New Zealand Law Society - Flexible leave and work arrangements common, survey finds

Flexible leave and work arrangements common, survey finds

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Statistics New Zealand says its latest business operations survey has found that 64% of responding businesses allowed employees to use personal sick leave, unpaid leave, or compassionate care leave to care for other people who are sick.

The sample survey reports on businesses with six or more employees. It found that the financial and insurance services industry had the largest proportion of businesses (79%) providing this type of leave arrangement.

However, just 10% of businesses overall offered childcare-related allowances or facilities. These were more prevalent in the education and training industry where they were provided by 35% of businesses.

Flexible start and finish times, and the option of part-time work were the more common types of flexible work arrangements offered by businesses.

Employment arrangements offered, Business Operations Survey 2018

Arrangement %
Use personal sick leave, unpaid leave or care leave to care for other people who are sick 64%
Able to buy extra annual leave or take leave wthout pay 56%
Parental leave provisions in addition to statutory provisions 20%
Childcare allowances or facilities 10%
   
Flexible start and finish times 57%
Option of part-time working 53%
Option of shift work 24%
Working from home 23%
Job sharing 21%