Workplace Buzz: Today’s Headlines

“Never Let a Man Think You’re Smarter”
Perhaps smart women can take hope — as long as they’re built like Marilyn Monroe. Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Pittsburgh have released a zany study on the zaftig, positing that men are drawn to hourglass figures not only because they look alluring, but because hips plumped up by omega-3 fatty acids could mean smarter women bearing smarter kids. Catalyst, an organization that studies women in the workplace, found that women who behave in ways that cleave to gender stereotypes — focusing on collegiality and relationships — are seen as less competent. But if they act too macho, they are seen as “too tough” and “unfeminine.” New York Times

One State’s Workplace Law
On Tuesday, Oregon issued rules to help businesses comply with a new law requiring employers to grant unpaid leave to workers who need the time to seek legal help, pursue a court order or move out of a home to get away from a violent partner. The rules come six months after the Legislature passed the leave bill, making Oregon only the ninth state with such a measure. Gov. Ted Kulongoski quickly signed it and made it effective immediately, and he has since directed state agencies to establish domestic-violence policies by February. Oregonlive.com

Cable Provider Given Honors for Focusing on Women’s Issues
For the fifth year in a row, Cox Communications Inc. sits atop the list of cable providers when it comes to women in the workplace. Women in Cable Telecommunications, an organization that tracks issues relating to women in the industry, ranked Cox ahead of other cable operators, including Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable. The award was part of the 2007 Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities and Resources initiative, a partnership between the women's group and Working Mother Media. Oxygen Media was named the best programmer for women in cable. Phoenix Business Journal