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OCTOBER 2024 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 23 Open to flex-work Creating flexible work options where possi- ble, such as remote work or part-time sched- ules, can significantly benefit working parents. e ability to change work arrangements when necessary to adapt to the personal needs of new parents can make a substantial difference in employee satisfaction. An International Labour Organization report suggests that flex- ible working conditions are highly valued by employees and can lead to increased produc- tivity as well as overall job satisfaction 8 . Conclusion Supportive maternity leave policies will allow companies to better support employees and foster a more innovative culture. Prioritiz- ing these policies is essential to attracting and retaining top talent, leading to a company's long-term success. PCB007 References 1. "Google Increases Vacation Days and Parental Leave for Employees," by Hugh Langley, Business Insider, Jan. 21, 2022. 2. "This is how parental leave policies impact the gender gap," by Yukiko Asai, World Economic Forum, Sept. 6, 2019. 3. Women in the Workplace: 2023, a report by McKinsey & Company. 4. Chapter 5: Balancing Work and Family, On Pay Gap, Millennial Women Near Parity, Pew Research Study, Dec. 11, 2023. 5. "Microsoft's Parental Leave Policies: How Do They Work?" Tech Career, Jan. 14, 2014. 6. "To Better Support Working Parents, Talk to Them," by Daisy Dowling, Harvard Business Review, March 24, 2022. 7. "The Power of Empathy in Times of Crisis and Beyond," by Tara Van Bommel, Catalyst. 8. "Flexible work arrangements, a benefit to all— ILO report," UN News, Jan. 6, 2023. Hannah Grace is a process engineer at Texas Instruments and in the IPC Emerging Engi- neer Program. To read past col- umns, click here. Imagine that a set of flexible tactile sensors adheres to the surface of your skin, offering cus- tomizable detection of biomechanical signals from various body parts. That fiction-like super- material is fast weaved into reality. In a recent study published in the journal Sci- ence Advances, researchers from Peking Uni- versity developed a set of flexible, modular tac- tile sensors utilizing 3D micro strain gauges as sensing units, achieving high-density mapping of pressure, wireless monitoring of biomechanical signals, and decoupled measurement of temper- ature, normal force, and shear force. Han Mengdi from Peking University, the corre- sponding author of this paper, has voiced a pos- itive outlook on this work's potential. "These 3D micro strain gauges offer exciting possibilities for developing flexible tactile sensors and electronic skins," Han said. "By transforming planar strain gauges into 3D forms using a process compati- ble with lithographic techniques, we can expand the sensing modality and improve the spatial density in tactile sensing." These 3D micro strain gauges show compat- ibility with both microelectronics and macro- electronics and provide opportunities for poten- tial applications from robotics to biomedicine and consumer electronics. This technological approach enhances the sensing performance and integration solutions of flexible tactile sen- sors, heralding enormous opportunities in micro- electronics and microelectronics. (Source: Peking University) 3D Micro Strain Gauges Promote Sensing Capabilities of Electronic Skins