Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
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own troubles. Engaging in a way that seeks to find a solution will often result in one. Much has been said in the media in recent times about the statutory requirements to accommodate flexible working requests which are only applicable for those that have people in their care and can be refused by employers with just cause. However, a flexible working approach can be advantageous to both parties if managed well. For example, with a decrease in travel time, there is an opportunity to gain more work from employees, and if the employee works remotely there is no need to provide a desk/workstation etc for the employee. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO SET UP SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT SUCH AS: - Agreeing outcomes not tasks to be achieved, within a period of time - Agreeing the interaction that is critical to ensure a collaborative and engaged approach is achieved and there is an avoidance of the silo approach - Agreeing the reporting/feedback/meeting structures that are required, when and how they need to be delivered and the consequences of not providing them Of course, this type of arrangement indicates the employee would be working more away from the office than in it, and is not appropriate for certain roles and industries; for example, retail couldn't operate this way! GOOD NEWS; THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF ACCOMMODATING THESE NEEDS: - Help to create communities where there is support for employees – whether this be to support them at home, or to cover them at work if they need to be absent at short notice - Place accountability on the employee to ensure cover for their work before they take extended leave, where this can be planned - Mitigate the risk of absence through ensuring there is knowledge sharing regularly taking place, and systems and processes are continuously improved so as to allow for sharing and stepping in to their shoes when needed; ensure information is available to everyone. This is a subject that is highly dependent upon your environment, culture, customer needs and capability levels as well as the way in which you trade; however, without your staff to do their job, it could be like trying to bake a cake without having all the ingredients. The way in which you plan and consider the contingencies though might mean you can still bake the cake, however, it might be lemon flavoured instead of chocolate! With many organisations now looking to operate their business in a more sustainable manner, approaches to absence need to be reviewed; the traditional way of working has changed, and we need to consider how that is impacting our business and how we can accommodate the new. Some quick notes on your obligations Whilst there is a statutory requirement to provide for leave for employees, some employers choose to extend leave beyond their obligations; make sure you don't set precedents as they can catch you out – keep to the policies or contractual commitments you've made. The length of absence which is 'unsustainable' for a business is not determined by law and will depend on the particular impact it will have on your business and sustainability. As an employer, you would be well advised to ensure you have been fair and reasonable in your approach, and have exhausted alternative options prior to going down a Capability termination route if the absence is a personal, long term illness. Where there is a caring situation involved, you may be wise to discuss a period of planned, unpaid leave after the employee's entitlement has been used, so that you can employ a fixed term temporary employee in their place. Other types of absence could include stress or mental health issues. Stress and mental health problems are common causes of longterm sickness. Mental health problems can be very difficult to diagnose and can be caused by stress, bullying or depression brought on by a combination of factors affecting an employee at work and at home. Ensure that you have taken steps to assess and act upon any stress related risks to the employee's health in the working environment. Clare Parkes www.clarian.co.nz HOW TO SPEAK Gen Z The alphabet according to Generation Z [ Born 1995 - 2009 ] AY NO BROMANCE ONESIE CRAY CRAY PROBS Used at the end of a sentence to indicate it's a question. Male friendship – old school speak for mateship. When life is way way too crazy for one word. DEFS Well it's easier than spelling definately... defenately... definitly... see why we shorten? EMOTICON How else do you say (@_@) or d(^_^)b Generally said to people in authority. The old/new pyjamas that love to feature in 'night-at-home' selfies (See S). What the older gens probs call probably. QT A more economical way of spelling cutie. RANDOM ? Can be randomly used as a random response to almost anything. Sick leave: 5 days per annum after 6 months service, accumulated to 20 maximum; not entitled to receive payment for this if they leave; can be used to care for others. Bereavement leave: 1 day per bereavement; for immediate family members. Annual leave: 4 weeks per annum. Parental leave: on birth or adoption of child. SELFIES G e.g. "Whazzap G?" because gangstas can't spell and neither can people who talk to gangstas. TOTES HARRO!! YOUR LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS: FAIL UNFOLLOW Used with or without EPIC to describe anything not a win. (See W for more info) The new hello, said with a touch of Swedish tourist. I A photo taken by you, of you, featuring you (see I for more info). Used to show agreement quicker than a Gen Y can say totally. What you do when someone posts too many food photos on Instagram. V Because I am the centre of everything (and there is an i in everything!). V means very, which is a v quick typing solution for our v busy lives. jks WIN! With media multitasking who has the time to spell jokes? isn't good - make sense?). kgo I mean why write ok, go when you can write kgo?! lms [ my status ] Another way of asking for some attention. MYBAD! Used instead of saying sorry – but at least we're taking ownership. Used to describe anything good (although being "a real winner" XOXOX Used to end any text - Boomers, you would say Yours Sincerely. YOLO [ you only live once ] The excuse for reckless living. Source: McCrindle Research Know the times mccrindle.com.au ZED! Hey, that's us – the now generation. (see I, L, S for more info) www.h e rmagaz in e .co.n z | 57