Cash available to firms seeking better work-life balance
The Government is inviting businesses to apply for up to £5,000 worth of support to help them introduce flexible working schemes, it was announced today.
Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt revealed details of the latest round of its "Challenge Fund", worth £1 million over the next year. The latest round of funding will provide up to 200 businesses from across England and Scotland with a work-life balance "toolkit" covering issues such as flexible working as well as practical advice from specialist consultants.
Since the Challenge Fund began in 2000, over 390 organisations from a range of industries including retail, finance and education, have seen "real business improvements" according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Patricia Hewitt said: "The business case for work life balance is now stronger than ever. Many leading employers, both large and small, have already demonstrated the bottom-line benefits that a sensible work-life balance strategy delivers.
"Flexible working and other similar arrangements are proven ways of tackling common workplace problems such as long hours, absenteeism, high staff turnover and soaring recruitment costs. Thanks to the new rights we introduced in April this year, flexible working for parents with young and disabled children is now on the agenda of every employer.
"I want many more organisations to explore the broad range of flexible working arrangements available to see how their business performance could benefit."
New flexible working rights came into effect on 6 April 2003. Parents of children under the age of six, and disabled children under 18, can ask their employers to seriously consider requests to work flexibly so they can juggle home and work lives. The new measures also give fathers the right to two weeks' paid paternity leave, increase maternity pay and grant parents who adopt new rights covering pay and leave.
A study carried out last year by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work revealed that "lack of control" over working hours and procedures was the main cause of work-related stress across Europe. 55% of employees said they had no say over working hours and 39% did not have the independence to decide when to take a break. According to the Agency, work-related stress is the second biggest occupational health problem in Europe after back pain, and costs employers and governments an estimated £12 billion a year in lost time and health care costs.
The closing date for DTI Challenge Fund applications is 31 July 2003. Employers wishing to apply for funding should call 020 7804 0660 to request an application pack or visit the work-life balance section of the DTI website (see link below).
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