"Little Ones @ Work" brings 1,200 children to work
26 June 2009
Media Release
1 Rapid economic and technological changes and growing competitive pressures at the workplace have heightened the tension and added to the stress experienced by working women and men who struggle daily to find a sane balance between their work and family commitments. The current economic crisis has exacerbated these concerns as many workers feel compelled to work longer hours or take on more responsibilities for fear of losing their jobs in the event that their companies decide to downsize. Under these circumstances, work life balance strategies and programmes become even more critical
2. Through this ‘Little Ones @ Work’ programme, the NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) will work with our management and union partners to help employees strike a better balance between work and family. This is achieved by encouraging companies to designate at least one day in a year to allow their employees to bring their children to work. Through this initiative, companies are able to see their employees not just as workers but also understand that they have different roles, in particular as parents, and have the opportunity to show their strong support. Employers also benefit when the children develop a greater understanding of their parents’ work thus helping employees to adjust better to work demands.
3. WDS embarked on a pilot series in December last year. During the pilot run, staff of three companies: CapitaLand Group (Ascott Singapore Raffles Place), HSL Constructor Pte Ltd and TransitLink Pte Ltd had their children visiting them at their respective workplaces. The programme received very encouraging responses from companies and their employees. About 200 staff and 100 children benefitted from the programme last year.
4. This year, to coincide with the annual National Family Celebrations during the June school holidays, 20 companies from both the private and public sectors across all industries will be participating in the launch of the ‘Little Ones @ Work’ programme. A total of about 1,200 children are expected to visit their parents at work to have a first-hand taste of their parents’ work and to take a peek at their workplaces
5. Partnering DBS and with the support of the DBS Staff Union (DBSSU), WDS will roll out the ‘Little Ones @ Work’ at the bank’s head office at Shenton Way on 26 June 2009. Close to 400 children will be turning up at their parents’ workplace—the highest turn-out rate for this run. DBS hopes to foster family bonding through this programme by opening up their offices to its staff’s children.
6. "As a bank rooted in Asia, we believe that strong family ties have always been at the heart of society. The ‘Little Ones @ Work' initiative enables us to recognise and salute the steadfast support of our staff and their families. It also underscores DBS' belief that children hold the key to Asia's future," added Ms Karen Ngui, Managing Director & Head, Group Strategic Marketing & Communications.
7. In conclusion, the launch of this ‘Little Ones @ Work’ programme will add to the list of initiatives that the NTUC WDS has undertaken in order to promote work life balance and encourage employers to offer more family-friendly programmes to their employees
8. We are encouraged by the very good response that we have received to this programme and we believe that it is because companies see its value. As one company that had earlier participated in this programme puts it, “It is a win-win programme for everyone. A happy family is a happy employee and a group of happy employees is a productive workforce as well as a performing and united company”.
Mdm Halimah Yacob
Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC
Director, NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat
