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Eighty-five percent of Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) members reported in a readers’ poll that work/life balance is important, and the CICA has responded by forming a committee to develop resources that will assist both individual members and employers. Moira Bryans, chair of the Work/Life Flexibility Advisory Committee, noted that bringing balance into one’s life is a daily reality and that, “It would be impossible to succeed in the workplace today without addressing individual employee’s issues and provide flexibility.” The work/life imperative has been fueled by an increase of women in the workplace caring for children and aging parents alongside the arrival of Generation X and the Millennials. Bryans indicates that “accounting is a career that can adapt to the needs of employees and that people are the most important asset.” Indeed among young professionals, 77 percent cited that they would leave their employer [original training firm] for quality of life. Flexible hours (82%) is the mostly commonly used initiative with little or no cost associated with offering it. The profession has recognized that work/life is a business issue and that being identified as an employer of choice provides a highly valued marketplace advantage. Bryans points out that while it is vital for employers to be accommodating to retain their employees as well as remove the stigma from taking advantage of work/life programs, it is equally important for employees to be proactive and responsible by requesting the flexibility they need. The Work Life Advisory Committee has developed a robust toolkit to support its members including a video and three presentations that address being an Employer of Choice, Implementing Work/Life and Achieving Personal Quality along with a variety of resources. To order these resources, please contact Karen Duggan, CA at karen.duggan@cica.ca or 416 204 3238. Each package contains DVD: Work/Life Quality: a 21st Century Imperative CD with three presentations - Employer of Choice
- Implementing Work/Life
- Achieving Personal Quality
Each presentation includes a PPT presentation including speakers’ notes, an elevator speech, speaker introductory remarks and a participant workbook. Each presentation can be personalized for the firm and the audience for each presentation. For more information, including downloads of all materials, please visit our Presentation for Firms page. |  |
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