Work Life Balance Day 2007

Minister Killeen launches initiatives to assist Work Life Balance at enterprise level

Speaking at an event in the Mansion House to mark Work Life Balance Day, Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen today (Thursday 1^st March 2007) launched two initiatives aimed at assisting Work Life Balance at enterprise level. The event was hosted by the National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies.

The first initiative will see funding for consultancy support to facilitate work life balance within enterprises. A panel of suitably qualified consultants is to be established. Businesses will be able to benefit from their support, funded by the Work Life Balance Committee, for training and advice in developing new work life balance initiatives and to review and further develop existing work life balance arrangements.

The second initiative launched by the Minister is a guide entitled Work Life Balance: A Planned and Systematic Approach at Enterprise Level. The guide provides practical advice aimed at assisting employers and employees in developing a planned and systematic approach to work life balance.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the ability to provide a high quality of working life distinguishes an employer of choice from its competitors.

“There is an increased need for flexibility in the workplace and both business and employees have to be able to adapt to new ways of working. I see work-life balance initiatives as an integral part of the drive for enterprises to become more flexible and innovative, ” the Minister said.

“I am convinced that the two initiatives launched today will facilitate employers and employees in jointly addressing the challenges of work-life balance in a structured way,” the Minister added.

Speakers at the event included Sally Anne Kinahan, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Tony Donohoe, Director of Education and Social Policy, IBEC, and Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority who discussed the case for work life balance. Guests also heard from Rob Anderson, Research Manager in the European Foundation for Improved Living and Working Conditions, who spoke about the EU experience and Stephen Bevan from the Work Foundation in the UK who spoke on the theme of ‘work life balance – rhetoric or reality?

Sally Anne Kinahan, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, speaking at the Work Life Balance Day event said  “While much valuable work has been undertaken through the National Framework Committee on Work-Life Balance, Congress believes real progress will only come about through enshrining the right to flexible working in law. This would mean workers would have the right to request at least one flexible working option, which the employer would be legally-bound to consider and could only refuse where he/she can provide a compelling business case.”

“Competition is intense for talented and motivated employees and with that in mind, many employers are taking innovative steps to help staff balance their work and non-working lives,” says Tony Donohoe, IBEC’s Director of Education and Social Policy. “Employers who offer flexibility to staff find that they attract applications from a wider and more diverse pool of talent. The people they recruit are better motivated, contribute to the full extent of their ability and remain with their employer for longer periods of time.”

Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority, stated that " during 2007 it would be valuable if the focus on work life balance could include a commitment to addressing three core challenges in the work of promoting work life balance working arrangements: The first is to support companies to develop and implement work life balance arrangements that respond to business imperatives as well as contributing to employee well being and workplace equality; The second is to support companies to be planned and systematic in their approach to work life balance; The final challenge is to promote a policy context that is supportive of work life balance for all employees."

The event which was attended by employer and employee representatives, was hosted by the National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies. For further information on the Committee, contact the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Secretary to the Committee) at 01 6313281 or visit www.worklifebalance.ie.

ENDS

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