Family Friendly Workplace Day Tánaiste urges employers and employees to realise the full potential of family friendly working arrangements Benefits for employers and employees New Website www.familyfriendly.ie launched

The Tánaiste today (Thursday 1st March, 2001) encouraged employers, employees and their representatives to use the opportunity provided by the first Family Friendly Workplace Day which she described as "a great initiative aimed at promoting family friendly working arrangements." Family Friendly Workplace Day, is supported by ICTU, IBEC and the Equality Authority and is an initiative of the National Framework Committee established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

Speaking at at the launch of a new website, www.familyfriendly.ie and information brochure, entitled ‘An Introduction to Family Friendly Working Arrangements’ the Tánaiste said "Family-friendly working arrangements are in the interests of employers, and employees because they contribute to the needs of the business as well as meeting the needs of employees with family responsibilities. For employers the benefits include: retention of skilled staff; reduced absenteeism; improved productivity and a a more highly motivated workforce. They also assist employers in being seen as an ‘Employer of Choice’, an important factor in the current tight labour market. Employees on the other hand benefit through having greater opportunities to better balance their working and family lives; greater equality of opportunity between men and women; and a fairer sharing of family responsibilities between men and women".

The website and brochure launched today are aimed at promoting family friendly working arrangements by giving practical information and advice. The website outlines the different types of family friendly working arrangements, has a comprehensive series of case studies, a Frequently Asked Questions section and is designed to be an interactive site.

Family friendly working arrangements mean those working patterns and forms of work organisation, outside of the statutory entitlements, which assist workers to combine employment with their family life, caring responsibilities and personal life outside work. There are many different types of family friendly working arrangements, including flexitime, part-time work, job sharing, term time, e-working, career breaks and paternity leave. In addition to these voluntary arrangements at enterprise level, there are statutory entitlements to maternity leave, adoptive and parental leave.

The Tánaiste also referred to other proposed family friendly legislation, The Carer’s Leave Bill, 2000 and the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Bill, 2000 which are currently going through the legislative process. The Tánaiste said that, "when the Carer’s Leave Bill, 2000 becomes law it will provide a significant statutory right for employee’s to avail of 65 weeks’ carer’s leave. The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Bill, 2000 provides for the removal of discrimination against part-time workers and will improve the quality of part-time work. The Bill when enacted will ensure that part-time workers may not be treated less favourably than full-time workers".

The Tánaiste also spoke of the steps taken by her own Department which employs over 900 staff. She announced the following initiatives as part her Department’s support for Family Friendly Workplace Day and commitment to family friendly working arrangements:

• the establishment of a Work Options Unit;
• the launching of an E-working Pilot Scheme;
• the allocation of £7,000 for a crèche Research Project;
• all staff are being encouraged to leave the Office no later than 5.30pm today.

"These are in addition to the family friendly working arrangements that already exist in my Department."

In conclusion the Tánaiste said, "Today is just the first step aimed at supporting and facilitating family friendly policies in the workplace. I would urge employers, employees and their representatives to take the opportunity to review, on a partnership basis, their existing family friendly working arrangements and where appropriate to modernise those arrangements and also develop new arrangements. For employers who do not have family friendly working arrangements, today offers the perfect opportunity to address the issue in partnership with employees and trade unions".

The information brochure is available on request from the Equality Authority, Clonmel Street, Dublin 2. Telephone 4173333, Lo-Call 1890 245545. E-Mail: info@equality.ie