Work-Life Balance

Improvements in work-life balance achieve economic and social benefits for men, women, families/whānau and communities, which improves New Zealand's economic prospects and social environment. 

DESIRED OUTCOME:
Greater work-life balance will be achieved in New Zealand.

KEY INDICATOR:
Indicators will be developed by the Work-life Balance Steering Group.

New Zealand has an ageing population and, in the future, there will be fewer working age people available to sustain the economy.  Improved work-life balance policies and practices will enable more people to enter the paid workforce by taking into account the responsibilities and activities people have outside work.

It is important to note that work-life balance is recognised as an issue for both men and women seeking to balance their roles in the paid workforce with other commitments and responsibilities. It is also critical to take into account cultural differences, and the demands on people brought about by circumstances, for example, the role many women play in caring for dependents and older family members, while needing to maintain a role in the paid workforce. 

While the development of policy options to specifically address work-life balance issues is in its infancy in the government sector, the government has established a Work-life Balance Steering Group to develop policies and practices that promote a balance between paid work and life outside work.  The Steering Group is led by the Department of Labour and includes the Ministries of Social Development, Women's Affairs and Pacific Island Affairs, Treasury, Te Puni Kōkiri and no-government experts.  The Ministry of Women's Affairs will contribute gender based input through the Work-life Balance Steering Group to assist in improving outcomes for women.

To provide further assistance to families the government continues to support and fund the Paid Parental Leave Scheme, and in July 2003 increased the level of payment available to families.  Further work has been undertaken by the Department of Labour to review options for extending the scheme.  The Ministry of Women's Affairs has provided input into the review with a focus on self-employed women and women in seasonal employment. 

Quality early childhood education and care are support mechanisms that assist parents in the area of work-life balance.  The Ministries of Education and Social Development will undertake a review of the early childhood education and child care schemes in 2004 and work to develop policies to improve access and affordability. 

To improve women’s financial security, initiatives aim to help women access financial planning advice and increase their uptake of retirement savings schemes, in order to assist women in providing for their future and that of their families/whānau.

The need to achieve work-life balance emerged strongly during the consultation phase of the Plan, particularly by Māori women and Pacific women, and was also highlighted by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 2003.  Women emphasised their need for opportunity and choice in relation to participation in paid work and the many other roles they fulfill. 

In considering improvements to work-life balance, the contribution to unpaid work in the community made by women, including voluntary work and care of dependants, must be taken into account.  New Zealand conducted an ad hoc Time Use Survey in 1998 - 1999.  Statistics New Zealand has included the Time Use Survey in the Social Statistics Programme, which will provide a rich, ongoing data source on the role of unpaid work in the economy, and a way in which paid and unpaid contributions to the economy can be measured over time.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Government Actions

TO ACHIEVE GREATER WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND FAMILIES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL:

2.1 Improve work-life balance in New Zealand

2.2 Support proposals that give visibility to the role of unpaid work in the economy

2.3 Extend access to paid parental leave

2.4 Improve access to affordable, quality child care.

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