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.
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