eHomemakers

FOR the past 11 years, eHomemakers has been promoting working from home as a way to balance family life and work. In 2005, our advocacy led to the Cabinet’s decision to review employment laws to allow more women to work from home.

Subsequently, we worked hand-in-hand with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry on the research, concept and content for Buku Panduan Pejabat@Rumah in 2007.

We believe it is timely for the Government and private companies to facilitate and implement working from home as soon as possible, especially in view of the issues highlighted below.

Firstly, the Government is encouraging its various agencies as well as the corporate sector to put into place business continuity plans as the A (H1N1) flu spreads.

With more people falling sick, employers will have to start thinking of options to reduce staff absenteeism.

More parents will take leave to be at home with their sick kids or due to school closures.

An increasing number of people will be too ill to go to work and critical staff shortages will adversely affect the struggling economy.

Isn’t it high time that Malaysian employees negotiated tele-working options with their bosses? Family life and job productivity do not have to be compromised.

Think of the win-win situation and the flexibility working from home would offer to both the employer and worker.

Secondly, working from home allows parents to nurture their children and caregivers to be close to their loved ones, while earning an income to support the family.

Stories of runaway maids and dishonest agents are all too common and the Government is still seeking solutions to address all the woes that go hand-in-hand with hiring foreign maids.

What a difference it would make if parents or caregivers could work from home while keeping an eye on those who depend on them for their safety and well-being!

Finally, working from home is also great for the environment. Imagine the reduction in air pollution when commuting becomes minimal and a two-car household becomes a one-car family.

An increase in the number of people adopting working from home as a lifestyle will directly have an impact on peak-hour congestion and improve air quality.

We urge the relevant authorities to take urgent steps to actively promote working @ home (as a tele-worker, homebiz owner, freelancer or out-sourced worker).

In the current economic climate, there is a need to balance work and family as well as environmental and health issues.

YVONNE MAH MAY LIN,

Kuala Lumpur.