counterparts are more inclined to associate power with having more people report to them or being able to get the best assignments, many of the women felt that powerful women were able to garner support from co-workers, subordinates and higher-ups. In addition, they said, powerful women build networks and allies that can help them change corporations. "The majority of women were not pursuing power out of personal gain or self interest," said researchers. "70 percent said they wanted power to make positive changes to their organizations, and 84 percent wanted power to ensure business operations were socially responsible." "The most important way the women said they pursue power is by producing results," said the study. In all, 95 percent described themselves as action and results oriented. 92 percent said they formed critical relationships at work, and 90 percent said they built networks or allies. "Smart organizations should look with fresh eyes at their female managers (because) many are exercising power that results in significant benefits to the organization, but often it's in less visible ways," said Deborah Merrill-Sands, dean of the Simmons School of Management. The survey also showed that women with or without children pursue power at the same rate. The poll was conducted by the management school in conjunction with Hewlett-Packard Co. HEALTH Researchers found that cancer survivors who were proactive about their healthcare were more likely to return to work. In fact, about 84 percent of the nation's cancer survivors return to their old jobs, according a study by Pennsylvania State University. The study focused on 1,433 adults 25- to 62-years-old who were working at the time they were diagnosed. All were interviewed about their jobs and disability status within two to five years after they began treatment. The survey respondents included people with various types of cancer, except skin cancer. "One of the reassuring findings from this study is that encouraging people to get mammograms to detect breast cancer and tests to check for prostate cancer has clearly had a positive effect," said Pamela Farley Short, a professor of health policy, administration and demography who led the study. "People diagnosed early with these cancers usually have a good qualify of life four to five years after treatment, including being fully employed," Short said. The researchers also found that 41 percent of men and 39 percent of women stopped working while receiving cancer treatments. Most returned to work during the first year of treatment, the report said. In all, one employee out of eight quit work because of cancer within four years after being diagnosed. The highest job resignation rates were among those with breast, uterine, prostate or thyroid cancers. ECONOMY Asked to rank the health of the national economy on a scale of one to 10, financial executives gave it a six. The response is the same as the one they gave when polled in the last quarter of 2004. In all, 1,400 chief financial officers at companies with at least 20 workers were polled about the state of the US economy by Robert Half Management Resources, a placement firm for senior accounting and financial executives. Researchers found that financial executives at small firms are more optimistic about the nation's economic health than big companies. 24 percent of the executives at companies with 50 to 99 workers were highly optimistic, with a score of 8 on the 10-point scale. Only 16 percent of executives at companies with 1,000 or more workers gave the same score. "Business activity is accelerating for many companies as the economy shows signs of sustainable growth," said Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources. "But executives remain conservative, their enthusiasm tempered by memories of the recent downturn." BOOKS A new book offers advice for employees who dread an annual workplace ritual: formal appraisals. Called the Performance Appraisal Handbook: Legal and Practical Rules for Managers, (March 2005, NOLO Publishing, $29.99) the book by employment lawyer Amy DelPo offers the following tips: First, workers need to feel that the environment they work in is fair, with support, communication and collaboration, says DelPo. Second, she said, they need to feel they are respected. "You can follow every step in the handbook, but if you don't imbue your efforts with a fundamental respect for your employees, you will fail," she said. "Employees who feel respected are more likely to buy into the system." DelPo also advises that companies keep copies and document all meetings regarding the formal appraisal. "Documentation spanning the entire appraisal period ensures that your review will be fair and accurate and gives you rock solid support in case of a lawsuit," she said. DelPo also says employees should participate in the appraisal by writing job descriptions, identifying their own goals and standards, and assessing how well they have performed or met the firms requirements and measurements. Diane E. Lewis can be reached at .
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