Flexible working hours good for health care workers.

NZNO fully supports calls for more flexible working hours, spearheaded by Green MP Sue Kedgley's Private Members' Bill. The Bill gives employees with young or disabled children a statutory right to request flexible working arrangements, and creates a statutory duty for employers to consider such requests seriously. Flexible working could mean staggered start and finish times, a compressed working week, part-time employment or extended holiday time in return for reduced wages. The Bill also gives employers grounds for turning down an employee request.

NZNO is a member of the Coalition for Quality Fiexible Work, launched earlier last month at Parliament. Comprised of about 20 groups, including parenting and business organisations and unions, the coalition wants all workers to have the right to ask to vary their work hours. NZNO considers inflexibility in working hours as one of the key barriers to people remaining in the female dominated nursing and caregiving workforce. "Women are the predominant caters in family homes as well as the health system. More flexibility would assist working mothers so they can achieve a real work-life balance," said organising services manager Cee Payne-Harker. "We need better solutions than we have now. Women shouldn't have to decide between work and family. New Zealand would be far better off if it was easier for parents to earn a living while providing a secure, supportive environment for growing children."

High-stress working conditions were among the key reasons for high staff turnover in the health sector, particularly in aged care, she said. The health benefits associated with flexibility at work would assist in retaining skilled and experienced health professionals.

NZNO welcomed the release of a discussion document by Labour Minister Ruth Dyson that considers the options for central Government in steering workplaces towards flexible employment initiatives (see www.dol.govt.nz). "Legislation akin to that in place in the United Kingdom is the best mechanism to create good quality, flexible jobs," said Payne-Harker. "Research shows that flexible employment practices increase morale and productivity and reduce absenteeism, stress-related illness and staff turnover. Another spin-off includes reduced traffic congestion during peak hours." Flexible working hours were an important part of NZNO campaigns in district health boards, aged care and primary health.

The Flexible Working Hours Bill is due to have its third reading in Parliament next April.