An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, T.D., will launch the second nationwide Family Friendly Workplace Day at the Equality Authority on 1st March 2002. The Family Friendly Workplace is one where workers are assisted in combining employment with their family life, their caring responsibilities and their personal life outside of the workplace.
“We have much to do still to create the workplace that adequately responds to the needs of those with caring responsibilities. All too often there is a stark clash between the demands of the home and those of the workplace. Congress and IBEC have given the leadership. Employers and employees must now take up the challenge to introduce the flexibilities that allow those with caring responsibilities, to make their full contribution in the workplace and to achieve their full potential, without the stress they currently experience”, states Niall Crowley CEO of the Equality Authority.
A National Framework Committee for the Development of Family Friendly Policies at the Level of the Enterprise has been established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. Members include the Social Partners, the Equality Authority, relevant Government departments and is chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Particular initiatives include:
- Congress are to survey trade union needs, develop training materials and deliver training to union representatives and officials
- IBEC are to undertake a survey of employer needs, training and national and sectoral roundtables
- Nine innovative projects in enterprises will be funded with almost 200,000 euro
- The appointment of a small panel of advisors/consultants to assist organisations to develop family friendly/work life balance working arrangements
- Regional seminars in Dundalk, Galway, Cork and Waterford and a seminar in Dublin exploring local case studies and identifying ways forward for local organisations.
“IBEC is pleased to take part in the celebration of the second National Family-Friendly Workplace Day, particularly given the positive response of companies willing to do something innovative to mark the day”, states Jackie Harrison, Social Policy Director of IBEC. IBEC will be celebrating the day with the launch of its new Family-Friendly subsection of the IBEC web-site, which will be made available to all IBEC member companies. It is also organising an art and poetry exhibition in its reception area for the children and relatives of IBEC staff. For the rest of the year, IBEC members can avail of a variety of information reports and events (roundtables and training sessions) in the area of Family-Friendly/Work-life balance.
“In an increasingly pressurised society, workers are demanding realistic options to assist them in balancing their lives inside and outside the workplace”, stresses David Begg, Congress General Secretary. “Family Friendly Working Arrangements should be seen in the context of the broader challenge of improving the quality of life. Our message to those employers who are not already involved is: make a start, co-operate with unions and workers in creating a better Work Life Balance. Being a family friendly employment is about more than sticking an attractive poster on the canteen wall. It could be said that our work to date has been about consciousness raising. Turning the slogan into reality will be the real challenge.”
ENDS