Work-life balance is a global phenomena. In the
USA, Britain, Canada and Australia not only is government promoting
Work-life balance but independent agencies are doing it too.
International
Trends
In Canada, over the past decade, an abundance of data and
the results of research studies supported claims of reduced absenteeism,
improved productivity and greater potential for recruitment and retention.
Work-life balance research points to work-life policies as being good
for business. Research further points to the challenges of recruiting
and retaining top talent in an increasingly competitive labour market
that is driving workplace change which often results in workforce demands
for work-life balance. These factors are now motivating employers to
integrate work-life balance measures in their business strategies. The
facilitating of work-life balance is not corporate social work. It's
a business imperative, which makes business sense.
In USA, concepts of Work-Life Balance are so advance, they even have
institutes like Families and Work Institute (FWI). FWI is dedicated
to providing objective information on work-life issues and concerns
confronting workers and employers in order to make informed decisions
in government, business, communities, and family concerns groups. Toward
this end, FWI conducts its own research studies and supports the field
of work-life research by bringing researchers together, sharing information,
and collaborating on projects. Besides this, there are government and
community interest groups focusing on different aspects of work-life.
Companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) declare their vision is
to provide "a diverse work world in which our people can pursue their
goals in life." In support of this vision, they have a Worklife Quality,
a commitment that extends through every part of PwC. The University
of California at Berkeley offers a Catastrophic Leave-Sharing Program
to give staff and academic employees a chance to support their colleagues
who are facing a major health crisis, whether their own or that of a
family member. The program allows employees to provide assistance in
the form of donated vacation leave. It was developed as part of campus
efforts to create a caring environment, and because many members of
the campus community have expressed a desire to assist their co-workers
in this way.