Flexible work practices toolkit// Flexible work practices toolkit

//Flexibility Toolkit

Flexible Work Practices Toolkit

The Flexible Work Practices Toolkit provides the tools, information and support needed to successfully implement flexible work practices and to comply with the flexibility requirements of the new National Employment Standards.

Fair Work Act and the National Employment Standards
Requests for flexible working arrangements form part of the National Employment Standards (NES), which became law on 1 January 2010. The NES apply to all employees covered by the national workplace relations system, regardless of the applicable industrial instrument or contract of employment.

Recent research has shown that the NES will significantly increase employees’ requests for flexibility and yet the majority of organisations do not have the knowledge base to react to these requests in a way that will comply with the new legislation.

The right to request flexibility Standard provides eligible employees with significant entitlements and imposes legislated procedural and decision-making obligations on employers. Under this Standard, an employee who is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child who is under school age or under 18 years with a disability, may request a change in their working arrangements. Examples of changes in working arrangements may include:

changes in hours of work (e.g. reduction in hours worked, changes to start/finish times),

changes in patterns of work (e.g. working ‘split-shifts’ or job sharing arrangements)

changes in location of work (e.g. working from home or another location).

To request these arrangements employees must have completed at least 12 months of continuous service. Casual employees need to be employed by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months and have a reasonable expectation of continuing employment.

Our Policies and Guidelines have been designed to assist compliance
with the National Employment Standards
With more than a decade of experience in helping workplaces implement
flexible work options, we know the practices, systems and processes that
underpin successful flexible workplaces. We also know the opportunities
that can result from well managed work/life programs such as improved profits
and productivity, and this Toolkit will enable you to achieve these benefits.

Our Flexible Work Practices Toolkit offers outstanding value and includes:

A Work/Life Audit

Consultation Process

Job Sharing Guidelines

Part-time Work Guidelines

Home Based Work Guidelines

Leave Arrangement Guidelines

Flexible Workplace Policies

Training and Coaching Programs.

The Toolkit is available as a complete kit. Alternatively various components can be obtained
to meet your flexibility needs. For further details contact Flexibility At Work on Tel: (02) 9402 4741

Home Based Work, Part-time Work and Job Sharing Guidelines
Each of these Guidelines provide extensive coverage of what employees and employers need to consider
when entering each particular type of flexible work arrangement and how to enhance sustainable success
of these practices. The Guidelines include:

The definition and options available under each type of arrangement

Benefits for the employee

Benefits for the employer

Employment conditions

What employees need to consider

How to state a case for each type of flexible work practice

Determining how the particular flexible work option will work

Understanding the difficulties that can arise and how to address these

Redefining a job to meet the needs of employer and employee

Employee strategies for success with the flexible work practice

Procedures that need to be put in place

Technology requirements

Communication strategies

Written agreements

Systems considerations

Management practices that support flexibility

Assessment and agreement forms.

More Flexibility At Work resources - Books, Audios, E-learning and Video Programs.

Latest articles:
on strategies for creating flexible workplaces, achieving work/life balance and diversity management:

You don't have to bend over backwards to benefit from workplace flexibility
this article considers the benefits, challenges and implementation strategies for workplace flexibility.

Strategies for success with workplace wellbeing.

Home It Works an article on working from home

Small Business Work & Family Case Studies

One By Two Works Well an article on job-sharing

Managing Workplace Diversity - maximising the benefits of the diversity within the workforce.

Does job sharing work? a CPA Australia Magazine article on job sharing

The Part-time Paradox an article on Part-time Work

Tools for Cross-cultural Communication

Stress At Work

Work at home tips

Creating Flexible Workplaces

Flexible Work Practices cover story (PDF):Ethical Investor Magazine.

Leading ways to work/life balance In this article find out how a top CEO achieved work life balance.

Womens Healing Organisation International(WHOI) provides free resources, information, articles
and tips from the experts in the fields of work/life balance, time and stress management, health and wellbeing.
http://www.WomensHealingOrg.com

Free Work/Life Information:
Access free information, audios and articles on workplace flexibility, wellbeing and work/life balance issues at
http://www.flexibility.com.au/free-resources.html

Latest work life balance and flexible workplace strategies e-news

Receive our Top Ten Tips for Working Flexibly by subscribing to our free work/life & diversity e-news, "Flexibility Update". Access "Flexibility Update"

"I have been a subscriber to your newsletters for a quite a while and as a small business owner in the HR space
I find them useful for both myself in managing my own business and for my clients. Really practical and useful
advice so thanks. I have also seen your articles in some publications trying to get the word out about the benefits
of flexibility in the workspace. Good on you!" E Rasul, Director, Effision HR

"You'll be glad to know I have referenced your web site in our company Part-Timers Teamroom, and people are quite
enthused about the good articles there. Also, I have just purchased your book and hope to use some of your ideas in
the Flexible Work meetings I am running quarterly for part-timers at IBM GSA ! Thanks for your input - I look forward
to reading the book over the weekend."
K. Payten, IBM GSA Business Operations Manager

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What People Are Saying about our resources

Paul Stevens, Author of "Stop Postponing the Rest of Your Life."
"An HR Monthly reviewer said: 'I would recommend this book (Time On, Time Out!) to everyone in business, whether employer or employee. It would seem an ideal recipe for work environments in the new millennium.' I have no trouble endorsing this evaluation. The authors walk the talk as working mothers and they advise many organisations each week on the subject matter of this book. Here they summarise their advice to individuals who urgently want to improve their work-life balance. Personal worksheets, case studies, action planning guides and much more is within the 280 pages."

Jane Keighley, Freelance Journalist
"I have just finished sussing out your site - it is great. I am really impressed. I think that every company should take you suggestions on board - it would make for happy, healthy work places."

Noel Winterburn, Convener of the "Conversations for the 21st Century,"
"Just had another look at your website. WOW... Fantastic in every way. Professional, easy to load, easy to read, interesting. You're a model and an inspiration."

Margot Cairnes, author of "Approaching the Corporate Heart":
"Challenging and exciting! A blueprint for healthy organisations, healthy workers and a healthy society! If you go to work, lead a team or head an organisation, Time On, Time Out! will help you to be both happier and more successful."

CPA News:
"Any employee wishing to arrange a more flexible working arrangement or any business planning a more 'employee friendly' approach should pay careful attention to Time On, Time Out!. It alerts readers to the many personal and technical aspects to be considered..."

New Workplace Magazine:
"Time On, Time Out! Outlines strategies to minimise competing commitments using case studies of real people, with real babies and real jobs. It proposes solutions that reflect the broad range of experience and consultation the authors bring to their research, as well as optimism and enthusiasm for achieving a balance between work and life..."

The Sydney Morning Herald:
"Having trouble balancing your private and professional lives? Interested in job-sharing, going part-time, having more family-friendly hours or working from home? You are not alone, but many people are nervous about asking for flexible hours. The authors (of Time On, Time Out!), both working mothers, have written a well-researched guide that will boost your confidence..."

Business Sydney:
"Time On, Time Out, aims to provide flexible work solutions to keep your life in balance. Social change commentator Geraldine Doogue, launching the book, praised it as 'practical and devoid of ideology. It talks about flexibility in a way which rescues the term from being meaningless,' she said. Doogue said the authors Susan Biggs and Kerry Fallon Horgan were pioneers in the new age of family-friendly, flexible working environments. The book provides helpful advice and real life anecdotes from people who make flexibility work..."

Robyn Pearce, international Time Management specialist and author of "Getting a grip on time".
"In my field as a time management specialist, the cry from many is 'how do we find the time to spend with our families?' I have been absolutely delighted to discover Kerry and Susan's excellent book 'Time on, time out' and always recommend it to anyone exploring flexible work practices. The first key to effective time management is not about working harder, or even smarter, but about getting clear on your goals and purpose in life. From there, if having more time to spend in areas other than the corporate work place is part of your picture, this book will give you practical specific ideas and case studies of people who've gone out and made it happen. Although the case studies are Australian, the applications are of world-wide value. Well done, and keep up the good work."