print :

2014-11-28

work life balance

Work/life balance gets harder

Working more and enjoying it less?

If the answer is “Yes” chances are you’re one of the nearly 5 million Australian’s whose work/life balance has deteriorated over the last five years.

A recent study by the Australia Institute, “Walking the Tightrope” found that 42% or workers considered that they were finding it harder to strike a healthy balance between the demands of work and other aspects of their lives.

The most commonly cited explanations for the problem were longer working hours and unpaid overtime. Job insecurity was also a major factor.

The report says that Australians "donate" almost $110 billion through 58.8 million hours of unpaid overtime every year, representing 14.7% of all hours worked, which it claims is "more than twice the hours required to provide employment for unemployed Australians".

Significantly though, the reports found that most workers did not want reduced hours and/or greater flexibility if it meant a reduction in pay.

Of course not! With the cost of living, especially of housing, rising and wage growth slow, few working people can afford to take home less.

And they shouldn’t need to. The whole idea of the standard working week is that it provides a good living wage, while the restriction on hours worked also helps ensure that there is work for everyone.

In fact as productivity increases through developments in technology, everyone should be able to work less – not more as is happening today.

Readers interested in reading the full Australia Institute report can find it at Walking the Tightrope: Have Australians achieved work/life balance?", The Australia Institute, November 2014.

What's New

Telecommunication

Telstra's Pay Offer
Telstra EBA 2018
ACTU turns 90
May Day 2016
Optus EPA approved
Telstra EA Update
Optus award update

Postal

Reps training
Reasonable overtime
Vale Jojie Vivar
Changes to Bulletin
Christmas pay rises
Postal reform
Facebook bullying
Year in review
Vale Jim Armstrong

News

Happy New Year
Happy New Year
Vale Shane Morse
Meeting reminder
Coronavirus Update
METRO RALLY
Reps training
ACTU turns 90
Vale Jojie Vivar
May Day 2016
Facebook bullying
May Day 2015
Working In Heat
Your Union Petition
Save our Posties
Sensis Sell Off
""