Testimonials
Flexible Working - Success Story - adidas Australia
During the last two years, adidas has implemented a comprehensive strategy to develop a workplace culture that is supportive of staff who want and need to work flexibly. The company has moved from a position where flexible work arrangements were only accessed by a few working mothers to one where an additional 4% of staff members now work flexibly.
The company’s return rate from parental leave has doubled over a two year period. adidas Australia’s Human Resources Director, Kate Valerio, believes that the high return rate has not only retained valuable staff, but it has also saved the business more than three quarters of a million dollars in recruitment and re-training costs. adidas also supports parents with Childcare Kits for all parents expecting a new arrival.
Kate Valerio says that “whilst this is just the beginning of the journey to achieving real flexibility within the business, we are very proud of what has been achieved since we developed our business case via the executive team of adidas Australia”. Barbara Holmes the Director of Managing Work|Life Balance International has provided invaluable help and guidance which has enabled us to benefit from the experiences of others yet be focused on the specific needs of our business.
Kate Valerio
Human Reources Director
adidas Australia
Work/Life Survey - Strategy Development
Managing Work Life Balance International assisted our organization to clarify its aims and desired outcomes from pursuing a work/life strategy. Barbara (Director MWLB) supported us to undertake a thorough process of consultation with our Executives, line managers and staff, in order to precisely tailor an organization wide survey to our specific needs and goals.The detailed survey analysis and reporting clarified key areas for action. Report recommendations were clearly prioritised and allocated responsibilities suggested, so enabling a fully strategic work/life approach to be progressed.
Alison Smith
Work Life Balance, Manager, Human Resources, Austin Health
Child and Eldercare Kits
We continue to use both the eldercare and childcare kits in our 'Managing the transition' packages for employees.The kits provide a valuable resource as they cover all of our Australian offices, are cost effective, provide up to date information and are easy to read.
Jacqui Abbott
Head of Flexibility and Diversity
People and Development, Allen Arthur Robinson
HDY invested in the Childcare Information Kit to assist employees commencing maternity leave. It provides our staff with important information and answers many questions that new parents face when starting a family, particularly for the first time. The feedback from our staff is that they have found the Kit to be a useful reference point, giving practical tips and contact details for many different support organisations.Our staff are always overwhelmed and delighted about the support they receive from the firm when becoming parents and the Childcare Kit is an important part of this support.
Deborah Stonley
Human Resources Director - Henry Davis York
I would like to formally thank you for your time. I learned a lot from the structured process (strategy development), it has given us a sound basis to move forward and implement our Diversity Strategy.
Human Resources Director, IT Marketing Company
Workshops and Education Sessions
“Driving Wellness” for its employees is important to GM Holden. Barbara Holmes, CEO of MWLB was invited to present at a recent “Lunch and Learn” session about managing work-life balance. The session, held at GM Holden’s head office in Port Melbourne, was attended by over 35 people and provided them with ideas on how to start working towards having more of a balanced life.
Handouts from the session provided easy steps and important reminders to support staff with their ‘balancing act’.
Overwhelming those who attended found the session informative and engaging, also generating ideas for future wellness topics.
This initiative was used to further promote and leverage GM Holden’s investment in both the Child and Elder Care Information Kits which continue to be valued resources by employees.
Julianne Coleman
Global Compensation Consultant Human Resources
GM Holden Limited