Work life balance the key to happy and healthy workplaces
Issue Date: - Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Western Australian businesses are being urged to consider flexible employee working arrangements as a means of retaining skilled workers during the labour shortage.
Nationally renowned work/life balance expert, Professor Barbara Pocock, Director of the Centre for Work and Life at the University of South Australia, said a flexible workplace was often underestimated as an attraction and retention strategy for businesses.
Speaking at the Fair Employment Forum in Perth last night hosted by Western Australia’s Fair Employment Advocate, Professor Pocock shared her research findings on work, time and life.
“A recent survey of Australians shows that work spills into life for most of us and this has important implications for health, families and time.
“Changes at work which result in less say over working time are having important effects on workers with caring responsibilities,” Professor Pocock said.
Fair Employment Advocate Helen Creed said Professor Pocock was invited to speak at the public forum since aspects of work/life balance were an integral part of any fair workplace.
“This is not a new concept but unfortunately, there is still a gap between the theory and the reality of work/life balance in many organisations.
“This implementation gap as is it sometimes known stops both employees and employers getting the most out of work/life balance initiatives.”
Ms Creed said what is needed to overcome the implementation gap is more cultural change within organisations.
Eighty people attended the forum.