Editorial | Family-friendly workplaces would be a win-win for Hong Kong
Work-life balance isn’t just important for families; employers also benefit from offering flexible arrangements
Up to 45 per cent of them doubted the effectiveness of measures in their workplace to support employees caring for family members, including single parents and those looking after relatives with mental health conditions. Family members of employees, meanwhile, stressed the “very negative” impact of the worker attending to duties outside office hours and the burden job commitments place on the rest of the family. Many employees were found to have been refused additional leave needed to handle family responsibilities. Some were told to resign in such circumstances.
The commission called for the promotion of a family-friendly culture in the workplace and clear policies. It urged the government to lead by example by improving arrangements and making changes to the law. Providing employees with time and space to care for dependants was described as a critical social issue facing Hong Kong. Recent family tragedies have highlighted the need for vulnerable members of society and their carers to receive adequate support.
But there are broader benefits, including for employers. The embracing of flexible working hours, shorter working weeks and work-from-home arrangements can be key to finding and retaining talent. One survey revealed last year that respondents aged 18-34 viewed this as more important than a high salary. Other polls show Hong Kong to have been slow to adopt more flexible policies. Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom are among the countries that have taken steps to encourage or require companies to do so.
The city’s employers face challenging times. But helping employees attend to pressing family commitments is not a cost. It is an investment in a happier, more productive workforce.