Explicitly and without apology a marketing vehicle MaryMaryQuiteContrary

Sun has a program called Open Work. 

It supports our employee base in getting a great deal of flexibility with respect to where, when and how we work. 

I've been participating in this program for 8 years -- before it actually had the Open Work moniker.

(Speaking of monikers, really neat insight into how Java got its name on Jonathan's blog. That's worth checking out.)

We digress... back to Open Work...

I work from a flexible office, on the road, at home, or wherever I happen to be.

Through this program, more than 14,000 employees around the world work from home or in a flexible office up to two days week, and approximately 2,800 do so between three and five days a week. This represents close to 50% of our employee population.

There are so many reasons to love this program.

Sun's Open Workers spare the environment 1.17 tons of CO₂ emissions through reduced commuting.

But the number one reason I love it today hits a lot closer to home.

Today was the first day of school.

And as you (regular) readers know, I am a happilly married working mother of three school-age children.

Today, I worked from home.

Which meant when my kids walked in the door after their first day of school was done, I was here.

I went into the living room to sit with them for a few mins and find out how their day went.

My fourth grader had a really good day.

She was so happy and excited and eager to tell me the story of how things went. She jumped from couch to couch to coffee table to couch and for 20 mins she talked non-stop, the whole time jumping from couch to couch and never touching the floor.

These 20 minutes were the most precious part of my day today.

The fear and anxiety my kid had in the morning melted into great joy, excitement and anticipation.

I got to be part of that thanks to Open Work.

What a gift.

What an incredible and precious gift.

I'm grateful for it.

Mary