The core elements of a work-life strategy
Your work-life strategy should contain some of the following
tried and tested components. Adopt the pattern and mix that best matches
the make-up of your workforce.
Flexible working patterns
The following working patterns have been tried and tested by employers
and proven to work. Introduce the options that best suit your type
of business and staff:
- Flexitime - variable start and finish
times
- Compressed work week - working full-time hours
in 4 days
- Part-time working - working less than full-time
contractual hours
- Job sharing - where two people split one job
- Annualised hours - allows flexible working
patterns throughout the year
- Teleworking or home working - working remotely
or from home
- Term-time working - working only during school
terms
Personal work-life balance
Individual development plans and appraisals allow companies to review
work-life balance on a regular basis, to plan ahead for busy periods
and make adjustments before problems arise:
- Individual development plans and regular appraisals
- Coaching or mentoring - can be done by colleagues
or by external providers
- An ‘open door’ approach to problems
- common in SMEs; establish good guidelines so that business
and personal needs can be met
Leave options
In addition to statutory minimum requirements relating to holiday
leave, parental leave, time off for dependants and maternity leave,
you can opt for:
- Enhanced leave, such as:
- Paid paternity leave
- Additional forms of leave, such as:
- Career breaks for carers
- Study leave
- Additional holiday leave in lieu of pay or
other employee benefits
Carer support
In addition to flexible working patterns and additional leave, you
can help employees with caring responsibilities in the following ways:
- Information on local care providers
- Sponsorship of local day care centres
- Loans or allowances to help pay for eldercare
- Childcare vouchers
To find out more about all work-life options and provisions,
see our jargon buster.
Where to next?
Develop
work-life policies that are right for your business
Why work-life balance? The business benefits
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