For Parents ・ Employee Benefits
The new working norm offers hope of improving our work -life balance
The new working week post-COVID is still evolving as both employers and employees come to terms with the new dynamics. But employers, working families and academics all agree, the old mold is irretrievably broken, and it is imperative to address the “new norm” ahead of us.
The new working week post-COVID is still evolving as both employers and employees come to terms with the new dynamics. But employers, working families and academics all agree, the old mold is irretrievably broken, and it is imperative to address the “new norm” ahead of us.
New research released by the Productivity Commission* reveals Australians have embraced their home offices and the massive savings in time by avoiding the daily commute. But these newly found hours can only be productive if working families have the tools in place to integrate the demands of their job with the demands of their children. The new norm post-COVID offers great hope for a better work-life balance, but there is no doubt the daily juggle for working families has become even more complex.
Working from home
On Thursday 16th September 2021 the Australian Government Productivity Commission released a research paper titled Working from home *. Key report findings include:
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Measured over a year, it is estimated working from home one day a week rather than in the office saves the equivalent of seven working days in travel time and $394 in public transport costs.
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Prior to COVID approx. 8% of Australian employees had a formal work-from-home arrangement and the median home working rate was one day per week.
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Estimated 40% of people worked from home during the pandemic lockdowns
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Nearly a third of employees would prefer to work 3 days a week at home and 20% would prefer to work the entire week at home.
A forced experiment
“While previous working trends had taken years to become established, it appeared the support for working from home had occurred almost overnight. We’ve seen changes before, like services or the increase in women in the workforce, but that happened over decades. Working from home has come out of nowhere.”
“The shift to working from home caused by the pandemic is one of the biggest changes to the way we work in the last fifty years.
The pandemic created a ‘forced experiment’ where suddenly working from home has become much more common, accepted, and expected by employees and employers. The next wave of experimentation will see employees and employers choosing to implement work from home models that work for both parties.
Source: Michael Brennan, Chair of The Productivity Commission
Gartner HR Survey Shows a Quarter of Australian Employees Are Seeking a New Job
Work-life Balance, Manager Quality and Respect are the top three reasons Australian workers cite for leaving their organization. Gartner, Australia, April 2021.
Work-life balance, manager quality and respect are now ranked as the top three reasons workers cite when leaving an organization. Future career opportunities and compensation both dropped four places on the list of attrition drivers and now sit at six and 10, respectively.
“Workers want to see the introduction of systems to better support work-life balance. There is also an expectation that management will step up and show more respect and appreciation for hard work through cultural change and tangible incentives,” Mr. McEwan said.
“Faced with new hybrid workplace models, employees are demanding balance. As employers plan their return to the office, employees are demanding more work-life balance, naming it as the top driver of attraction to a new organization. Employers that aren’t keeping up with the needs of workers in a post-COVID environment risk a decline in productivity or may even face a mass staff exodus”.
“Organizations must be quick to review their employee value proposition to ensure it’s in-line with what the post-COVID workforce is seeking. Taking away remote work options would be a risky move for employers, as many employees believe they have demonstrated they can be trusted to work from home. Instead, provide compelling in-office ‘experiences’, real flexibility and genuine time off to keep your best talent.”
Source: Mr. McEwan, Gartner, Inc.
Juggle Street is here to help working parents and employees be their best at home and at work
Every family now has a different version of the working week, it is no longer a one-size fits all. Many more “job occasions” have been created in the home for both childcare and education. Juggle Street’s on-demand job platform is the perfect solution to help support families manage their work/home challenges including remote working and home schooling.
Juggle St will make the daily juggle easier for your employees with children, enabling them to focus on their work, both at home and in the office. Juggle St reduces employee stress, which improves productivity and contributes to their sense of wellbeing. Juggle Street will enhance your company’s reputation as a family-friendly workplace and foster employee loyalty.
Contact the Juggle Street team to discuss corporate pricing packages. You can also book a demo to see our our platform works. https://www.jugglestreet.com.au/contact-us
