Australia Workplaces Offer Flexible Work And Family Policies

Research released today at the Working Families Council shows a sharp increase in the number of Victorian employers offering formal flexible work and family policies.

Minister for Industrial Relations Martin Pakula said the comparative survey of 1,600 companies and organisations from 2006 to 2008 showed that 49.7 per cent of workplaces now formally offer flexible work and family policies.

“In 2006, only 29.5 per cent of workplaces offered flexible work practices,” Mr Pakula said.

“Today nearly half of all companies surveyed are offering flexible leave and work policies.

“This is a significant improvement but shows that work must continue to inform employers about the economic and human benefits of flexible work policies and practices.”

The research note Work and Family Entitlements in Victorian Workplace 2006 to 2008 showed that in 2008:

• the number of companies offering paid maternity leave for non-managerial staff was 31.1 per cent, up from 25.8 per cent in 2006;

• 70.8 per cent of employers provided paid family or carers leave, up from 63.3 per cent;

• 65.3 per cent of workplaces used flex-time arrangements for carers leave up from 43 per cent;

• 86.4 per cent of employers allowed the use of annual or sick leave for family leave; and

• Large workplaces with more than 100 employees had the greatest increase in the provision of formal work and family policies, doubling from 36 percent in 2006 to 72 per cent in 2008.

“This survey provides an overview of Victorian workplaces and their approach to work and family balance,” Mr Pakula said.

“It demonstrates that Victorian employers are increasingly seeing the need for and benefit of flexible polices and practices.

“Policies and practices that promote work and family balance in the workplace are good for employees and also good for business.

“The task now is to continue to work with industry organisations, the Working Families Council, and employers to further encourage the take up of these successful policies.”

The research note Work and Family Entitlements in Victorian Workplace 2006 to 2008 released at today’s meeting of the Working Families Council is derived from The Victorian Workplace Industrial Relations Surveys, and is available at www.ways2work.business.vic.gov.au.

Topics: Australia, Economy, family policies, flexible leave, Governance, human benefits, society, Victoria, Victorian Workplace Industrial Relations Surveys, work policies, Working Families Council, workplace

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