HR Policy - Family/Leisure Pressures on the Work Environment
During the late 80's and throughout the 90's we have generally all experienced the development of our roles where we have been forced to do more with less. We are expected to work longer hours, work harder (more productively), have a broader range of skills and be acceptable to change. Further, even if we do not take work home (lap tops and files etc.) we may still be on call via mobile phones and pagers.
The current work environment is certainly not what was projected only a few years ago. The increasing development and usage of advancements in technology was apparently going to make all our jobs easier with predictions that the workforce would be more flexible and have a greater amount of leisure time. This has not been the case at all, as the average working week has in fact increased rather than declined.
Additionally, large-scale company restructuring and re-engineering programmes have meant most employees now work longer and harder with less support. Managers are also faced with a doubling of the numbers of employees reporting to them.
Because organisations are leaner, they need to recruit, train and retain a highly skilled, flexible and more mobile workforce. However, herein lies the difficulties faced by many organisations. On the one side, the organisation requires flexible and mobile employees, yet on the other side, employees are more conscious of family and life-issues as much as work and career issues.
There are increasing instances of employees facing the pressure of not only raising a family but also taking on responsibility for the care of elderly parents as well as an increasing number of dual-career couples. Both of these add to the complexity and difficulty for employers when designing HR Policies.
What do you do?
- As employers we need to acknowledge what is important to employees (e.g. family and leisure time), and adapt policies and the company philosophy accordingly
- We need to understand the link and impact between work and family/leisure activities
- We should evaluate and implement a range of relevant programmes that cater for the workplace and take account of employee's needs
- We need to understand the impact of both work and family pressures on employees and how this should be managed
- HR Policies may need to be reviewed to allow greater flexibility in how and when employees complete work assignments.
If you acknowledge what is important to your employees and develop strategies accordingly, you are more likely to secure a better-balanced workforce, which in turn will positively impact directly on your bottom line.
