Work - Life Balance

Work-Life Balance within the Industry Sectors

'We all should have a choice of how to balance our work and life'

The Construction Sector

This is increasingly project based and therefore bringing together the right blend of people with professional, technical and craft level skills is vital for success. In common with the engineering industry the construction sector faces a shortage of people with the right skills and experience.

Good practice in Work-Life Balance benefits everyone. Flexible working practices attract a wider range of candidates for jobs and help to retain valued employees.

The Engineering Sector

Skill shortages, particularly for multi-skilled people at craft and technician level, is a problem for many small and medium sized engineering businesses.

With an ageing workforce there is an urgent need to recruit and train young people with girls outperforming boys in education, the engineering industry needs to attract and retain more women. The myths, preconceptions and outdated practices associated with this sector combine to turn women off a career in engineering.

A positive attitude to Work-Life Balance demonstrates a commitment to all employees women and men. This can give a company the edge in attracting the best qualified people in a competitive recruitment market.

The Health & Care Services Sector

With an ageing population, the move to community-based care, and a rise in the number of working mothers with dependent children means this sector continues to expand.

Staffing ratios and staff qualification levels are subject to legislation and local authority inspection. Many employers rightly see the cost of training as an investment. But this is only true if workers stay with the business.

Much provision is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Part-time working and shift systems, often features of work in this sector can help workers manage their work and life responsibilities. But circumstances can change and it is important for businesses to keep up to date with the needs of their workers.

The Information Communications and Technology Sector

In a fast moving sector such as this one it is vital for the businesses to retain skills and knowledge. In a knowledge-based business, skills are very much a portable asset. Companies that fail to meet the expectations of their employees lose out when it comes to recruiting and retaining workers.

Changes for working practices and revised working hours have been driven by customer demand for access outside of 0normal' working hours. Much more flexibility has been required of staff in order to meet business needs. Sensible Work-Life Balance considerations, for example about where and work is done, can help. Flexible self-rostering systems have worked well for many small and medium-sized businesses.

The Leisure & Tourism Sector

This is an expanding sector dominated by small and medium-sized businesses, but it is a highly competitive sector with many businesses failing. In a society that is 0cash rich' and 0time poor' customers increasingly want high a quality service both product and customer. Most customer service is delivered at a personal level therefore committed well-trained staff are a critical success factor.

Seasonal peaks and troughs are an integral part of this sector with traditionally a large number of temporary casual staff being employed to cope with this. Employing part-time staff can add to the flexibility necessary if an organisation is to be able to respond and meet sudden demands.

The Manufacturing Sector

External factors such as exchange rates and a cost sensitive supply chain make this sector increasingly hard for smaller companies putting pressure on them to reduce costs.

Production processes can take precedence over people. But it does not have to be this way. Technology makes flexible scheduling easier and most modern manufacturing tasks are organised around work rather than rigid processes. For example introducing a twilight shift can allow staff to cope with taking and collecting children from school.

The Professional & Financial Sector

Despite many changes within this sector it still remain a growth area. Opportunities have been created for specialist smaller business service operators as some large organisations have looked to 0out-source' some aspects of their customer service response handling.

Changes to working practices and revised working hours have been driven by customer demand. Much more flexibility has been required of staff in order to meet business needs. Flexible self-rostering systems have worked well for many small and medium-sized businesses. Allowing business and personal needs to be reconciled and delivering service benefits.

The Science & Technology Sector

Innovation and technology drive a modern economy. The success of these businesses depends upon attracting and retaining people with high levels of skill.

In job markets with high rates of employment it makes sense to find out what is important to people and offer terms and conditions that attract and motivate. For example: introducing flexible working arrangements around core times can help your workers miss peak travel times or allowing people to be able to do some work from home.

Small & Medium Sizes Enterprises

For many small and medium sized businesses, Work-Life Balance is not seen as an issue. A great deal of flexibility often takes place over working arrangements. Much of this may be informal. But it would be wrong to be complacent or to believe Work-Life Balance issues do not apply to smaller businesses.

Not every Work-Life Balance policy will work for every business and it is important for them to be designed around the needs of the particular business and its employees. This can help improve productivity, motivation and ensure you attract and retain the people with the skills and experience your business needs.