Singapore - Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need to start seeing the business value and long-term benefits of implementing work-life strategies for their workers, especially under dire economic conditions.
Speaking at the forum on Work-Life First Movers on Tuesday, chairperson for Employer Alliance, Claire Chiang says SMEs can avoid retrenchment issues if they start using flexible work options as cost saving and retention measures in today's economic climate. Chiang says, "Maybe you could cut hours, rather than cut people. You are staggering the time so that they can take the leave and yet come back if they wish to."
From the employee's perspective, Chiang says, "They may take a little less but it is better than no job."
Nonetheless, most SME bosses have a fear of their employees abusing flextime arrangements and not fulfilling the job requirements, which will affect the business' bottom line. But the benefits for work-life programmes can be twofold. Chiang says, "Working at home can be effective for some, at the same time, it minimises corporate costs because you cut down on office space and rental."
While it was not a hard sell to convince SMEs on the business value of work-life initiatives, Chiang says the challenge for them is developing proper infrastructure to prevent abuse or favouritism complaints from their workers. "You need a clear criteria, establish procedures so that it is transparent, it is executionable [so] there is no favouritism, no space for abuses."
SMEs should also never allow the lack of resources, bottom line or even size or sector concerns affect their implementation of work-life practices. Chiang explains, "It is really an issue of preparedness at the management level to serve that flexibility and to always find a way to do it to each company's resources. It is managing of resources at peak and low times."
Some suggestions for SMEs to implement successful work-life strategies include clear communication to all employees about work-life policies and criteria for eligibility, performance measures and eliminating low value work processes. Employers who are interested to start work-life initiatives for their workforce can also tap on the government's Work-life Works! Funds or WOW fund for assistance.
