BALANCING WORK AND LIFE

Felicity Brown, Career Development PractitionerZonta Kuala Lumpur member

12 January 2013

Changing world of work (Western model)

OLD (20th Century) Limited skill sets and learning Seniority Employers offering job

security and promotional pathways

Workers offering loyalty Information technology

emerging

NEW (21ST Century) Life-long learning, multiple

skill sets Progression through merit Creativity, enterprise and

collaboration Flexible work practices Self-managed careers and

work creation Integration of

knowledge/communication technology and work

What is Work-life balance?

The fulfilment (or otherwise) of 3 areas:

Work/Learning;

Relationships; and

Personal Well-being and Growth

Preferred mix or balance varies with individuals and will change over a lifespan.

Business benefits stemming from work-life balance:

Increased productivity Improved recruitment and retention Lower rates of absenteeism Reduced overheads Improved customer experience More motivated, satisfied and equitable

workforce

Inter-country Comparison

Malaysia Australia

% females with degrees 50+%

% females in the workforce 46.4%

% female part-time workers 8%

40+%

64.2%

43.2%(OECD average 25%)

Personal experience

Conclusion Work-life balance in the 21st Century is

difficult to achieve

Work-life balance is whatever mix that we, as individuals, strive for

Thank you!