Free Essay

Canadian Work, Life Balance

In:

Submitted By Noah
Words 1270
Pages 6
Canadian Work, Life Balance

The role of work has been changing over the last few years due to economic, cultural and social conditions. In the past years, work was considered as a means of providing the necessities of life for survival. Today, work is still a necessity but there needs to be balance for our personal satisfaction. In order to attain such personal and professional goal, programs and policies have been implemented to facilitate the concept of work-life balance. Work-life balance has been defined by the Workplace Mental Health Promotion as: Work-life balance is a state of well-being that a person can reach or can set as a goal in order to allow them to manage effectively multiple responsibilities at work, at home and in their community. Work-life balance is different for everyone and it supports physical, emotional, family and community health and does so without grief, stress or negative impact (Workplace Mental Health Promotion, 2010).
The issue of work-life balance has been discussed for many years by companies and strategists. All see the benefits of a work-life balance on their employees’ productivity and morale, thus see more happy healthy workers. According to the survey conducted by Nanos on “A snap-shot on work balance, Happiness and stress in Canada”, approximately 89 percent of Canadians are happy, depending on where one lives in Canada. 54 percentage of Quebec residents are most likely to be happy, while 39 percentage of British Columbians are the least likely to be happy (Nanos Report, 2010). From my findings a large majority of Canadians are happy with their work-life balance because these employees have the power to make it happen, they enjoy leisure time and the freedom that technology creates, and the co-operation of family and employers.

First, I believe that Canadians are happy with work-life balance because employees have the power. According to Caroline M. Usher, former Director, Affiliate Operations, for the BC Council for Families, she stated that: Over the past months I've done quite a bit of reading about “work and family.” What I've noticed, is that when people talk (or write) “work and family” what they usually mean is “what the workplace should be doing for its employees.” What I have discovered, however, is that the person with the most power to balance work and family life has always been me, the employee (Usher, n.d., ¶1-3).
Many employees prefer to have some sort of balance in their lives, and believe that this will lead to productivity in the workplace. Employees will make the effort to balance out the demand of their time and career choices. Employees have the power to say “no” to working overtime or carrying work home. They should prioritise their daily activities so that they are not overwhelmed and can also ask about flexible work or job sharing from their employers. The employees should involve the family in balancing work-life by sharing the various chores and tasks at home. With this power employees can spend time on the things they enjoy and be fulfilled in their everyday lives.

Second, I believe that Canadians are happy with work-life balance because people enjoy the freedom that technology creates. With the increase availability and access to the latest technology such as the cell phone, Smart phones, high-definition screens and Internet capabilities, that enable employees to communicate and convene meetings without traveling out of the office or the country to complete work without being physically present to meet deadlines (Alini, 2010). “For tech giant Cisco Canada, caring for employees’ well-being includes a somewhat less intuitive approach: using the latest technology to cut commuting and travel time as a way to improve work-life balance” (Alini, 2010).

The changes in technology have created such an environment that many employers are allowing their employees to work from home. This enables the employee to spend more time with family, get more involved in community activities and also achieve the enjoyment of leisure time.

Third, I believe that Canadians are happy with work-life balance because of the co-operation of family and employers. “A positive work culture is one in which “people feel valued and respected,” and where employers “see you as a human being and not just someone who’s there to do a job,” says Hazel Rosin, professor at York University’s Schulich School of Business” (Rosin as cited in Alini, 2010). Many employers have begun to create an environment where employees can achieve a work-life balance. As evident in the article “Work-life balance: Getting there”:

Making it all work smoothly is a co-operative venture involving you, your family and your employer. When the home front is taken care of, you are less distracted at work. When your work is managed well, you are happier at home. And when you have regular leisure time, just for you, you can recharge, thereby enriching your whole life (Work-Life Balance: “Getting There” n.d., p.1). Employers can create a co-operative workplace by initiating a flexible work week; promote the advantages of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); start a parenting support group; organize community services and recreation activities available for families; offer fitness centre opportunities and encourage the development of healthy workplace policies (Balancing Work and Home. n.d. ¶2). With this co-operative venture, employees are happy to enjoy more family time instead of spending more time working on the job helping them to lessen conflicts at home.
In conclusion Canadians are achieving work-life balance by empowering themselves to balance out the demand of work and personal life. Canadians have minimised the demand of their time and seek to spend it, nurturing themselves and their family. With the use of technology employees travel time is cut-back so they can have more leisure time. The co-operation of employers has increased productivity in the work place. The work-life balance concept has created an opportunity to make Canadians happy with their personal and professional lives.

References

Alini Erica. (October 28, 2010) Healthy and happy - Many of the best employers offer on-site fitness centres. Macleans.ca. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www2.macleans.ca /2010/10/28/healthy-and-happy/
Balancing Work and Home. (n.d.). City of Ottawa. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/health/environments/workplace/balancing_en.html#top
Hamel Deron. (2011) Team members highlight work-life balance as key ingredient to organizational culture. Omni Way. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from http://omniway.ca/news_ details. php?id=9689
Nanos Report (2010). A snap-shot on work balance, Happiness and stress in Canada. Globe and Mail/Nanos Poll. Retrieved March 7, 2011 from http://www.nanosresearch.com/library/ polls/POLNAT-W10-T444E.pdf
Sankey, D (2011, January 15). Clear your mind and get ready for success. Montreal Gazette. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/ Clear+your+mind+ready+success/4112819/story.html
Usher C. M. (n.d.). Balancing work and family-you’ve got the power. BC Council for Families. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.bccf.ca/all/resources/balancing-work-and-family %E2%80%A6you%E2%80%99ve-got-power
Work-Life Balance: - Getting There. (n.d.). Government of Alberta. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from http://www.healthyalberta.com/HealthyPlaces/601.htm
Work-Life Balance. (2010). Workplace Mental Health Promotion. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from http://wmhp.cmhaontario.ca/workplace-mental-health-core-concepts-issues/issues-in-the-workplace-that-affect-employee-mental-health/work-life-balance[pic]
-----------------------
Date: April 6, 2011

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Stress at Work

...stress currently affect the Canadian work force. We will explore a contrast between Great Britain’s and Canada’s workplace causes of stress and industries that provide most stress within the two nations. We will also identify some Canadian companies strategies to assist their employees with managing stress. Throughout this research it will become evident the importance of taking responsibility for managing stress to maintain a healthy work life balance. It is also important to recognize the impact of advancement in communication tools and their positive and negative impact towards work related stress. Different cultures and nations can experience similar stressors but also have unique stress contributing factors and industries. Employee stress in Great Britain and Canada According to the Health and Safety Executive (Buckley, 2013, p. 6-7), Great Britain has a total of 10.4 million working days lost between 2011 and 2012, as compared to Canada of 100 million in 2010 alone (Langton, N., & Robbins, S.P. & Judge, T., 2013, p. 122-129). Data shows the main stressors in Great Britain are workload, lack of managerial support, and violence/bullying (Buckley, 2013, p. 6-7). Canadians tend to stress over job security, technological change, workload, managerial/co-worker support and personal life balance (textbook). When comparing this data, the Canadian workforce appear to struggle with more stressors, one key cause is personal life affecting work life and vice versa. The most stressful...

Words: 1526 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

The Social Determinants of Health: Working Conditions as a Determinant of Health

...Working Conditions as a Determinant of Health This summary is primarily based on papers and presentations by Andrew Jackson, Senior Economist, Canadian Labour Congress, and Michael Polanyi Assistant Professor, Saskatchewan Population Health Research and Evaluation Unit, and Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina. The presentations were prepared for The Social Determinants of Health Across the Life-Span Conference, held in Toronto in November 2002. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Health Canada. Current Situation Over the 1980s and 1990s, there has been an ongoing restructuring of the labour market and of employment relationships. The intent of these changes has been to promote productivity and competitiveness, as opposed to promoting a worker-centred agenda of “good jobs” (Lowe, 2000). In Canada, only two-thirds of the employed workforce are in “standard” salaried jobs with no defined end date (mostly provided by large firms and the public sector). In this shrinking core job market, workers who have survived layoffs, privatization and contracting-out are generally working longer and harder. Employers have tried to increase profitability and competitiveness and to contain budgets by boosting productivity. This has been accomplished largely by increasing workloads. For example, in the health sector, fewer nurses, social workers and other health professionals must now deal...

Words: 3260 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Accounting for Lease

...This paper will outline the differences in accounting treatment of and criteria for determining whether leases should be accounted for as either a capital lease or an operating lease. I will be limiting my discussion to the accounting treatment of leases by the lessee. This paper will discuss the current accounting treatment for the two types of leases according to Canadian GAAP and will tie in elements of the conceptual framework to the treatment of leases from CICA handbook section 1000, followed by a discussion on accounting theories related to lease treatment, and finally current issues outlined in academic research concerning lease treatment by the lessee. Capital and Operating Leases There are two major classifications of leases. Capital leases and operational leases. A Capital lease is defined in the CICA handbook as “a lease that, from the point of view of the lessee, transfers substantially all the benefits and risks incident to ownership of property to the lessee” (CICA, 2010, Section 3065, ¶3). In order for a lease to be classified as a capital lease, the life of the lease must exceed 75% of the life of the leased item, there must be a transfer of ownership at the end of the lease or a bargain purchase option, and the present value of the lease payments must exceed 90% of the fair market value of the asset (Grossman, A., & Grossman, S., 2010). An operational lease is described by the CICA handbook as “a lease in which the lessor does not transfer substantially...

Words: 2518 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Business Communications Final Report

...------------------------------------------------- www.rtm.com ------------------------------------------------- Phone (336) 780-0897 ------------------------------------------------- Fax (336) 780-9701 ------------------------------------------------- Address: 6800 Star Mount Drive ------------------------------------------------- Greensboro, NC, 27403 ------------------------------------------------- Roundtable Management MEMORANDUM To: Jerry McGuire, CEO From: Jason Stevens, Director of Marketing Date: 4/23/15 Subject: Expanding Roundtable Management Round Table management has successfully competed in the United States sports industry, representing 40% of the NBA players in America. We have transformed from an unknown commodity, to a household name in the sports industry, and in the lives of our athletes families. Although we are very successful at our craft, why stop here? The world is bigger than the United States, and we believe Roundtable has the proper personnel, outside resources, and overall promising potential to begin representing international athletes in other basketball leagues outside of the NBA. As it stands now, Roundtable management does not represent any foreign players. If we want to be known as the greatest management firm in the industry, it is ideal that we begin the necessary steps to broadening our brand. NBA.com reports our league has the highest number of foreign players in the league, at 101 players1. The top countries with the most international...

Words: 3410 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Tax Midterm

...Tax Midterm Chapter 1: Taxation- Its role in decision making Taxation and the financial decision process * Taxation is a controllable cost * Tax cost = cost of doing business * Analyzed to determine which actions or activities have a greater/lesser impact on the resulting tax cost * Each alternative= different impact on the amount of tax and the timing of the payment of tax * Even if marketing decision = direct effect on the long term tax cost of the firm → thus on profits and value * Tax= important on any decision making * Tax costs are relevant when alternative strategies are being considered * Cash flow (CF) exists only on an after-tax basis * All CF= after tax * NPV compared and ranked * Shows the actual value of the individual/corporation * Analysis can’t be of value unless the real tax impact is included * Alternative action to minimize the tax impact * After tax = % of interest x (1 – Tax rate) * 5% dividend on the equity of a “public corporation” = not deductible to the business → after tax = 5% (real cost) * Net value to individual investor subject to 45% tax rate = 3.6% (after applying dividend tax credit) The fundamental income tax structure and its complexity Taxpayers * Individuals * Corporations * Trusts | Business & investment structures * Proprietorship * Corporation * Partnership * Limited partnership * Joint venture...

Words: 6661 - Pages: 27

Premium Essay

Worklife Balance

...Under Pressure Implications of Work-Life Balance and Job Stress Human Solutions™ Report | 2006–07 Fall 2006 Dear Valued Customer: Welcome to the first Human Solutions™ Report: Under Pressure. Implications of Work-Life Balance and Job Stress. The report was written by Graham Lowe, PhD, a thought leader in the arena of workplace health and productivity. This is the first of a series of empirical reports that we will publish for you on an annual basis, each on a relevant and timely topic or theme. The Human Solutions™ Report stems from our pledge to bring you relevant and practical recommendations concerning your most significant human capital-related issues. And it reflects our attempt to counter the wealth of unsubstantiated and potentially misleading information about workforce issues circulating in the general media and other sources. In this Human Solutions™ Report , we analyze two comprehensive Canadian workforce surveys using key questions pertaining to work-life balance and job stress. We recognize that quality of work-life is a pressing business issue for you and a necessary ingredient for a successful business strategy. Yet to craft effective solutions to work-life issues, it is paramount that you have solid evidence on the scope and nature of the problems that are faced. This is what the Report endeavours to provide. As a customer whose opinions are important to us, we welcome your feedback. As well, we look forward to hearing about topics and issues you would...

Words: 5663 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

Immigration

...and immigrants in Canada have a difficult time entering the labour market notwithstanding exemplary educational credentials and extensive professional work experience. These are the result of prioritizing Canadian education and experience, which conceal elements of racism. The consequences are that invisible barriers are put into place; they deny fair access to work and limit the advancement of newcomers socially and economically. Many third-world immigrants to Canada must qualify for entry by demonstrating academic proficiencies and accreditations, which include post-secondary degrees or more. They are well-educated people with professional skills in areas the Canadian economy needs support. Immigrants are eager to continue their careers but soon find a need to reinvent themselves (Omidvar). This is something of a catch-22: their extant educations are what confirm their desirability as immigrants yet Canada employers fail to recognize or accredit foreign educations with any sense of equivalency. Except in rare cases, like the university professoriate or countries like Great Britain or the United States, the extent of an applicant’s education level is, for the most part, mitigated among employers. The applicants’ results, including bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from their home countries, are limited in the Canadian job market. Because economic advancement is one of the primary motivations to emigrate there are fundamental inconsistencies in the administration of...

Words: 1933 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Flexibility

...whether flexible work schedules in Canada are created by employers for business reasons or to assist their workers achieve work-life balance. We focus on long workweek, flextime, compressed workweek, variable workweek length and/or variable workweek schedule. Statistics Canada’s 2003 Workplace and Employee Survey data linking employee microdata to workplace (i.e., employer) microdata are used in the analysis. Results show that more than half of the workers covered in this data have at least one of the five specified types of flexible work schedules. Employment status, unionized work, occupation, and sector are factors consistently associated with flexible work schedules. Personal characteristics such as marital status, dependent children, and childcare use are not significantly associated with flexible work schedules, and females are less likely to have a flexible work schedule than are males. Overall, results suggest that flexible work schedules are created for business reasons rather than individual worker interests. KEyWORDS: work schedules, non-standard work, work-life balance This paper examines whether flexible work schedules in Canada are created by employers for business reasons or to assist their workers achieve work-life balance. We first explore the prevalence of different types of flexible work schedules in Canada, and then examine work, personal, human capital, workplace, and sector characteristics that might be associated with flexible work schedules....

Words: 9400 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Struggles of Working Mothers

...All” The Struggles of Working Mothers in Today’s Society Abstract Today’s society and economy is structured in a way that does not allow women to easily maintain a balance between being a professional and being a mother. Although there has been a constant rise of women entering the workplace as professionals, the economy and society still does not recognize that these professional women are also mothers. Many companies also believe that women are not suitable for executive jobs either. Young women of today, who plan on having a career as well as a family, accept that they will eventually have to make sacrifices in their career rather than their husband. This has led women to believe and say that “They Can’t Have it All”. The main reasons why women end up saying “They Can’t have it All” is due to factors such as unequal share of roles, an improper work-life balance, lack of flexibility, gender inequality and the lack of women executives and/or leaders in today’s society. In order for all of this to improve and to allow women “to have it all”, flexibility must be implemented into the workplace. Women should also assert equal housework in their home with their significant other. These two reasons alone can allow for more women to advance in the work place while still being a mother. This will help encourage and inspire young women to pursue executive, leading roles in which will eventually improve gender inequality. 1.0 Introduction...

Words: 3292 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Geert Hofstede's 5 Cultural Dimensions

...accepting of the unbalanced nature. They have accepted the inequality as part of the rights of those with the power. PDI measures the extent to which a community will accept this division and inequality. Low Power distance would include equality factors like decentralized government with constant questioning of authority, conscious democratic structure where society is actively part of its management. High Power Distance societies are centralized hierarchical structures that reflect a paternalistic attitude to management of society. High PDI is unequal and society tends to accept the hierarchy as part of their nobility instead of a vast repression of social rights. Canada’s PDI: 39 “With a score of 39 on this dimension, Canadian culture is marked by interdependence among its inhabitants and there is value placed on egalitarianism” (geert-hofstede.com). Any...

Words: 1080 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Blah

...Future economic growth is expected to increase in Western Canada with growth slowing in Eastern Canada. Interest rates are expected to remain low and monetary policy is expected to continue stimulating the Canadian economy. Inflation was 2.9% in 2011 and was expected to decrease to 1.8% in 2012. Despite decreased consumer spending in recent years, the expectation is job growth will fuel consumer spending increases. Further, job growth has recovered to pre-2008 levels; however, skill shortages exist in a number of industries including IT, skilled trades, and healthcare, with the latter two direct consequences of the aging boomer group which continues to cause major changes in Canada’s economic landscape. Savings account for 6.1% of disposable income with no expectation of change in the near future. Annual disposable income grew in 2011 by a slight margin of 0.3% to nearly $30,000 for the average Canadian with higher numbers seen in more urban population centres such as Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. (Euromonitor, 2012) Socio-cultural Canada’s population (34.8M in 2012) is growing but at a slowing pace with the median age (40.1 in 2012) rising (again, boomers). The country’s population growth is attributed to increased numbers of immigrants landing on Canadian shores, highest amongst large global economies, with 20% of the country’s total population being foreign-born and two-thirds of that existing in Vancouver, Toronto, and...

Words: 477 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Stress Management

...C H A P T E R 7 Work-Related Stress and Stress Management Learning Objectives AFTER READING THIS CHAPTER , YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO : I Define stress and describe the stress experience. I Outline the stress process from stressors to consequences. I Identify the different types of stressors in the workplace. I Explain why a stressor might produce different stress levels in two people. I Discuss the physiological, psychological, and behavioural effects of stress. I Identify five ways to manage workplace stress. S ylvia Noreen thought that working at a small hospital in Prince Edward Island would reduce the stress she had experienced as a nurse in Ontario for 17 years. Instead, she discovered that Stewart Memorial Hospital nurses in Tyne Valley also experience unacceptable stress levels due to budget cuts and staff shortages. “There can be a lot of demands made on you,” says Noreen. “The workload can get quite strenuous at times.” With no vacations during her first year at Stewart, Noreen’s scheduled days off were precious time to recharge her batteries. Unfortunately, those moments were fewer than she had hoped. “We’re faced with being called back on our days off,” Noreen says. “It is trying at times.” Canadian nurses and other health care workers are feeling some of the highest levels of stress and burnout of any occupation across the country. With Montreal-area emergency rooms filled to 167 percent, nurses at St. Luc Hospital in Montreal recently...

Words: 16294 - Pages: 66

Premium Essay

Old Age Security

...The Canadian pension system, funded from the Government of Canada’s general revenues is comprised of three programs. The Old Age Security (OAS) program includes the basic OAS pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and the Allowance for Survivors.(social work) Old Age Security provides benefits to Canadian residents at the age of 65 and who have resided in Canada for more than 10 years after age 18. To receive the full monthly benefit of $540.12, an individual must have lived in Canada for a period of 40 or more years after the age of 18. OAS benefits are not dependant on paid employment or the income of a spouse or partner. Individuals who earn more than $69, 562 will have their OAS benefits “clawed back” and those with an income exceeding $122, 772 are not eligible to receive the OAS benefit. The Guaranteed Income Supplement provides benefits to low income seniors who are also receiving OAS. The federal government has recently introduced policy changes to the Old Age Security and (GIS) benefits, specifically increasing the age of eligibility from the current age of 65 to 67. These changes are to be fully implemented by the year 2029. As an advocate for low income seniors, the policy changes to the OAS/GIS eligibility requirements will be analysis and recommendations will be made that there is no financial reason to amend the Old Age Security Act and in doing so the adverse affects to lower income earners will be numerous. The Canadian government, under Conservative...

Words: 1904 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Women's Suffrage In Canada

...In the past century, there has been a dramatic change in how the world views women and their roles in society. Specifically, how life for Canadian women has changed and how women from different cultures and countries each face unique problems in being respected and treated as equal members of society. Women have gone from being valued only as housewives in the fifties to CEOs in modern times. This is a remarkable achievement which should have come sooner. Although, even in today’s society women are still subjected to unfair and unjustified prejudice, stereotyping, sexism and conservative old fashioned gender role ideas. Women were believed to be passive and weak which is a complete contrast to how most of the world views women today. When compared...

Words: 2190 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Consultant

...Test adaada dadada adada adada adada ada Brown, P. (2004). Promoting work/life balance in a ‘hurry culture’: Issues and challenges. Retrieved March 14, 2005, from Griffith University website: www.gu.edu.au/ins/collections/proflects/brownp04.pdf Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Finding flow: The psychology of engagement with everyday life. New York: Harper Collins. Duxbury, L. & Higgins, C. (2003). Work–life conflict in Canada in the new millennium: A status report (Final Report). Retrieved March 23, 2005, from www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/worktravail/report2/ Duxbury, L., & Higgins, C. (2001). Work-life balance in the new millennium: Where are we? Where do we need to go? Retrieved on March 23, 2005 from: www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=52 Haché, L., Redekopp, D. E., & Jarvis, P. S. (2000). Blueprint for life/work design. Memramcook, NB: National Life/Work Centre. Hassen, F. (2004). Sleep deprivation: Effects on safety, health and the quality of life. Retrieved February 25, 2005, from www.cameraguild.com/safety/sleep-deprivation.htm Hill E. J., Hawkins, A. J., Ferris, M., & Weitzman, M. (2001). Finding an extra day a week: The positive influence of perceived job flexibility on work and family life balance. Family Relations, 50(1), 49. Honore, C. (2004). In praise of slowness. San Francisco: Harper. Isherwood, C., & Cajic, N. (1998, November). Burnout-proofing your employees. Training Report. Retrieved on March 23, 2005...

Words: 339 - Pages: 2