21 Apr 2010
In addition to the launch of lunchtime talk Live@Work, WDS' Time Out for a Great Worklife seminar provided employers deeper insights into how worklife integration initiatives at the workplace can help raise productivity and boost the morale of employees.
Employees suffer from stress, burnout and frustrations because they are not able to cope well with the multiple roles that they perform, and this in turn can affect their sense of satisfaction, well being and happiness, which can impact productivity at the workplace. Yet, what it takes to change this hardly requires monumental efforts although strong leadership, a change in corporate culture and effective policies and programmes are needed.
With this in mind, the NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) has been strongly advocating for worklife integration at the workplace under its 3R (Recruit, Re-adjust and Retain) strategy. This year, its aim is to get at least 150 companies on board for its various programmes and initiatives.
NTUC WDS believes that for organisations to be able to successfully retain their talent, and their knowledge and skills, one key way is to implement worklife integration initiatives within the workplace.
To get more employers aware of what they can do to retain their staff, WDS organised a seminar, Time Out for a Great Worklife, on 21 April 2010 that provided deeper insights into how worklife integration initiatives at the workplace can help to raise productivity and boost the morale of employees. Participants were treated to a light-hearted skit on a woman returning to work, and learnt about the benefits of having a well-balanced worklife through sharing by representatives from Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and Fei Yue Community Services. About 150 union officials and management representatives attended the seminar.
NTUC Deputy Secretary-General, Mdm Halimah Yacob, who was the Guest-of-Honour at the event, announced a new worklife initiative, Live@Work, for companies at this seminar.
Live@Work – A New Workplace Worklife Integration Initiative
The Live@Work is a one-hour talk programme which aims to help employees achieve a better worklife. The talk addresses working women’s concerns and how they can set priorities for the different demands they face at work and in the home. They can also pick up tips on how to better balance their multiple roles as a wife, mother and employee, and manage their family time, childcare and finances effectively.
The talk also addresses the men and their concerns on how they can further support their spouses and families with their wives at work. This programme, which targets all levels of employees, is supported by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS). Fei Yue Community Services has been engaged by MCYS to conduct the talks. The cost of the session is $150 but is complimentary for the first 50 companies who can confirm their interest.
WDS carried a pilot run of Live@Work and one of the companies that participated was STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. Ms Geraldine Chay, Section Manager, Internal Communication, CSR & Welfare, STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, said, “The Live@Work talk was a timely reminder for our employees that work commitment, though important, should not be at the expense of our families. We need to learn how to strike a balance between work and family life. This talk provided some good suggestions and interesting husband-wife communication techniques.”
Other Worklife Integration Initiatives
Little Ones @ Work
Since its pilot run in December 2008, WDS’ Little Ones @ Work has seen 39 companies involving some 1,900 children participate in this programme. For 2010, about 41 companies have committed to the programme.
Little Ones @ Work is an exciting and fun avenue for organisations to promote worklife integration at the workplace. It involves getting the children of employees to join their parents at their workplaces for a day. This family-friendly programme usually takes place during the school holidays.
While it is up to the company to organise meaningful activities for their employees and children, NTUC WDS can help by incorporating workshops on healthy living and eating, as well as workshops that promote parent-child bonding through games and activities, into the programme.
The Little Ones @ Work is supported by the Health Promotion Board and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Each organisation can enjoy 50 per cent funding of the actual cost incurred, capped at $500 per company.
Health and weight management
As an extension to promoting healthier living at the workplace, WDS has collaborated with the Health Promotion Board, to introduce a programme to educate and engage employees on the importance of weight management.
WDS hopes to encourage employers to cultivate healthy lifestyle practices among employees, which will then translate to higher productivity, a reduction in unnecessary health-related expenses and a greater morale among employees. Interactive health workshops will be conducted and BMI (body mass index) machines will be made available at the workplaces for employees to use. For this, each participating organisation needs to only pay $100 for the whole programme.
Expanding Flexi Works! Fund – 4,644 part-time & flexi work jobs committed
WDS will also continue efforts to get another 150 companies to tap on the Flexi-Works! Fund1. To date, about 4,644 part-time and flexi work jobs for women have been committed by about 194 employers since the Fund was first launched in 2008.
Conclusion
As Singapore rides the upturn, it is important for employers to implement worklife programmes so that this strategy can help companies retain their talents. This will also strengthen their employees’ loyalty to the organisation. It is only with the support from all sides – families, companies and society – that will help working women be able to fulfil their many roles in the family and at the workplace.
1NTUC WDS is the administrator of the Fund. The objective of the fund is to bring economically inactive individuals back to the workforce by encouraging companies to offer part-time work and other flexible work arrangements. Companies can tap up to $100,000 to help them defray the costs of introducing flexible work arrangements.
