Originally posted on 2002/06/28 Robyn's Comments:
I came across the next contributor through the book she co-wrote with Susan Biggs. It really gave me hope that some companies are starting to think about this whole issue in a more creative and proactive way. Even though many of the examples in the book are Australian, the message is relevant in every country.
"I'm passionate about work and personal life balance because I believe that through striving to achieve balance in our lives we come closer to reaching our potential as human beings.
Men and women of all ages want greater balance in their lives. In an international survey of more than 1200 business students from thirty universities in ten countries, overwhelmingly what the students wanted was to have a balanced lifestyle and a rewarding life outside work. The increasing trend toward employees seeking work and personal life balance has also been found in organisational surveys where the majority of people surveyed would choose increased flexibility even at the cost of career advancement and would turn down a promotion if it meant spending less time with their families.
In our book, "Time On, Time Out! Flexible Work Solutions to Keep Your Life in Balance," we offer information and strategies for negotiating the work/life balance people are looking for, including detail on how flexible arrangements work and case studies of successful individuals and organisations.
Progressive organisations are acting on the knowledge that their people are the key to success. These workplaces realize the business imperative and the huge financial benefits of successfully implementing flexible practices including improved morale and performance, increased commitment, staff retention, decreased absenteeism, stress reduction and competitive recruiting.
Common characteristics to be found in these best practice organisations are supportive workplace cultures, good management practices and leadership committed to the flexible workplace. For example, AMP is an award winning company in the work and family area. MD, Ray Greenshields, said to me "the most powerful tool at our disposal in achieving business success is becoming an employer of choice and focusing on people."
An example of the flexible work practices at AMP is the Advisor Technology Helpdesk team, who have been working effectively from home for the past four years. Half of the team is at home one week and the other half of the team are at home the second week. So each person works a week at home then a week in the office. That team has reported a 20 percent increase in productivity. No one has resigned from that team since they started this practice, and that is quite unusual, this kind of work tends to have about an 18 month turn around. A survey of the people working in the team found that they find working in this way extremely valuable. The Diversity Manager, Belinda Curtis said "they wouldn't give it up for anything. They've got a very good team spirit and it's working very well both for them personally and for the company."
To obtain the free newsletter, "Flexibility Update," and for lots more information on flexible work practices check out my website - http://www.flexibility.com.au
