ways2work - Parents and carers
You're not alone
When most people hear the term family friendly, they will most likely think about flexible work arrangements that might help mothers with young children, and they certainly do.
But families now come in many shapes and forms. While some us care for children, others have partners, friends, brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents and grandchildren to care for. With the ageing population, the numbers of people caring for others, especially in the 'sandwich generation' who are looking after their children, as well as their own ageing parents, are set to increase.
Women need flexibility
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics:
- 50 per cent of women with children under 5 years participate in the paid labour force
- 87 per cent of women who were in permanent positions returned to permanent positions after the birth of a child
To find out what Victorian women said were their major challenges when combining career and caring responsibilities read the What Women Want (PDF 79kb) fact sheet. This summarises the findings of the Women, Rights and Equality report the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission published in October, 2007.
Men need flexibility too
While still in the minority, more men are taking on the role of primary carer. At the same time, men who are not primary carers are seeking to become more involved in their families and are also seeking more flexible arrangements at work. Even industries that have traditionally been male-dominated, like the construction industry, are seeking to improve work family balance for their employees.
Business is taking notice
Smart employers are going out of their way to help their employees balance their family and carer commitments with work. They know that in a competitive market it makes good business sense to recruit and retain parents and carers who are mature, skilled and committed employees.
As our society continues to change and the world of work catches up, more and more people are successfully combining family and caring responsibilities with paid work.
Tell Us Your Story.
We'd like to hear from you about your experiences of balancing work and family.