Image Border - Irish Business and employers confederation

6
Case Studies (Large)
6.1 Northbrook Technology of Northern
Ireland Ltd (NI) 2
6.1.1 Background
Northbrook Technology of Northern Ireland Ltd (NTNI) is a
subsidiary company of a US software company Allstate
Insurance Co. Located in Belfast City, it has 791 employees,
28% of which are female.
6.1.2 Measures
NTNI introduced a number of family-friendly policies, which
later formed the basis of its award-winning Work/Life Balance
strategy. These include:
provision of a baby car seat for all new parents
baby gift hampers
enhanced maternity and paternity leave
flexible working
One example of a flexible work schedule in NTNI is where an
employee, Mrs. Kelly proposed a personal work schedule
which permitted her to retain a full-time career by finishing
work each day at 2.30 pm. This enabled her to collect her
children from school and take them home. On Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday evenings, she returns to the office at
8.00 pm and works until 11.30 pm.
6.1.3 Benefits to Employer
The benefits to Northbrook are that the late evening hours
overlap with the US workday. Mrs. Kelly, who works in the HR
division, is available to deal with any issues that arise in the
Northbrook call centre which is open until 11 pm. Mrs. Kelly
also has three evenings of uninterrupted time to dedicate to
report writing and other work that cannot be done effectively
during the day due to a constant stream of meetings that are
typical of the HR role.
Northbrook had an attrition rate well below industry average
between 1995 and 2002 (4-9% vs. 26%). Its absenteeism rate
reduced from 14.3 days in 1991 to 3.2 days now.
6.1.4 Benefits to Employees
Mrs. Kelly's children are delighted to be collected from school
by their mother. They can now become involved in outside
school interests such as music tuition and sports.
All requests for flexible work hours for childcare have been
approved. Employees using family-friendly policies are more
content as they have less stress due to a better balance and
quality of home and work life.
6.2 INTEL IRELAND (ROI)
6.2.1 Background
Intel Ireland is a multi-national IT manufacturer with facilities
and offices and approximately 4,000 employees in Ireland.
6.2.2 Measures
Intel Ireland operates the following childcare programmes:
Family links - is a referral and information service to
provide consultation, information and assistance to employees
seeking help with their childcare needs. Employees make
contact with the company's Family Links Co-ordinator who
works through various options. Employees can also find
information on education, community, entertainment and
childcare on the Family Links web page.
Monthly Parenting Bulletins - these comprise papers
on various child topics written by a parenting expert and
clinical psychologist. They are made available through Family
Links Web and also in hard copy, which is sent to all
employees monthly.
Parenting and Dependent Care Seminars - every
quarter, the company runs at least one seminar covering
relevant topics on parenting and dependent care. Recent
seminars covered topics such as coping with teenagers and
child behaviour.
2 Source: Employers for Childcare
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