WORK-LIFE balance is fast catching on in Singapore, as more companies here recognise that family-centred policies make for happier, more productive workers.
Human resource (HR) firms say they are seeing more companies adopt practices that help their staff juggle work, home and private lives.
The figures bear this out.
The yearly Singapore Human Resource Award, for instance, is seeing higher participation, said Mr David Ang, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI), the event's organiser.
This year's submissions to vie for the awards have doubled from last year. There was also a 20 per cent increase in the number of companies that took part in the quality work-life category this year, as compared to last year.
More companies are also dipping into a $10 million scheme, called the Work-Life Works! (WoW!) Fund, to promote work-life measures in the workplace.
In 2006, two years after the government-funded WoW! was introduced, only about 160 companies had tapped it.
As of this year, however, over 400 companies are using this subsidy. Most are small and medium enterprises.
Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Straits Times.
