BALANCE could be the key to retaining outstanding employees, the audience at the Work-Life Conference 2009 heard yesterday.

Findings by Deloitte show business leaders are increasingly focusing on staff turnover. Two-thirds are fearful of losing outstanding employees after the recession.

Work-life balance has become a deciding factor in employee job selection. More than half of the respondents surveyed by HR agency Robert Half and ACCA said they would take a job that paid less but had better work-life balance.

Citing industrial supply company Gin Huat, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong told the conference: 'Work-life balance policies can help prevent talent outflow from a company when the recession is over.'

Gin Huat provides a family care room so staff with childcare difficulties can bring their youngsters to work. It also allows some staff to work out of the office. And the results have been positive - Gin Huat has seen a 20 per cent fall in staff turnover.

The labour force participation rate for women is low at only 56 per cent, and a stronger focus on work-life balance could boost the number who return to work after giving birth, the conference heard.

Well planned work-life balance policies can stand companies in good stead in the race for talent and make them a preferred choice for employees, speakers said.

This article was first published in The Business Times.