Work-life balance is a global phenomena. In the USA, Britain, Canada and Australia not only is government promoting Work-life balance but independent agencies are doing it too.

International Trends

In Canada, over the past decade, an abundance of data and the results of research studies supported claims of reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and greater potential for recruitment and retention. Work-life balance research points to work-life policies as being good for business. Research further points to the challenges of recruiting and retaining top talent in an increasingly competitive labour market that is driving workplace change which often results in workforce demands for work-life balance. These factors are now motivating employers to integrate work-life balance measures in their business strategies. The facilitating of work-life balance is not corporate social work. It's a business imperative, which makes business sense.

In USA, concepts of Work-Life Balance are so advance, they even have institutes like Families and Work Institute (FWI). FWI is dedicated to providing objective information on work-life issues and concerns confronting workers and employers in order to make informed decisions in government, business, communities, and family concerns groups. Toward this end, FWI conducts its own research studies and supports the field of work-life research by bringing researchers together, sharing information, and collaborating on projects. Besides this, there are government and community interest groups focusing on different aspects of work-life.

Companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) declare their vision is to provide "a diverse work world in which our people can pursue their goals in life." In support of this vision, they have a Worklife Quality, a commitment that extends through every part of PwC. The University of California at Berkeley offers a Catastrophic Leave-Sharing Program to give staff and academic employees a chance to support their colleagues who are facing a major health crisis, whether their own or that of a family member. The program allows employees to provide assistance in the form of donated vacation leave. It was developed as part of campus efforts to create a caring environment, and because many members of the campus community have expressed a desire to assist their co-workers in this way.

Future Direction

There is global trend to achieving work-life balance with family friendly policies and other practices and procedures in the workplace which will enables employees to balance the demands of work with their personal needs and yet fulfilling the bottom line aspirations of organisations. In doing so employees will also fulfill their own material, physical and spiritual aspirations.

The developed countries ranging from USA and Canada to Britain and Australia are progressively introducing work-life balance policies and practices in workplace. With Singapore adopting most of the better business policies and practices, work-life balance will become a necessary standard in our workplaces.

Human Resources executives and managers who may not have had any training in work life strategies or a limited understanding of the subject have to acquire knowledge and skills so that they can develop practical work life balance solutions which are compatible with the overall business strategy of the organisation and suited to local needs . This learning may include besides reading appropriate literature on the experiences of other organisations and generic text; attending a variety of workshops that will help them develop workable work life balance solutions.