Getting the balance right

The work-life balance expectations of Australian employees are growing and the war for talent has been a catalyst for organisations offering more flexibility than ever, says Cyrus D'Cruz, an executive general manager with Hudson.

Mr D'Cruz adds that the demand for labour is "ferocious" and that this is potentially just the tip of the iceberg, with factors such as the ageing workforce meaning the demand is likely to get more fierce.

A recent survey by Hudson, a recruitment, talent-management and managed-services provider, found that while work-life balance rated highly as a driver of job satisfaction, 42 per cent of respondents said they were not prepared to accept a reduced salary in order to improve their situation.

The survey, of 2100 people in Australia and New Zealand, also found that 47 per cent of respondents rated work-life balance considerations as a trigger that either has, or would, lead them to look for a new job.

The link between work-life options and staff retention is not a new discovery but these results should propel employers to revisit their work-life policies and ensure they are meaningful and valuable, says Mr D'Cruz.

Work-life issues are individual and are not only relevant to parents; they are much broader. Just a few other examples of when such considerations could come into play are if an employee wants to write a book or undertake study.

If you are an employee who does not want to change jobs but desires more work-life balance, Mr D'Cruz advises discussing the matter with your manager or human resources representative. Explain which policies work for you, he suggests, and list others that would also be helpful - thus approaching the issue with a solution.

Such discussions "could trigger an organisation to make changes for the broader employee base", he says, as the alternative could well be that staff search elsewhere for work.

For Guy Robbins, who is from the Melbourne office of IPS Worldwide (a human-resource, risk-management and health-services company), work-life balance means an ongoing, evolving process, with swings and roundabouts depending on a person's needs at different times. A better term than work-life balance to describe what many people strive for, he says, is "personal work-life effectiveness".

Mr Robbins says some of the top work-life options many people seek are flexible working hours and the ability to work from home; different types of flexibility in leave entitlements; and study assistance, often more in terms of time rather than money.

He says organisations are improving their work-life arrangements but it often is a slow process, with larger companies and some government departments leading by example.
Mr Robbins believes work-life balance, or harmony, is emerging as a growing issue for men "as they strive to be better parents. It's more on the radar of men's issues than it ever has been before".

He also says that child care and care of the elderly are growing issues and smart companies will be thinking and planning as to how they can help employees with these responsibilities.

His company's services include an online e-portal - a resource with information about balancing work and life.

Published: 25 August 2007