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Over 70 individuals and organisations recognised as Work-Life Champions by the Work-Life Excellence Award

Employment practices

27 August 2010

  1. The biennial Work-Life Excellence Award (WLEA) Gala Dinner, organised by the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy (TriCom), was held this evening at the Resorts World Convention Centre. More than 70 individuals and organisations received the distinction of being Work-Life champions in three award categories: Work-Life Leadership Award, Work-Life Excellence Award and Work-Life Achiever Award.
  2. The TriCom received a significant increase of some 50% in the number of employers applying for this year’s award as compared to the last awards in 2008, with 70% being first-time applicants. This reflects the increasing number of organisations recognising the importance and benefits of Work-Life strategies to attract and retain valued employees.
  3. This year, the Work-Life Leadership Award was conferred on Mrs Joanna Koh-Hoe, President of Focus on the Family Singapore Ltd and Mr Francis Tan, HR Director at Sheraton Towers Singapore. They were recognised for their exemplary leadership in initiating effective Work-Life strategies in professional capacities as well as embracing Work-Life Harmony in their personal lives.
  4. When asked for her views on how Work-Life strategies benefited her organisation, Mrs Koh-Hoe said, "As a non-profit organisation that focuses on helping families thrive at every stage and phase of life, it is important for us to create a Work-Life culture that is understanding and mindful of employees’ needs. This way, when they are at work, they are at ease and can concentrate on delivering results. We believe in walking the talk and our Work-Life strategy has created a team of highly engaged and motivated employees."
  5. In the case of Mr Tan, he believes that when employees can manage their Work-Life needs well, the organisation will benefit from better performance and productivity. He added, "We view Work-Life strategies as a way of developing our valuable human capital at Sheraton Towers. When you take a concerted interest in your staff, they will reciprocate with better performance and greater loyalty towards the company. Since we launched our initiatives, the hotel has seen a decrease in medical leave taken from 1,096 days in 2007 to 1,018 days in last year. The hotel's Associates' Satisfaction Index has also improved from 4.14 in 2006 to 4.29 in 2009, a testament to the success of our Work-Life programmes."
  6. In addition to Mrs Koh-Hoe and Mr Tan, a total of 70 companies and organisations were recognised for their achievement in driving Work-Life strategies in their organisations. Of the 70, 25 received the Work-Life Excellence Award, while 45 organisations are conferred the Work-Life Achiever Award. Among the award-winners are 13 SMEs (with fewer than 200 employees), compared to 8 SMEs two years ago, reflecting a growing interest and commitment among SMEs to reap the benefits of Work-Life practices. (Please refer to Annex A for the full list of winners.)
  7. Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower and Guest-of-Honour at the event, said, "As Singapore's labour market tightens, and employers move up the productivity and innovation curve, raising wages to attract, motivate and retain employees alone may not be the answer, nor is this move sustainable in the long term. Employers who can engage the hearts and minds of employees and motivate them to give their best and remain with the organisation, will have the competitive edge. These employers will be able to retain the competencies and institutional knowledge to build on growth opportunities, and to innovate and create productivity improvements and breakthroughs. I am therefore heartened that employers are increasingly recognising the value of Work-Life strategies and helping employees manage their work and personal commitments. Such strategies will help employers manage an increasingly diverse and mobile workforce, and enhance their ability to attract, motivate and retain valued employees."
  8. The TriCom extends its heartiest congratulations to the 70 employers and 2 individuals for their achievements and for winning the awards.

For the full list of Work-Life Excellence Award winners, please refer to Annex A.

Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy