The Role Of Work In Life's Balance
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday March 17, 2005
Business surveys show that companies across Australia are finding it increasingly difficult to attract suitable workers. The skills squeeze is forcing some to consider the enhancement of conditions for employees, especially the critical balance between work and other areas of their lives. Joining the fray is the Australian Computer Society, which has released its thoughts on how to attract and retain skilled workers in the information and communications technology industry, which it admits has a reputation for "break down and burn out". It recommends core working hours of 10am to 3pm and allowing workers to choose early starts or late finishes around these times.
This useful contribution to the work-life debate presents an attractive option to working parents who find it difficult balancing breakfast meetings and late-night conferences with school and child-care schedules. The society also wants full tax deductibility for child care and suggests that workers be allowed access to superannuation to finance parental leave. The needs of workers without child-rearing responsibilities are included with the suggestion that all employees be encouraged to pursue fitness and other extracurricular activities, even walking the dog. That these proposals are coming from an industry group made up predominantly of small and medium-sized businesses could signify an important turning point in the work-life debate dubbed a "barbecue stopper" by the Prime Minister, John Howard. Rather than emanating from politicians, policy-makers or academics, these policy ideas come from an industry dominated by small firms operating in a highly competitive market place. Many say these types of firms are poorly placed, compared with larger companies, to offer workers more flexibility. But faced with a dwindling pool of skilled workers, the Computer Society report indicates some industries now acknowledge they have no choice but to explore ways of making life easier for staff. There is no easy way to reduce the high work demands faced by many employees in a competitive domestic and global economy. Changing work cultures is notoriously difficult. But if the computer industry can successfully implement its new policy and attract top-quality employees in the process, other industries will follow, especially if Australia's skills deficit worsens. The tightening labour market is strengthening the bargaining hand of skilled workers. Employers can get on the front foot or be run over by the rush of workers shifting to superior conditions elsewhere. The choice is theirs.
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald
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