**Scroll down to the comments section to see the conversation from our 9/2/2010 evening blog chat. And of course, you can still join the conversation by asking questions and typing your comments in the comment box. Hit "Submit Comment" and join our Q&A!**

Have you been there?  Frustrated that it's nearly impossible to excel at work (and home!) because the structure of your workplace doesn't fit your life?

Too many of us are banging our heads against the wall these days.

Despite the workplace crunch that many of us face, there's good news.  An increasing body of research shows that flexible, custom-fit workplace practices help people excel both at work and at home, while also helping businesses boost the bottom line.

To get the word out about this new research, as well as to fan the fire of a national conversation on the topic, MomsRising co-founder, Joan Blades, and Nanette Fondas, MomsRising executive blog editor, have written a new book called The Custom-Fit Workplace. In coordination with the publication of the book, today MomsRising is launching our blog carnival to highlight posts and articles from around the Web that describe the many ways businesses can make a shift toward maximizing productivity and make everyone's lives better.

Good workplace practices will help America become a family-friendly nation, while improving employer  bottom lines and efficiency. And we need them!  Our public policies are stuck in the 1950s, despite the fact that we have a modern labor force now that's 50% women.  But discrimination against mothers is also cultural.  Even though study after study has shown that mothers are great workers, most individual workplaces and businesses fail to meet the needs of families in how work itself is structured.

This blog carnival kicks off a national social media discussion about rethinking work, workplace practices and structures, and how families, workers and employers can thrive in the changing work worlds of the 21st century. Check out the links below and leave your thoughts in the comments below! We look forward to hearing from you.

Why "Fit" Matters and Makes a Big, Meaningful Difference, Cali Williams Yost

The Dignity of Work: Transforming the One-Size-Fits-All Workhouse into a Custom-Fit Workplace, Robert Fuller

Start Up A Conversation in Your Community!, Jessica Glenn

Back To Work? Not So Fast..., John de Graaf

Unions and the Four Hour Work Week, Jenya Cassidy

Organizational flexibility fosters employee creativity and commitment, Gabriela Melano, Ed.D

Help Create A Babies-At-Work World, Carla Moquin

At Last: A Win-Win for Employers and Employees, Barbara Miller

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce: Understanding the Needs of Working Women and Their Families, Andrea Lindemann

Not All Moms Want to Work Less, Laura Vanderkam

How to Avoid the No.1 Cause of "Death" in Your Organization- the Death of Motivation, Ian Blei

But That's Impossible!, Joan C. Williams

Work Life Policy: Pipedream or Practical?, Judy Martin

We're Not Asking For The Moon, Chrysula Winegar

The Best-Kept Secret?, Sue Bingham

Does Flex Time Lead to Better Health?, New York Times blogs, Tara Parker-Pope

Building a Flexible Workplace, Catalyst.org writing at WomensMedia.com

Obamas tout benefits of a flexible workplace, Washington Post, Joe Davidson

The advantages of having a flexible workplace, The Times (UK), Alison Maitland

A flexible workplace is a happier, healthier workplace, Huffington Post, Annie Toro

Making My Job Work For Me, Working Moms Against, Guilt, Cara

Telecommuting During Tough Times, New York Times Motherlode blog

Benefits of Virtual Employees, Newborn Rodeo

Unravelling the myths of job sharing, Management Issues, Nic Paton

Study: The Unexpected Benefits of Telecommuting, Bnet.com, Dave Johnson

The Benefits of Working from Home, WorkAwesome.com, Ana da Silva

Bringing Your Baby to Work, New York Times Motherlode blog, Lisa Belkin

Jailed for Taking Kids to Jury Duty, New York Times Motherlode blog, Lisa Belkin

Bringing Babies to Work, Time.com, Tiffany Sharples

Parents Discover Babies in the Workplace Gaining Acceptance, Workforce.com, Jessica Marquez

Day care's new frontier: Your baby at your desk, USA Today, Stephanie Armour

Bringing Up Baby at Work - Babies in the Workplace, Women Issues (About.com), Linda Lowen

The Not-for-Profit Lane, A Guide to Changing Lanes, Jane Jelenko

Mommy-Tracking at Goldman Sachs: A Disconnect Between Expectations and Reality, The Mama Bee

Growing Industry Helps Moms Relaunch Careers, Alternet, Kara Alaimo

One-Third of Women Fleeing the Workforce, Forbes, Jenna Goudreau

Results Oriented Work Environment (ROWE) in the US Capitol, Your (Wo)man in Washington

Smashing the Clock, BusinessWeek, Michelle Conlin

Best Buy's Results Oriented Work Environment, a Workplace Revolution in the Making, Don Loper

Flexible Work in a Recession, New York Times Motherlode blog, Lisa Belkin

Read His Lips: Workplace Flex Not A Women's Issue, Women and Work, Morra Aarons-Mele