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SINGAPORE: Fewer people quit from organisations which implement work-life balance practices, such as flexible work arrangements. That's the experience of many companies with work-life strategies in place.
At Tampines Primary, school starts at 8am and teachers are encouraged to leave by 1.30pm every Wednesday and Friday. This allows them to spend more time with their families.
Amutha Lechmeet, a teacher at Tampines Primary, said: "My little one usually asks me, 'why is it that you're gone by the time I wake up in the morning?' because he's still asleep when I leave him at the caretakers. So he's very much happier on the days when I get to bring him back earlier and he gets to see me more.
"The initiative that made a marked difference this year is the reduction in hours of teaching we get to do a week. What it means is now we get more time, at least about four hours extra compared to previous years."
Mrs Wong-Tan Bin Eng, Principal, Tampines Primary School, said: "I don't see the teachers rushing so much from meeting to meeting. I don't see them rushing to complete their work. I see that they look happier and in a sense, they are also able to contribute well.
"At the beginning of the year, one of my teachers wanted to quit because she could not manage looking after her one-year-old child and work. So I offered her a two-third workload. This means that while other teachers have to cover 15 hours of teaching periods, she takes only 11 hours of teaching periods.
"On top of that, I give her the flexi-hour where she can come in later so that she can attend to looking after her child first early in the morning. Now she's staying on and she's expecting twins."
The school's flexible arrangement can apply to any of the over 70 staff and the principal said the trust in her teachers prevents any abuse.
Having shorter teaching hours is actually a direct feedback from the staff themselves. This allows the teachers more free time to plan their lessons or attend meetings. And when they go to class, they will not feel stressed and can teach well.
For one catering company, it forces workers to stay out of the office as one of its work-life balance practices. And for those who have been with the company for three years, they are given a 10-day break as a reward.
Tony Seow, managing director, Purple Sage, said: "I used to work very long hours and I realise that's not a good balance and it's taking a toll on my health. And I realised that I think it's best to work with your team and let them have enough balance. Because when you're not at your best, you're not really focusing or giving the best to your customers."
The company's pro-family policies have helped increase its retention rate by four per cent, to 85 per cent last year. - CNA/vm
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