Panel: put balance in workplace

Hamish Heard
Maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal lives as the key to prosperity was the message for patrons of the latest Geelong Chamber of Commerce panel session.
Four panelists facilitated a discussion with chamber members, answering questions on how they dealt with the competing challenges of work, family and lifestyle.
The panelists were Gordon Institute of TAFE chief Grant Sutherland, Recipe for Happiness director Mio Seamder, Parks Victoria’s Elaine Carbines and McManus Allpoints’ Tony McManus.
The session heard that people were working harder and longer to meet increased competition sparked by a globalised economy.
The event coincided with the release of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report entitled It’s About Time: Women, Men, Work and Family.
Panelists told members of a need for flexible workplaces to allow workers to achieve the optimum work/life balance.
Flexibility in working arrangements would lead to increased productivity and wellbeing among staff, panelists told members.
They urged employers to focus more on results than attendance at work and emphasised the importance of ensuring employees had adequate rest and took annual leave.One panelist suggested that increased productivity could be achieved by utilising the large percentage of people who only worked minimal hours to help balance the work and life commitments of full-time employees.
Another topic of discussion focussed on the increased regulation of industries, with “unnecessary” compliance requirements adding stress for businesses.
The pitfalls of working for a purely commission-based pay packet were also discussed, with the point made that working for a commission could create a situation of overwork to gain more wealth.
Members agreed that commission-based workers would generally prefer salary packages offering flexibility and recognition rather than purely financial rewards.
Other topics discussed included the importance of exercise and ensuring family commitments were always met.