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The Government worked actively with enterprises and non-government organisations in promoting family-friendly employment practices to help employees fulfil their work and family commitments concurrently.
Speaking at the Seminar on Family-Friendly Employment Practices today (June 1), the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour), Mr Paul Tang, said that these employment practices would be conducive to harmonious relations and a recipe for an all-win situation for employers and employees in Hong Kong.
He urged all sectors in the community to collaborate in fostering a family-friendly work culture and environment, adding that the Government would continue playing its role as a facilitator in promoting people-oriented management practices.
Mr Tang pointed out that the advantages brought about by the adoption of such practices were numerous. "The implementation of family-friendly employment practices will help employees meet family needs to relieve their stress and at the same time boost their work efficiency and morale," he said.
"On the other hand, employers can retain talents by adopting these measures. This will not only reduce their expenses in recruiting and training new staff but also build up a positive image for the enterprises.
"In fact, family-friendly employment practices are not new or high-sounding concepts. In simple terms, they are people-oriented management practices which facilitate employees to fulfil their work and family responsibilities and thereby striking a work-life balance," he said.
Introducing such practices does not necessarily cost a huge sum of money. The employers' caring attitude is crucial. Frank communication with employees enables better understanding of employees' family needs, they may then introduce flexible work arrangements or provide support services for their employees. This will benefit both the employers and employees.
In this regard, the Government has taken the initiative to introduce a five-day week by phases starting July 1 last year to let its employees enjoy a longer holiday at weekend and spend more time with their family members.
In doing so, the Government is able to maintain its high-level service standard without incurring additional resources.
Other family-friendly employment practices that organisations may consider include family leave benefits, flexible working hours or counselling services for employees.
Mr Tang called on employers to formulate suitable people-oriented management measures with reference to their business nature and to make concerted efforts in building a family-friendly working environment so as to raise employees' sense of belonging.
Another speaker at the seminar, Women's Commission member Ms Lau Ka-shi, said the commission was promoting a "Let's All Start With One" campaign. "We recommend that all public bodies and private companies, regardless of their size and nature, offer at least one family-friendly employment practice so that the community at large can benefit from a more harmonious society," Ms Lau said.
"Some may think that Hong Kong companies are mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, which may not afford such measures. In fact, what we need is just a bit more empathy and consideration for the employees as well as a bit more creativity," she said.
The seminar today was jointly organised by the Labour Department, Women's Commission, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management and Hong Kong People Management Association.
Representatives from the organisers gave talks to explore the subject of family-friendly employment practices from the perspective of employers and employees.
In addition, representatives from the Standard Chartered (HK) Limited and City Telecom (HK) Limited shared their experience in the implementation of family-friendly employment practices.
Ends/Friday, June 1, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:50
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