People want family flexible working hours much more than they want extra family payments from Government, a major post-Budget Newspoll survey released today shows.

Releasing the poll in advance of a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra today (Wednesday), ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said:

“This survey shows that the Howard Government has missed the mark with its big spending family policies because working families want time much more than they want money.

It shows that policy solutions not pay-offs are what voters are looking for and that work and family remains fertile ground for the major parties in the upcoming election.

When asked by Newspoll what would be most useful for managing the balance of work and family, little more than one in ten full time workers chose ‘an increase by Government in family benefits’ (11.1%).

Almost nine in ten (87%) said they would most prefer other options, including obligations on employers to provide family flexible working hours, time off work for family emergencies, more childcare and a choice to work part time.

These results show that families want more say over their work so they can look after sick kids, get to childcare, cover school holidays, and have stress-free time with their children and partners.

The Government has just decided to spend billions of dollars in the biggest vote-buying spree in living memory – $6 billion will be spent in the next month alone – they should now ensure there are legal obligations for employers to provide family flexible workplaces.

The current rules at work don’t allow people the flexibility they need and that’s why the ACTU is running the first ever work and family test case in the Industrial Relations Commission.

The ACTU case is seeking flexible working hours and holiday times to accommodate school and childcare, extra emergency leave to care for a child or relative, a choice to work part time, and the extension of unpaid parental leave from 12 to 24 months.”

Q. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS WOULD BE THE MOST USEFUL FOR
MANAGING THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY?

Full time workers

AN OBLIGATION FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE FAMILY FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS

27.6%

A RIGHT TO TIME OFF WORK FOR FAMILY EMERGENCIES

26.6%

MORE GOVERNMENT HELP FOR CHILDCARE

21.5%

A CHOICE FOR PARENTS TO WORK PART TIME RATHER THAN FULL TIME

11.3%

AN INCREASE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN FAMILY PAYMENTS

11.1%

NONE / DON’T KNOW

1.7%

Source: Newspoll – national capital city poll conducted 21-23 May 2004.

100.0%

ACTU Media Alert

Greg Combet – ACTU Secretary
National Press Club Address

  • new workplace agenda
  • national work & family survey
  • unions and superannuation
  • vocational education & training
  • infrastructure and nation-building

    • Wednesday 2 June 2004
    National Press Club – Canberra
    12 noon – 2:00 pm
    Televised live on ABC TV

    Greg Combet became Secretary of the ACTU in February 2000. His address will examine the crucial issues facing Australia’s union movement including: the changing demands of working people, the shift to a new paradigm of industrial relations and union strategies in the lead up to the federal election.

    More information: http://www.npc.org.au/speakers.htm