Running a pilot program to identify potential issues can help an organisation decide whether working from home arrangements should be made broadly available, says the manager of a team that now has two-thirds of its employees in home-based work, and much higher retention rates as a result.
A checklist of minimum safety and technical requirements for home-based work is essential to ensure the arrangements are trouble-free, and that employees understand their obligations and responsibilities.
Changing the language organisations use to describe flexible work will help remove some of the stigma that it is only for mothers, and allow it to become "mainstream", Diversity Council Australia says.
In a move that could have significant financial implications for big business, an Australian institution is urging the federal government to stop entering into contracts with employers whose diversity records aren't up to scratch.
Adopting a short-term view of independent contractors means many organisations are ignoring a huge talent pool of professionals looking for meaningful work from home, says co-director of The Interview Group, Lenore Lambert.
To help employees achieve real balance in their lives, employers need to be more flexible about start and finish times, and even acceptable attire, says RedBalloon employee experience manager Megan Bromley.
Over the next three-to-five years, HR departments will need to build closer relationships with their organisations' IT functions to meet the demands of the "future workplace", a briefing heard yesterday.
Employers that fail to address the "trust" issues holding back flexible work adoption will find themselves struggling to attract and retain staff over the coming years, says Sage MicrOpay managing director, Craig Osborne.
Some employers have successfully stepped up to the task of managing psychosocial safety, but in many other workplaces, initiatives are falling flat. Join us for an HR Daily webinar to understand what's holding back progress in this critical space and how to move forward.