Exercise
Read the following text which contains 5 paragraphs.For questions 1 to 5,match each paragraph(1 to 5)to one of the statements(A to G)given below.
The work-life balance 2004:Baseline study found that 91%of employers agreed that people work best when they can balance their work and other aspects of their lives.And the majority of employers(59%)also accepted that the employer has a“responsibility to help people balance work and other aspects of their lives.”More than half(58%)of employers thought that work life balance practices improved staff motivation and commitment,and 52% thought that staff turnover and absenteeism were lower as a result.
These findings are confirmed by research by Industrial Relations Services among leading companies which found that more than two-thirds reported that employee commitment and motivation,as well as recruitment and retention,had improved as a result of the introduction of family-friendly practices.Absence rates were also found to have dropped by 41%.The public sector has had to make particular efforts to attract and retain staff,and has sometimes compensated for lower pay levels than the private sector by offering more attractive working arrangements.
The LRD/UNSION survey found high levels of flexible working arrangements,with 86% of respondents reporting that flexible working is available to at least some staff in their organization,and 90% saying that job sharing was an option.Almost all(94%) offered part-time working.Reduced hours on return from maternity leave were considered by 73%of employers,and voluntary reduced hours by 65%.Home working was an option in 51% of workplaces,but often only for managers.
Managers often work the longest hours and it is sometimes said by employers that their jobs are least able to be done by part-time or flexible workers.However,increasingly it is becoming more acceptable for employees in management positions to work part-time.And a study ofjob-sharing and flexible working managers found that they outperform colleagues working standard fulltime hours.The study,by consultancy the Resource Connection,found that job sharing managers and those working flexibly had greater problem-solving and analysis skills,as well as better planning and organizational skills than full-time colleagues.
The government has been promoting good practice in balancing work and home life to businesses through DTI work-life balance campaign,launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair in March 2000.One element of the campaign is the Challenge Fund,which has paid out a total of£11.3 million in three years to support employers and unions taking action.Another was the establishment of Employers for Work-Life Balance,an alliance of 22 employers committed to promoting work-life balance.
Now match each paragraph(1 to 5)to the appropriate statement.
Note:there are two extra statements.
1.Paragraph 1
2.Paragraph 2
3.Paragraph 3
4.Paragraph 4
5.Paragraph 5
Statements:
[A]Management jobs are least able to be done by part-time or flexible workers.
[B]Study has confirmed that family-friendly practices have brought about a striking effect.
[C]Most employers believe that they will benefit more if workers keep work-life balance campaign.
[D]Both the government and employers are undertaking the work-life balance campaign.
[E]Part-time job is suitable for any positions,including the management position,[F]Problems with retention led to reducing a range of work-life balance practices.
[G]The concept of flexible working hour has been accepted by most organizations.