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IR perspectives - Summer 2008

Work-life balance coming to a workplace near you

A new strategy to help Queensland employers and their workers enjoy the benefits of work-life balance policies was launched recently at a forum of public and private sector employers seeking to retain or lure experienced workers.

The strategy, developed by the Work and Family Unit in the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations will help employers ensure their work-life balance policies work better for them and their employees, giving them a greater edge attracting and retaining employees.

Dr Marjolein Broers, a senior policy officer at the unit, said that at a time when changing demographics and an ageing workforce were causing labour and skills shortages across the country, it was initiatives like the work-life balance strategy that will help Queensland employers and employees.

The strategy will improve worker’s ability to balance their work and personal lives, providing employers with more dedicated, focussed and productive employees. Employees will want to move to, and remain with, businesses that provide proper access to attractive work-life balance policies.

While all economies have been hit by the sub-prime crisis to some extent, labour and skills shortages have and will in the future continue to affect productivity. Utilising work-life balance policies can help lure workers to Queensland employers and boost their satisfaction levels so that retaining staff is less of a problem.

Dr Broers said the recent forum of public and private sector employers heard how the new strategy had been developed to help any employer in the state wanting to bolster their work-life balance policies—at little to no cost.

Dedicated officers in the department will be available to help employers improve on their current work-life balance policies through proper implementation so that employees can actually use these policies.

Information to assist Human Resources (HR) and Industrial Relations (IR) managers improve uptake of work-life balance policies can be found on the departments’ website and a number of resources for both the private and public sector also will be developed as part of the strategy.

For more information visit www.deir.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 945.


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