Manager’s Responsibilities

Manager responsibilities for facilitating flexible work arrangements and assisting staff to mange their work-life issues include the following.

• Encourage open communication with staff so they feel they can approach you on work-life balance matters. By acting as a role model and utilising flexible work options you’ll help to create a work-life balance friendly workplace. This also reinforces the idea that Managers, like staff members, sometimes require changes to their work patterns to accommodate work-life balance issues. Planning and Development Review is a good conversation time within which to do this.
• Where a staff member contacts you to negotiate flexible work arrangements, encourage him or her to prepare a flexible work proposal before arranging a face-to-face meeting to discuss the proposal. Request a copy of the proposal to examine before the meeting, if possible.
• Support staff through the decision-making process by advising on the advantages and disadvantages of the University’s flexible work options and how potential difficulties with the proposed arrangement may be overcome.
• Reallocate work arrangements to ensure the work unit functions effectively.
• Adjust workloads to ensure they reflect hours being worked.
• Monitor the arrangement and evaluate the staff members work performance.
• Review the arrangement on a regular basis to address any concerns that may arise.
• Ensure that part-time staff or staff on leave maintain contact with the workplace.
• Ensure that part-time staff, staff on reduced hours, or staff on leave have access to the same staff development, training and career opportunities as other staff.
• Ensure that staff members are aware that they may seek information from Human Resources about issues relating to their work-life balance.