Background and Rationale for Family Friendly Working Arrangements

For the ESB, flexible working arrangements are an integral part of its Equal Opportunities Policy. It contends that flexibility in the workplace enables each individual to combine their working career with family life and other commitments and thus assist them in reaching their full potential as valued employees.

As part of this policy, a Joint Equality Council (JEC) was constituted where representatives of both ESB Group of Unions and Management meet to assist with the development of such policies and advises on practices within the Company.

Family Friendly Work Practices

The following family-friendly policies are in place:

• Flexitime.
  Additional Maternity Leave to statutory entitlement, five months without pay. ESB continues to pay both its own and the employee's superannuation contribution for the period of the additional maternity leave, thus ensuring no break in service occurs.
• Adoptive Leave - as with maternity leave, up to six months additional unpaid leave is available immediately following the end of adoptive leave. In the case of foreign adoption some or all of additional adoptive leave can be taken before the day of placement.
• Paternity Leave - three days paid leave can be taken up to two weeks after the birth of a child.
• Domestic Leave - with and without pay at discretion of management.
• Work/Job Sharing.
• Reduced Working Hours - This allows the employee to work a variety of hours which are agreed with manager.
• Career Breaks - Obligatory for child minding but at the discretion of management in other circumstances.
• Creche - was opened in the early '90's in Dublin and caters for over sixty-five children.
• Education Support - in the form of study/exam/conferring leave, refund and advances of fees.
• Learning Centres i.e. walk-in facilities that enable staff to do their own training. It is a room set aside for staff for self-instruction using the latest technology. The courses are available in five training areas - awareness, business, general, information and technical.
  

The Future

We are constantly reviewing our policies in regards to flexible working arrangements and further amendments and innovations will be processed under the aegis of the Joint Equality Council. We see family friendly policies as a key component in attracting top class employees to ESB.

Additional work life balance arrangements

• E Learning: A range of courses covering IT, Business, Safety and Project Management are now available via new e-Learning site. This allows staff to log on to specially designed self-instruction courses from the desk or from home.
  
• Sports Club: ESB Sportsco was built in 1978 for Staff and their families. It offers state of the art facilities which include 25 meter swimming pool, 4 squash courts, 5 tennis courts, Leisure suite, 5 all weather 5-a-side football pitches, fitness centre, multi purpose sports hall, club bar and function room.

Sportsco runs Easter and summer camps for children during school holidays.

• Health Care: Flu vaccinations are available to staff, pensioners, spouses and partners.

Bowel Cancer Screening tests are available to staff over 40, spouses/partners and pensioners.

Health Screening Programme is available to all employees and spouses as part of ESB's commitment to the health and welfare of staff

Female Cancer Screening Programme is available to female staff free of charge.

The company covers the costs of eyesight examinations for all staff who work with VDUs. ESB will also contribute towards cost of supply or repair of two pairs of glasses, bifocals, or contact lenses. It will also contribute to the cost of supply / repair of up to two hearing aids. Partial cost of routine dental work is also covered.

• Medical Provident Fund: Two Health Insurance Schemes available to staff members, spouse/partner and children. Ordinary benefits (similar to VHI plan B) and the extra benefits (similar to VHI plan A).
  
• Credit Union: All staff can join St. Patrick's Credit Union, which has a membership of 11,000 approx. The credit union offers loans, budget account schemes, education loan plans, foreign currency with no commission and limited life insurance cover.
  
• Employee Assistance Programme: Provides professional advice to employees experiencing difficulties in either their domestic or work life.
  
• Pension Fund: A contributory pension fund is in place for all staff.
  
• Staff Insurance Scheme: Group rate Household, Motor and Travel insurance available to staff - payment may be deducted at source.
  
• Social Clubs: There is a rich variety of social clubs operating throughout ESB these include Musical and Dramatic Society, Athletics Club, Golfing Societies, Swimming Club and Hill Walking Clubs.
  
• Electricaid: This is the Social Justice Fund of ESB. Its main objective is to raise money by voluntary contributions deducted at source for the relief of want and to assist the needy in Ireland and abroad.

For further information contact:

Freida Murray
Equal Opportunities Manager - (01) 7027534
Orla Gildea
Jill Fitzgerald - (01) 7026498
Niall O'Connor - (01) 7026705
ESB Equal Opportunities Office

Phil Harrington - (01)6767444/5
President, ESBOA
Fiona Dunne,
ESBOA