Ute Kongsbak, MS CCC

Speech pathologist, OFNHP/professional bargaining unit
Sunnyside Medical Center (Northwest)

"When I hear 'flexibility,' the words of my former kayaking instructor echo in my mind. He impressed on us that, in running a river and its rapids, almost more important than strength is flexibility. It gives you the means to adapt to sudden changes in the river and the flow and come out unscathed, actually making you a stronger boater. Flexibility is what makes running a rapid not only possible, but successful and fun. Since work and life are full of change, working on one's flexibility is the best way to prepare for a successful and enjoyable ride."

Jandel T. Allen-Davis, MD

Associate medical director, External Relations
Colorado Permanente Medical Group

"It's easy to remain flexible if your focus is on meeting our members' and our fellow employees' needs. Flexibility means doing what you have to, to get that job done. As a physician, I've got to be able to pinch hit. There was a night in labor and delivery that we were so busy, we couldn't get the rooms turned around fast enough. I said, 'Give me a bucket and a mop,' and I cleaned three or four rooms myself."

Marie Christie Lopez-Batiste

LVN 2, Harbor City Medical Center (Southern California)
SEIU UHW-West steward and Internal Medicine co-lead

"Sometimes, it's necessary to step back and re-evaluate and question whether we've outgrown our old aims. Maybe our circumstances have changed, rendering our old goals as no longer ideal, or maybe the blueprint we were following is wrong to begin with. Flexibility constantly examines the directions we take. The following quote (source unknown) accurately summarizes my overall feelings: 'It is a wise person that adapts themselves to all contingencies; it's the fool who always struggles like a swimmer against the current.' "

Virginia Rhome

Claims manager
Regional Member Services Call Center (Northern California)

In order to survive in this ever-changing environment, we have to be adaptable and flexible. We need to have flexibility in the scheduling of hours and the number of hours worked, which we can do by shift trades and switching days off, offering overtime and allowing employees to leave early when we are overstaffed. We need to be flexible when employees have unexpected and ongoing personal and family needs....Flexibility is about choices and balance.