Some strategies are more successful than others as regards work/family life balance. According to a recent study by Hewitt & Associates, a human resources consulting and outsourcing firm, the most popular measures focus on flexibility:
– 86% of organizations offer flexible work hours for all or part of their employees
– 77% permit allow all or some employees to telecommute regularly
– 74% offer additional paid time off for personal reasons in addition to regular vacation time
– 65% allow time off for educational purposes
– 54% allow some or all employees to job share
– 43% authorize a compressed work week
– 36% offer sabbatical leave
– 32% support volunteerism by providing extra paid time off
The 164 Canadian companies that responded to this survey reported that only a third of their employees worked a regular full-time work week (35 to 40 hours a week). 45% worked from 1 to 5 hours extra a week, 23% 5 to 10 hours more and 1% 10 to 15 additional hours.