Australian employers should be bending over backwards

Australian employers should be bending over backwards Australian employers should be bending over backwardsPosted April 8, 2014, by Julia Watters With the internet making life more mobile, its no surprise that the typical work arrangement should follow suit. This seems to be the case across the globe, although a recent report by recruitment agency Randstad found that Australian workers have a low amount of flexibility in the workplace compared to our Asia Pacific neighbours. Steve Shepherd, Group Director of Randstad, believes Australian workers are calling out for more innovative and flexible working practices, and its disappointing to see Australia lagging behind much of the region when it comes to implementing these practices. With 79 per cent of Australians saying that they dont have the option to work remotely in their current role, it appears we are mucksmuschenstill set in our old ways, especially when we compare this to the 59 per cent of Chinese workers who enjoy the flex ibility of working remotely. With flexible working arrangements and a good worklife blend becoming more important to people, businesses which continue to overlook this could find themselves losing their top talent, Shepherd warns. The Australian Governments Fair Work Ombudsman has worked towards achieving more flexible working conditions for Australians, with the new National Employment Standards introduced in 2009. Of the ten entitlements encompassed in this initiative, employees maintain the right to request flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing or adjusted work hours, to assist them in certain circumstances. The right to request, which applies after 12 months of continuous service, is available to Parents with children who are of school age or younger Carers Employees with a disability Employees who are 55 years old or older Employees experiencing violence in the home or who are providing support for a family member in a similar situation While these are the areas so far covered in the Fair Work Act 2009, flexible work arrangements dont necessary have to be limited to those with difficult circumstances at home. As we all strive for the perfect worklife balance, employers are recognising how a more relaxed approach can actually result in a more motivated and productive workforce. Arna Jade is the Managing Director of business planners IMARI Consulting, and she takes a flexible approach with her staff as she recognises her own need for adaptable work options Sometimes I was more creative on the couch, other times I needed an sekretariat environment, and realised that if I worked well like that, so too would the people who work for me. By hiring people who are passionate and loyal to her company and cause, Arna is able to offer a trusting and nurturing work environment. She also provides a range of workstations besides traditional office desks, such as couches and a lawn bar, so that her employees can mix things up when they choose to work from the office. This blended approach to staffing and work environments is where a large number of workforces within the Asia Pacific are heading, proving that Australian employers such as Arna are far ahead of their local counterparts who make up the inflexible 79 per cent. But its not all bad news for Australians the saatkorn Randstad report suggested that 86 per cent of organisations are planning to move towards a mixed workforce of permanent, contract and virtual staff members. And with a substantial move towards blended learning and the expansion of online study, its only natural that our ensuing employment should follow suit. So if youre wondering how your future working routine is going to look, then feel free to imagine a plan that suits you chances are that you will get a lot more say in the final design. After all, if you can complete a degree all from the comfort of your lounge room through studying online, whos to say you cant do your job the same way? ResourcesMy first resu meCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesbest australian universitiesaustralian careershow to ace your next interviewhow to solve bullying at workplaceretail cv skills CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJulia WattersRelated ArticlesBrowse moreNatural TherapyNaturopathyNatural Medicine WeekAnyone interested in natural medicine and the important role natural medicine practitioners play should get involved in this years Natural Medicine Week, kicking off May 21.CAREER ADVICEHow to Get More Annual Leave in 2019The holidays are over. The year looms ahead. 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