Getting the Balance Right - Information for Staff
As a staff member, you can raise the issue of family friendly policies and get the conversation started.
Have you thought about...?
It’s important to think about what you need professionally and personally. What family friendly options are
Photo: Tara Moore.
available to you already in awards and agreements and what others do you need to meet your caring responsibilities? Try making a list of the options that could work for you. Note pros and cons.
Then think about the following questions to gain a better idea of what those options might mean for your personal and professional life…
Personal life
• How will a new arrangement affect your salary, superannuation and other entitlements like leave? How will this impact on your home life and standard of living?
• How will it affect your child or elder care arrangements?
• Will the new arrangement require more self-discipline, motivation and organisation?
Professional life
• How will a new arrangement fit with your career goals? Will you miss out on work or training opportunities?
• How could your tasks be redistributed? Will this impact on your organisation’s goals and service delivery? If so, how?
• How will the arrangement affect your co-workers? How might you gain their support?
• If you are cutting down your time at work, will you miss the interaction? How could you keep in contact with colleagues?