Let’s Look at Work Life Balance

The following notes were live blogged from my Blackberry (given this, they may not be as complete as possible as my fingers could only type so fast!) at the WorkLife BC Forum 2008.  These are key highlights from the presentation by Tamara Vrooman, CEO, VanCity.

• What works well? What does’t work?
• VanCity – flexibility – purchase extra care days for family support. Employees really like this. Flexibilty around child care. Purchase spaces at centres around lower mainland. Not working so well.
• Try to hire local people who don’t have to commute across the lower mainland. Reduce commute times help to acheive balance. Employees are relocating to closer branches. This has been good for business as employees have more balance and contacts in the community.
• Small things pay big.
• Support – health and wellness programs, spiritual wellness. Talking and having stories shared among employees. Expecting parents and outreach clinics. This works well.
• Leadership is missing. Employee engagement scores are in mid to high seventies. Except in worklife balance. What is happening? There is a problem with communication and this is being fixed.  What appears to be happening is that the actions of management don’t match the message about flexibility. They are working on this.
• People feel pressure to balance work with life. Management that walks the talk gives employees the permission they need to walk the talk.
• Make leadership roles transparent. Show employees that work life balance is a good idea and demonstrate this.

The following are notes that I took and live blogged from my Blackberry (given this, they may not be as complete as possible as my fingers could only type so fast!) during the WorkLife BC Forum that was held in BC earlier today.  This is from the presentation by Cameron Herold, Founder of BackPocket COO.

• Focus on creating an amazing culture.
  Think three years out. Write down your painted picture. Let people know where you are going. Describe everything how you see it in the future.
  Read The Secret this quarter.
  Like attracts like. Like repels the opposite of like.
  Some people won’t get your vision. Good let them go.
  Elder care is critical and looming.
  Create alignment to your painted picture. Everyone is clear where you are going.
  People need time to refuel. Give them downtime and flexibility. Vacation is good.
  The Duck – figure out the decoy to attract people.
  Recruit people who have the same vision and values.
  Challenge the status quo. Create change.
  Look for the sparkle in people’s eyes.
  Let go people who are not in alignment.
  Good to Great – Get the right people on the bus.
  Workaholics can have balance.
  Culture needs to attract employees. Bring the bees to the honey.
  Get rid of private offices. Get out of your office. Be approachable.
  Interaction is key.
  Think about the values you raised your 20 something children. They were raised to challenge authority. Embrace that.
  Hit people with your culture.
  Create a blue sky room.
  Think about the work environment. – Connect your senior staff to employees. This builds great culture.
  Who says you cannot have fun? – Look at companies where no one quits.
  It is not a tight labour force. Take the employees away from the companies that don’t get it.
  Borrow from other companies….look at what they are doing to solve your problems.
  Let people go who are right but in the wrong set. Let them go with respect.
  Allow employees to be themselves.
  101 Goals from the Dream Manager. Help your employees achieve their dreams and they will never leave. We will help you make it come true.
  Give employees their bonus now. Mentor employees. Care about people’s lives.
  Hire a dream manager. Help people move on to other organizations to meet their dreams.
  MEW – management by walking around. You don’t need to be in a suit.
  First date dress code
  Don’t shoot the messenger. Listen, Listen, ask questions. Don’t shut people down.
  Huddle – seven minutes to connect. What’s broken, not working. Same time every day.
  Go for lunch and don’t talk business.
  Run and play while you work.
  Booze fairy. One drink. Put some rules in place.
  Look for little things. Recognize the right stuff. Random acts of kindness.
  Random celebrations.
  Drink the cultural koolaid. Add drops everyday.
  That’s it!