One Tree Hill
As school holidays kick off next week some workplaces are offering free kids programmes
Good vibes
Employers are organising free school holiday programmes for workers’ children in the latest move towards more family-friendly workplaces and flexible working conditions.
That comes as companies offer lump sum payments for parents going on maternity leave, extended parental leave on top of statutory Government leave, and additional leave so parents can stay home with sick children.
With school holidays next week, telecommunications giant Vodafone has offered teenage children of Auckland employees the chance to take part in the company’s first school holiday programme.
At the InnoV8 Auckland office between Monday and Thursday next week, 4- to 18-year-olds will be taught how to build their own website and learn about careers in the technology industry.
“We will look to grow the programme to our other centres next year,” said Vodafone spokeswoman Meera Kaushik.
The telco also has a flexible working policy which allowed employees whose physical presence wasn’t necessary for getting their job done to work where and when it suited them, Kaushik said.
“That includes parents having the freedom to work from home if and when childcare issues arise, which they invariably do from time to time, without taking annual leave.”
At NZME, owner of the Weekend Herald and radio stations including ZM, Hauraki and Flava, a holiday programme is being offered for the first time, with children 8-12 invited to record in a radio studio, learn about creative roles, watch movies and play games.
The trial programme is taking place one day each week.
The idea came from a discussion at the company’s diversity committee, said recruitment and employer brand adviser Aakansha Chaudhary.
“It’s good to have that support for the parents in the workplace.”
Employees’ kids are also being catered for at Kaitaia non-profit Far North Safer Community Council.
The council’s Youth Innovations manager Nancy Wiperi said children of staff could attend the council’s holiday programme for free. Ordinarily the programme cost $430 per child each week.
“It allows them to do their mahi without the extra stress of being a parent [trying to find holiday care].”
Six children of five employees were taking part in the programme, which focuses on arts, challenges, sharing and caring and one big outing each holidays — this time to Te Paki Sand Dunes.
The moves have the backing of business and equality advocates, with National Council of Women of New Zealand chief executive Gill Greer saying employers had “everything to gain” from doing what they could to support all working parents.
That could be by hosting a free holiday programme or offering flexibility for parents juggling parenthood and work.
“I think when people feel valued and can have some flexibility, whatever their gender, everybody wins.”
Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said many workplaces offered flexible working hours for parents.
“The consequence of not doing it means you lose productivity, and you lose good people.”
Government legislation increasing paid parental leave to 22 weeks kicked in on July 1 this year, with a further increase to 26 weeks from July 2020.
My Food Bag — co-founded by working mothers Nadia Lim and Cecilia Robinson — offers an extra 18 weeks of paid leave for new mothers.
If staff choose to work through the extra 18 weeks, the company boosts their salary at that time, paying them an extra 60 per cent.