Hydro Tasmania has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to work and family balance in the 2005 National Work and Family Awards with a high commendation in the Gold Award public sector category.
The awards, which were announced last night in Sydney by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, recognises Australian organisations that actively encourage work and family balance by implementing innovative policies that support employees.
Hydro Tasmania Human Resources Executive Adviser, Amanda Vallance, said that Hydro Tasmania actively promotes the importance of work and family balance within its business.
“We are particularly aware of the juggling of priorities required by our employees in achieving a balance between the work and family commitments,” Ms Vallance said.
“To ease this situation we have put in place a number of initiatives to support our employees in the various aspects of their lives, including the appointment of a family officer.
“The health and safety of our employees has the highest priority within our business and creating life balance is an important aspect.
“From a business perspective, Hydro Tasmania aims to be an ‘employer of choice’ and we are achieving this as a result of our family-friendly policies which support the quality of life of our employees.
“The introduction of these initiatives also allows the business to work more effectively with more satisfied and healthier staff and the ability for better workforce planning.”
Some of the initiatives which support Hydro Tasmania’s commitment to family and work balance:
• Flexible working arrangements, including support to work from home;
• Priority access to full time child care;
• Paid and unpaid carers leave
• Maternity and paternity leave along with a number of other leave arrangements; and
• A school holiday care allowance.
Hydro Tasmania also has a number of further initiatives to support employees’ health and safety, including the Healthy Hydro program which promotes and subsidises health and fitness, an active social club with family activities, and special events and seminars specialising in family issues and interests.
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