subject: How Will Employers Benefit In Flexible Work In Australia [print this page] Australian employers are now talking about flexible work as it is becoming widely accepted and a hot topic. Flexible work nowadays is not an option but a necessity. Many Australian workers prefer to work flexibly in order to achieve a work life balance. Well, setting aside those legal actions, businesses are appreciating more and more how flexible working can benefit their performance through improved staff motivation and productivity.
Flexible Work Options
There is a reduced growth rate in the working age group in the future, it will be essential that we generate jobs for those who want them including those who are currently unable to find a job at all, or who are looking to increase the hours that they work. It is said that many would prefer a more flexible job offered to them, as will conditions conducive to job creation, such as reducing the amount of regulation imposed on those seeking to negotiate mutually beneficial wages and conditions.
Flexible Working Arrangements
On the journal that is released 1st January 2010, the National Employment Standards (NES) replace the non-pay rate provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard (the Standard).
It is stated under the NES, that eligible employees have a right to request flexible working arrangements to assist them to care for their child.
What's A flexible Working Arrangement?
Based on the 1st January 2010 release, an employee who is a parent or who has responsibility for the care of a child, may request a change in their working arrangements to assist the employee to care for the child.
Examples of changes in working arrangements may include:
changes in hours of work (e.g. reduction in hours worked, changes to start / finish times)
changes in patterns of work (e.g. working split-shifts or job sharing arrangements)
changes in location of work (e.g. working from home or another location).
Retain Your Staffs With Attractive Work options
You can think of better ways in attracting your staffs in providing flexibility where it helps you keep trained, skilled people whose changing circumstances may otherwise have led them to leave. You will maintain a record of higher retention rates of staff and increased return rates from parental leave. If the employer knows how to keep or hold onto its most skilled and experienced people it's good news for everyone part of the workforce.
Motivating Your Staff
One should take consideration in how to booze the Staff morale that would increase your bottom line, productivity and profits. In recent study today, it shows that flexible and enlightened working practices are good for business. When you introduce points about work life balance between the needs of home and work, it will sound to have a win-win for the employee and the employer.
Research by Fair Work Australia in 2011 showed only 3.8 per cent of employers surveyed had considered a request for flexibility under the national employment standards. When asked, most agreed and only 10.8 per cent refused the request outright.
A recent government-initiated review of the Fair Work Act recommended that a broader range of careers and parents in other situations have the right to request leave. But it rejected the introduction of an appeal mechanism.
