23
HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • AUGUST 2014
EVENTS in FOCUS
We spend a lot of time thinking about our
businesses, individual jobs and the industry as
a whole. I wonder how many of us stop to think
about the rest of our lives.
Like me you might have been shocked to hear Australia finished a
lowly 29th when ranked as a country for work life balance. You might
think, so what! But if you look at the damaging health effects from
getting the equation out of balance you will maybe think again.
There is no doubt we work hard. I am not for one second suggesting
we shouldn’t; our season is limited so the pressure will always be
there, but we may not be.
In the not too distant future you will see over the trend towards
managing the hours your staff work becoming an increasingly relevant
issue. You will need to make sure their hours are logged in much the
same way as you would with any asset including rest periods, days off,
hours worked and nourishment taken.
This will be a huge OH&S
campaign that has already
begun. Given this is
something you will need to
manage for your workforce,
is it time to wonder, what
about you?
We all think in terms of us
being indispensable and in a
lot of cases you are probably
right. For many small to
medium businesses this is
exactly where the problem lies. Business brokers, banks and almost
any financial advisor will tell you any business that relies on just one
key person is a bad risk and as a result, will struggle to find a buyer.
Yet we continue on the same path; it is our life’s work so we give it
100% of our energy, passion and in some cases our time, why?
With the full understanding you are already aware of the problem,
what’s the solution?
There is always a solution, whether it be in the form of succession
planning, extra key staff, sharing roles or just adopting a different
model. Your work is important and your passion is what sets you apart
from the crowd, however so is your family and your health.
I don’t have a miracle cure or a one fix solution, I just ask you to think
about your own life work balance. Ask yourself the following questions
and reflect on the result.
Do I put my work ahead of my family?
Do I come home from work tired and grumpy?
Can I leave my job at work, or does it occupy every waking minute?
Do I go into work even when told by a doctor not to?
At a social engagement is work all I talk about?
Do I think the place will fall apart without me?
I don’t think you need a score to tell you if you have got the balance
right. Remember cemeteries are full of people we couldn’t do without!
Regards
Tom O’Dowd
Work life balance
Events
Division
president's
message
We all think in terms of
us being indispensable
and in a lot of cases
you are probably right.
For many small to
medium businesses this
is exactly where the
problem lies.
