National Work Life Week is Working Families’ annual campaign to get both employers and employees talking about wellbeing at work and work-life balance.
Jon-Paul Rimington, MD of GC Education & Skills, SMT sponsor of the Parents & Carers Network reflects;
“Maintaining a good work/life balance is essential for all our wellbeing - whether that’s taking time to be with your family and friends, or simply taking time for yourself. At the Growth Company, ensuring that everyone is happy and healthy is paramount and, talking to colleagues and your line manager about this is actively encouraged. This National Work Life Week I would urge you to reflect on what you can do to get a better balance, and to look at the support available to you, ensuring you’re making the most of your time in and outside of work.”
Naomi Ilagoswa, Co-chair of the Parents & Carers network also adds:
With two children who are 5 and 3, having a work life balance is vital and working at GC allows me to have that. Our agile policy means I’m able to work at home part of the week, allowing me to do the school pick up and nip to the odd school event. I also get chance to deal with all the school admin. I thought we loved sending emails at GC, we have nothing on the school office!
Over the last few months, alongside my colleagues in the Parents & Carers Network & from HR, we’ve been reviewing our Family Friendly policies, looking at how we can enhance our Family Friendly benefits to ensure accessibility is fully inclusive and enable eligible colleagues to have more paid time to care for dependants, providing better work life balance for those who need it. (Further information of the specific policy changes will be communicated in the coming weeks).
I think it’s also important to mention that I wouldn’t be able to continue to do my role without great childcare in place, from nursery and preschool to wraparound care and holiday clubs, all of it makes it possible from my husband and I to do our jobs. That said, we have the second most expensive childcare system in the world and despite the cost to those who are using it, it remains an industry where the staff receive often receive low pay and work long hours and the system requires fundamental change. We’ve seen lots in the press about the numbers of those who are economically in active rising, and this is often due to caring responsibilities. We need roles that are flexible and a good affordable care system in place to truly achieve work life balance.
The charity Pregnant Then Screwed have organised marches across the country on 29th October to campaign for a better child care system and flexible work, if anyone is interested in attending, please visit: March Of The Mummies Protest - Pregnant Then Screwed