Singapore – The lack of work-life balance is a reason often cited by Singaporeans against having more children.

Even though the number of births has increased slightly from 35,000 to 37, 000 last year, the country’s birth rate of 1.29 is still far below the world's average level of 2.1. While the government reviews its procreation policies to come up with more measures in hopes of increasing the city-state’s child birth rate, initiatives taken by companies as part of the scheme to promote a work-life balance shows promise in helping to ease the way for parents.

Priding themselves as a pro-family employer, OCBC offers their employees various work-life balance options and programmes. One of the company’s recent initiatives involved the setting up of a workplace childcare center together with NTUC childcare. Officially launched in January last year, The Little Skool-House At OCBC Centre is located in the premises of the OCBC center itself.

Jacinta Low, head of planning & employee communications at OCBC Bank says: “It is very convenient for them. They can put their children at the center while they work and pop in to see them during lunchtime. It also comforts staff who do not already send their children to the center to know that they can use the service in the event of an emergency.”

The service has been receiving good responses since the commencement of its operation, so much so that there is a waiting list due to space constrains. The company is looking into possible plans of expansion. To date, the childcare center has a capacity of 93, at least 80% of which is reserved for OCBC employees. To aid in the development of the children from The Little Skool-House, OCBC has also converted the open green space beside the center into a playground where they can mingle.

This provision of childcare services is only one of the many components of OCBC’s programme to provide its employees with a quality work-life balance which introduces various services and incentives. Other benefits include a Flexible Benefits Scheme which allows them to use the Flex-dollars they are rewarded with to pay for items like healthcare expenses for themselves as well as their immediate family members.

“Our aim is always to be the employer of choice. By introducing a pro-family programme, we aim to encourage in our employees a work-life balance so as to not only grow and develop their careers, but at the same time lead a fulfilling family life,” Low adds.

However, even as more companies come up with family-friendly programmes that take into consideration the needs of the working parent, there is only so much they can do. It is ultimately one’s personal decision to work out a balance that does not impede into one’s personal life.

"While policies may be in place, employers must actively walk the talk. Mindsets, most of all, must change." Annie Yap, CEO of The GMP Group, says.

On how employers may further play a part in this changing of mindets, Yap adds, "Employers should recognise that ‘face-time’ does not necessarily correlate to productivity. By this, employers can include more flexible work options for their staff."