Friday 19 September 2008
Work-life balance key to retain skilled employers
CONVERGE International says the work-life balance is even more important than salary in attracting and retaining staff.
The record low unemployment levels in Australia and skills shortages mean employers have to pay more attention to the wellbeing of their workers. A successful balance between work and life can help retain talent.
While Australians work some of the longest hours in developed countries, surveys by the company have found 47% of workers rate work-life balance as ‘very important’, and another 32% see it as ‘important’.
An imbalance in work and life can reduce quality of life, tear apart relationships and communities, and cause resentment.
Four work factors can be tweaked to allow for a more flexible fit between work and life. These include hours, leave, location and carer assistance.
Flexible working arrangements can include part-time, job sharing, changeable start and finish times, or compressed work weeks.
While everyone gets annual leave, other options include study leave, bereavement leave, parental leave, unpaid leave and holiday purchase.
Although not really applicable to manufacturing jobs, employees could be given the choice to work from home or transfer to a different work location if the employer has multiple facilities.
Most people will need to become a carer at some point in their lives. This temporary role can be made easier if the employer offers options like carer’s leave.
Converge International will be addressing
The Safety Conference on 29 October to explain how businesses can benefit from increased productivity and reduced turnover if they have the right work-life balance strategy in place.
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