Work-life harmony report: findings and recommendations for employers on how to use work-life strategies to optimise business performance

In 2004, the National Tripartite Advisory Panel to Develop Family-Friendly Work places recommended that work-life harmony should be promoted through a sector-specific approach. Workgroups comprising best practice companies were set up to study suitable work-life practices in four sectors, namely banking, chemical, healthcare and infocomm technology (IT). Best practice [small and medium enterprises] SMEs were included in the study as well. This work-life harmony report presents findings from surveys, discussions and in-depth interviews conducted among the workgroup members. Work-life strategy refers to what an employer does to enable an employee to manage his/her work responsibilities alongside personal and family needs. It is a business strategy that contributes to maximising employee productivity at work and helps to make organisations more competitive. Work-life strategy is important to Singapore employers because: human capital has emerged as a key asset that can distinguish an organisation from its competitors; and demographic and attitudinal changes in the Singapore workforce make it more difficult for employers that do not implement work-life strategy to retain their human capital.

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