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 The CICA recognizes that there is a need to inform members of the issues and provide best practices to firms on how to develop and assess flexible plans in the workplace. An advisory committee has been formed to address the work life flexibility issues facing our members. Committee members come from across Canada and Bermuda and include members from large, medium and small firms in public practice as well as industry (including human resource firms) and representation from the provincial institutes. The mission of this advisory committee is to promote a culture within the chartered accountancy profession that is known for work life flexibility. It will do so by creating clarity about the unique issues that encourage or prevent work life balance / flexibility, by providing current information on the unique issues in a very useable and informative way for members in practice and by engaging CICA leadership, business and industry, small firm interests to support the mission.
Recent member surveys have identified work life balance as a top priority. In a survey of younger members undertaken in January 2006, 69% of respondents rated work life balance as a very important factor in their current work environment. And in focus groups completed in May 2006, younger members in industry indicated that work life balance was a key motivator for moving to industry. Today’s students come from very diverse backgrounds and have very different expectations of their employers. They have made it clear that they value balance in their lives and workplace flexibility is a necessary component. Finally, many CAs are part of the sandwich generation – caught between raising young children, caring for aging parents and managing a demanding career. How well CAs can cope with these challenges depends in part on how supportive the workplace is. A May 2005 Journal of Accountancy article argued that work life programs and policies are not luxuries. So, it just makes good business sense to develop a formal work life flexibility program. The first steps in this process included the development of a web presence within the CICA website. Eventually, the site will contain tools to assist employers and employees in addressing work life flexibility issues. Other initiatives of this committee may include: - Development of tip sheets and other aids
- Development of professional development material (perhaps a workshop and / or a conference)
- Development of a library of articles on best practices
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