Work-life balance ‘win-win situation for employers’

BUSINESSES need to allow employees to strike a balance between their working and personal lives, according to employers’ group IBEC.

Director general Turlough O’Sullivan said policies to help employees achieve balance in their lives were crucial and that IBEC was strongly in favour of the idea. Mr O’Sullivan’s comments came on Work-Life Balance Day, which took place yesterday.

He said successful work-life balance policies presented businesses and employees with a “win-win” situation. Such policies would make workplaces more attractive and help businesses to recruit and retain staff.

“Work-life balance policies can help to attract the best and the brightest, which will encourage continued growth and development of business,” he said.

Work-Life Balance Day allows employers, trade unions and employee representatives to come together to promote work-life balance through information briefings and competitions.

The event was organised by the National Framework Committee for Work-Life Balance and was originally set up by the social partners under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

Mr O’Sullivan said Irish businesses faced the challenge of developing policies that would contribute to workplace effectiveness, while facilitating employees who wished to pursue other interests outside work. These included taking further education courses, caring for children or the elderly, or experiencing other cultures.

But the policies needed to be formulated in the context of an organisation’s overall business strategy that reflected the reality of the individual workplace, he said.

“These personal choices and opportunities ultimately contribute to economic development and competitiveness, reduce reliance on state benefits by increasing social inclusion and provide a more diverse and dynamic workplace,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

IBEC has produced guidelines, training materials and briefing documents to promote the concept of work-life balance among its members.