Diocesan Press Release

Balancing work and family life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday 6 February 1998

South Bank businesses and the South London Industrial Mission (SLIM) recently joined in a seminar on balancing the demands of work and family life. 24 people from management and shopfloor joined church workers for the lunchtime workshop, hosted by the FT at their Southwark Bridge offices on Wednesday February 4.

Marie Gadsden, Personnel Officer with the Royal Borough of Kingston, gave a presentation on their work with small and medium sized enterprises, encouraging them to develop family-friendly policies. Participants exchanged experiences and discussed ideas for creating a culture which fosters balanced work/family relationships.

SLIM set up the seminar as part of a one-year project to encourage companies to introduce family-friendly employment policies. A group of participants will continue working on this project with SLIM.

The Rev John Paxton, Senior Chaplain of SLIM, says, "This seminar was a valuable opportunity for employers, including the Church, to see current good practice about developing employment procedures which encourage a balance between work and family responsibilities."

FOOTNOTE: A recent survey by 'Parents at Work' found that most parents were exhausted at the end of the day and spending too little time with their children. 50% felt that their relationships and their health were affected by long working hours.

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