Work Life Balance, Flexible Work and Part-time Work

Work-life balance – an EEO issue

 

By encouraging work-life balance, employers can broaden their recruitment pool and encourage a more productive and creative workforce. Many organisations are taking a positive and flexible approach to work-life balance and reaping the benefits. Work-life balance initiatives include flexible working hours, support with childcare, health and wellness initiatives, the ability to take extended leave, and job-share option. They all enable people to meet their responsibilities and pursue their interests outside work while making a valuable contribution at work. The EEO Trust recognises and rewards organisations which encourage work-life balance through its annual EEO Trust Work & Life Awards. Find out more.
 
The EEO Trust produces a quarterly Work & Life Bulletin profiling latest news, research, case studies and events related to supporting work-life balance.

 

Background Information

 

The Department of Labour's (DOL's) research on work life balance in New Zealand is a good starting point. DOL surveyed 1100 employers and 2000 employees in 2005.

Quality Flexible Work: An Overview. The Department of Labour consulted with employees and employers on what will best help workers achieve quality flexible work.

Fact Sheet: Work Life Balance in New Zealand. A summary of the Department of Labour's snapshot of employee and employer attitudes and experiences.

Work Life Balance in New Zealand - the full Department of Labour report. Read the full report or download it as a PDF file.

The Business Case for Quality Flexible Working Arrangements - Workplaces describe the benefits flexible work arrangements have brought to their business.  

 

Four case studies of flexible work in practice.  

 

KC Temps/Kirwan Consulting. Flexibility is core business for this recruitment consultancy.

EziBuy Limited. Partnership approach increases flexibility at EziBuy.

Harrison Grierson. Flexibility to recruit and retain staff in a tough market.

EDS New Zealand. Remote working the solution for technology services company.  

 

EEO Trust Research 

 

The EEO Trust does important work around work life balance issues. Quality flexible work was identified as a key incentive towards retaining older workers in the EEO Trust's Work and Age 2006 survey. 

The Trust's Work Life Balance page, subtitled "Tomorrow's Workplaces", offers further perspectives on work life balance, including research, workplace toolkits and information about the EEO Trust Work and Life awards. Read More 

 

 

 Publication or website  If Download Unavailable
 Flexibility Works - Assisting Workplace Flexibility in Retail. Australian website which includes a Model Flexibility Policy  
A Question of Balance: the EEO Trust's 2006 Work and Life awards booklet Human Rights Commission library, Auckland
Online tool for holiday entitlements. Online guidance and calculator from the Department of Labour  


More NEON resources on Work Life Balance, Flexible work & part-time work:
  • View NEON website stories about work-life balance issues
  • Read the EEO's July 2005 submission on the Employment Relations (Flexible Working Hours) Amendment Bill
  • Link to the Resource Page on Work-Life balance issues
    •