HR professionals have been urged to use Tory leader David Cameron’s move into the wellbeing debate as an opportunity to take the initiative and drive the agenda.
Speaking at a conference organised by search engine giant Google on Monday, Cameron called for the old protestant work ethic to be replaced by a “modern vision of ethical work”.
“It’s time we admitted that there’s more to life than money, and it’s time we focused not just on GDP, but on GWB – general well-being,” said Cameron.
Binna Kandola, senior partner at occupational psychologists Pearn Kandola, said the fact the Conservatives were now talking the language of wellbeing and work-life balance showed that it was firmly on the political agenda.
“This is the moment for HR to seize the agenda, it is a real opportunity to take the initiative,” he told PersonnelToday.com. “It is very rare that HR gets an opportunity to see the future and [HR professionals] should be very excited by it.”
Cameron’s comments were also welcomed by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and lobby group Working Families.
EOC chair, Jenny Watson, said: “Our own polling shows that David Cameron is right to say that voters – both men and women – value flexibility and work-life balance extremely highly. It’s in the best interests of individuals, employers and the entire economy to create a modern workplace.”
Sarah Jackson, chief executive at Working Families, added: “It is encouraging to hear David Cameron engaging in the debate on how the quality of our relationships at home, at work and in our communities impact on each other.
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“We urgently need fresh thinking – from politicians as well as employers – about long working hours and work design.”
