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WORK-LIFE BALANCE and FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS

October 2008

Questions And Answers

What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance is about managing the juggling act between paid work and other activities that are important to us - including spending time with family, taking part in sport and recreation, volunteering or undertaking further study.

What is flexible work?

Flexible work is about giving people the opportunity to make changes to the hours they work (over a day, a week or over the year), the times and days they work or where they work. It is also about how careers are organised, how transitions in and out of work are managed, and how flexible working is managed in the workplace so that employees and businesses benefit.

How does work-life balance and flexible work benefit employers?

Employers who can offer work-life balance and flexible work options are likely to have the competitive edge, gain access to a wider recruitment pool, and are more likely to hold onto existing staff.

How do they benefit workers?

Employees in companies implementing work-life practices enjoy significant benefits such as:
  1. Being able to effectively manage multiple responsibilities at home, work and in the community without guilt or regret.
  2. Being able to work in flexible ways so that earning an income and managing family/other commitments become easier.
  3. Being part of a supportive workplace that values and trusts staff.

What flexible work options are available?

The most commonly available flexible working arrangement for New Zealanders is ‘flexi hours’ (allowing employees to vary their work hours including start and finish times). There is also ‘flexi weeks’ which allow employees to vary their weekly work pattern by working a shorter week or swapping weekdays at work with weekends. ‘Flexi years’ enable employees to choose what times of the year they work (e.g. take school holidays off).
‘Flexi location’ allows employees to work from other locations (e.g. from home) thus reducing commuting and accommodation costs, while ‘flexi worksite’ (hot desking) allows employees to work from different locations in the same office, reducing the need for office space and lowering accommodation costs).
On a long-term basis, ‘flexi career’ covers a range of options that allow employees to move into and out of the workforce to deal with other interests and responsibilities.

How do I ask for flexible working hours?

The Employment Relations (Flexible Working Arrangements) Amendment Act 2007 which came into force on 1 July 2008, provides a ‘right to request’ a variation to hours of work, days of work, or place of work for employees who have the care of a person and have been employed by their employer for six months prior to making a request. It can include but is not limited to, caring for:
  • children (either your own or others)
  • adults (e.g. elderly parents or others)
  • friends
  • neighbours.
Employers are required to consider all requests made under the Act and notify their decisions within three months of receiving the request. It should be noted that flexible work arrangements can be agreed between employers and employees outside the legislation.

Are employers required to agree to each application?

Employers can decline applications made under the Act only on specific grounds. These include: an inability to reorganise work among existing staff or recruit additional staff; detrimental impact on quality or performance; insufficiency of work during times the employee proposes to work; planned structural changes; the burden of additional costs; and the detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand.
For more information see http://www.dol.govt.nz/worklife/flexible/flexi-work-generic-guidelines.pdf

How many employees have taken advantage of flexible arrangements to improve their work-life balance?


Indications from the 2006 and 2008 surveys show an increasing number of New Zealanders are making use of flexible working arrangements. Only 6% of employees in the 2008 survey said they had not used any of the most popular flexible work arrangements, while 64% were satisfied with their work-life balance – a rise of 12% in two years.

Is the Department of Labour monitoring changes in work-life balance?

Yes. This survey is part of that ongoing work. The Department is also is scheduled to review the new Act in 2010.

Where can I find more information?

For more information on work-life balance and on flexible work arrangements please visit http://www.dol.govt.nz/worklife