SOME FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE INITIATIVES AGREED WITH SIPTU SINCE EARLY 2000

• Adaptability, Flexibility - 26 Agreements 
  These include changes to work patterns, by way of flexitime and new forms of shift work which allow start and finishing times to meet the demands of school runs, etc.
  
• New Forms of Work Organisation - 26 Agreements 
  Includes team working, annualised hours, quality circles, etc. - gives people greater choice and a say in their work environment. Feeling better at work means feeling better about the family!
  
• Term-Time Working 
  This was negotiated by SIPTU for 300 members in AXA PMPA Insurance, by way of a pilot scheme. The term-time arrangements initiated in some government departments will also benefit many SIPTU members when extended to the wider public service, Local Authorities and Health Boards.
  
• Paternity Leave 
  This has been negotiated by SIPTU in about 30 companies and organisations.
  
• Part-Time Working and Job-Sharing 
  SIPTU has for many years had numerous part-time workers in membership. In the past year, 9 agreements have been negotiated which involve the employment of more part-time or job-sharing workers; and, in some cases, the transfer of such workers to full-time positions. The latter can be important when people no longer want reduced hours (e.g. because children have grown up).
  
• Training and Support - 32 Agreements 
  SIPTU would argue that these agreements benefit people wishing to opt for employment opportunities not heretofore open to them and which might be more family-orientated in terms of time off, etc.
  
• Health and Safety - 17 Agreements 
  Likewise, SIPTU considers that better protection of all workers, including women - e.g. through the provision of health checks and the introduction of Employee Assistance Schemes - is family-friendly insofar as it helps workers to recognise stress and other occupational hazards and to address their causes.
  
• Equality of Opportunity - 43 Agreements 
  Again, SIPTU would argue that equal opportunity agreements covering such issues as greater flexibility, bullying/harassment procedures, training initiatives, etc. are broadly family-friendly.

BORD GAIS AGREEMENT

A Working Group was set up to develop policy documents to enable staff to avail of new flexibilities and work-life balance strategies. These documents then formed part of a comprehensive new working agreement covering 13 separate headings including Health, Safety and Welfare, Employee Assistance Programme, Equal Opportunities, Sexual Harassment, Job Rotation, Job Sharing and Bullying/Harassment. The documents were agreed by a Multi-Union Group, the majority of members being in SIPTU.