SafeWork SA
has launched
the new
Work Life
Balance
website
Visit the
website to
find tips on
how to
approach
your
employer and
choosing the
best work
life balance
arrangement
for you.
The site has
been created
to reflect a
unique South
Australian
perspective
on Work Life
Balance and
provides
resources
and
information
for
employers
and
employers
The
SA
Unions
A
Fair
Share of
the
Future
outlines
a number
of
commitments
relating
to
helping
workers
balance
the
demands
of work
and the
rest of
their
lives,
to
assist
people
to
remain
in the
workforce
and
access
fair,
safe
work at
decent
wages.
The South
Australian
Strategic
Plan has a
new target
T2.12
"Improve the
quality of
life of all
South
Australians
through the
maintenance
of a health
work life
balance"
Unions have
campaigned
around
improving
the quality
of working
lives since
the
instigation
of the eight
hour day in
Australia
from 1856.
8 hours
work, 8
hours rest
and 8 hours
recreation
for all was
the
1856 claim
for Work
Life
Balance.
The Higgins
Harvester
Decision in
1907
established
a Minimum
Wage in
Australia
that was
based on a
model of a
full time
male
provider and
a full time
female carer.
The
contemporary
workplace
and
household
need
new
understandings
of how work
is organised,
the length
and timing
of the
working day
and a
recognition
that both
men and
women are in
the
workforce
and
providing
care.
SA Unions is
working with
the South
Australian
Work Life
Balance
Strategy to
promote
initiatives
that support
WLB
To date the
WLB Strategy
has
addressed a
number of
union events
-
PSA
Women's
Conference
18th
February
09 :
Keynote
-
AMWU
State
Council
1st
April 09
-
CPSU
Meeting
8th
April 09
-
Attendance
at SA
Unions
Women's
Standing
Committee
-
ASMP
Training
26th May
09 [2009
Theme:
WLB]
Keynote
Contact the
Strategy
staff on ph
8303 9927 if
you want to
invite them
to address
union
members or
Executive.
The SafeWork
SA website
also lists a
number of
public
events which
promote WLB
and research
related to
work
organisation
and health.
As part of
work to
improve
minimum
standards
for all
workers to
access
flexible
work, the
WLB Strategy
is
promoting:
-
Paid
parental
leave -
including
the new
Commonwealth
funded
PPL due
to be
introduced
in
January
2011
-
Provisions
in the
new
National
Employment
Standards
including
1) Maximum
weekly hours
of work
2)
Request for
flexible
working
arrangements
3)
Parental
Leave and
related
entitlements
4)
Annual Leave
5)
Personal/Carer's
Leave and
Compassionate
Leave
6)
Community
Service
Leave
7)
Long Service
Leave
8)
Public
Holidays
At the state
level, the
Strategy is
using the
Occupational
Health
Safety and
Welfare Act
1986 to
develop an
Approved
Code of
Practice on
Working
Hours.
The Women's
Standing
Committee
has adopted
Work Life
Balance as a
priority
campaign and
can provide
further
information
on the WLB
Strategy and
campaign
actions.
