Flexi-Work Hour: An Alternative

One of the most effective alternatives to work in line with work-life balance is by incorporating flexi hour work as asserted by Hegewisch (2009). Although, now all types of work could accommodate this initiative, some especially people who work at the office should be given a chance in implementing this as to give more flexibility in order to moving forward into a more balance living. 

Flexi-Work Hour Option

Christina Oddone claims that women are falsely represented with the assumption of high achievement on career field justifies their self-actualization as reported by Butterworth (2009). This perception is misleading as women has more tendercy and prefers to choose their family over work as to care for their family based on the study by the Centre of Policy Study (Butterworth, 2009).  

Working women need to be given the opportunity to balance their career and family life to exel on both - Work & Life. Thus, flexi-work hour is an alternative choice. However, not many companies and organizations are keen to do so. According to Hegewisch (2009), flexi working hours is in compromise of working on a pre-schedule hours as agreed by both employee and employers and also working part time as other alternatives which means contributing less amount of hours at work. This gives extra free times for women to handle and taking care of their other responsibilities. 

Advance countries had proven in implementing the flexi-work hour such as in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, other Asian countries such as Singapore and India too had started this effort.

In Malaysia, government policies have move towards this path such as the National Family Policy under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. The policy was introduces in 2010 and just at “baby-step phase” on its implementation. The policy is seen in encourage the transformation of work to a family-friendly policy including the flexi-working hour. 

This will be a favourable alternative step for working mothers as they were given more flexibility in life and work.

Reference:

Butterworth, M. ( 9 Oct 2009). Less than one in eight mothers want to work full time. The Telegraph.

Hegewisch, A. (2009). Flexible working policies: A comparative review. Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Photo Credit:
The Sydney Morning Herald