[Music] you
so good afternoon so today I’m going to
so good afternoon so today I’m going to talk about work-life balance and
talk about work-life balance and
talk about work-life balance and work-life balance is not a concept it’s
work-life balance is not a concept it’s
work-life balance is not a concept it’s a career choice but do you know what
a career choice but do you know what
a career choice but do you know what work-life balance meets it is the
work-life balance meets it is the
work-life balance meets it is the division of one’s time and focus between
division of one’s time and focus between
division of one’s time and focus between working and family and leisure
working and family and leisure
working and family and leisure activities quite often when people hear
activities quite often when people hear
activities quite often when people hear work-life balance they think of women
work-life balance they think of women
work-life balance they think of women mothers that want to combine working
mothers that want to combine working
mothers that want to combine working with being home with their children true
with being home with their children true
with being home with their children true but they also want to work but what they
but they also want to work but what they
but they also want to work but what they find is that their job actually doesn’t
find is that their job actually doesn’t
find is that their job actually doesn’t offer the flexibility that they’re
offer the flexibility that they’re
offer the flexibility that they’re looking for so they end up leaving the
looking for so they end up leaving the
looking for so they end up leaving the workforce wanting to return a few years
workforce wanting to return a few years
workforce wanting to return a few years later but actually as I said before not
later but actually as I said before not
later but actually as I said before not finding the flexibility they need but
finding the flexibility they need but
finding the flexibility they need but it’s not only women it’s so much more so
it’s not only women it’s so much more so
it’s not only women it’s so much more so fathers man are also looking for
fathers man are also looking for
fathers man are also looking for flexibility and then looking at
flexibility and then looking at
flexibility and then looking at Millennials and generation Z they want
Millennials and generation Z they want
Millennials and generation Z they want to work remotely and they also want to
to work remotely and they also want to
to work remotely and they also want to even have more work life balance so
even have more work life balance so
even have more work life balance so change needs to happen the first example
change needs to happen the first example
change needs to happen the first example that i’m going to give you is a personal
that i’m going to give you is a personal
that i’m going to give you is a personal one I think Serena started with sort of
one I think Serena started with sort of
one I think Serena started with sort of giving a brief introduction to Who I am
giving a brief introduction to Who I am
giving a brief introduction to Who I am and my background but when I so when out
and my background but when I so when out
and my background but when I so when out before I had my daughter I was working
before I had my daughter I was working
before I had my daughter I was working full-time and I was working more than
full-time and I was working more than
full-time and I was working more than the 40 hours a week and to in order to
the 40 hours a week and to in order to
the 40 hours a week and to in order to actually enjoy life outside work I used
actually enjoy life outside work I used
actually enjoy life outside work I used to go out see my friends or I used to go
to go out see my friends or I used to go
to go out see my friends or I used to go to the gym to stay fit because I spend
to the gym to stay fit because I spend
to the gym to stay fit because I spend most of my time behind a computer did I
most of my time behind a computer did I
most of my time behind a computer did I actually have to be in the office to do
actually have to be in the office to do
actually have to be in the office to do my job no I could do my job from
my job no I could do my job from
my job no I could do my job from anywhere technology allows me to work
anywhere technology allows me to work
anywhere technology allows me to work from anywhere but my employer wanted me
from anywhere but my employer wanted me
from anywhere but my employer wanted me to be in the office and wanted all the
to be in the office and wanted all the
to be in the office and wanted all the employees to be in the office from 9 30
employees to be in the office from 9 30
employees to be in the office from 9 30 til 630 on a daily basis so change is
til 630 on a daily basis so change is
til 630 on a daily basis so change is something which is difficult people have
something which is difficult people have
something which is difficult people have difficulties with change and that’s why
difficulties with change and that’s why
difficulties with change and that’s why I decided then when my daughter was born
I decided then when my daughter was born
I decided then when my daughter was born I asked for more flexibility so I asked
I asked for more flexibility so I asked
I asked for more flexibility so I asked can I come in early leave early can i
can I come in early leave early can i
can I come in early leave early can i maybe work from home a day a week but
maybe work from home a day a week but
maybe work from home a day a week but that did not work out so I decided to
that did not work out so I decided to
that did not work out so I decided to set up my own business and that allowed
set up my own business and that allowed
set up my own business and that allowed me to work flexibly it allowed me to
me to work flexibly it allowed me to
me to work flexibly it allowed me to arrange my own schedule and have more
arrange my own schedule and have more
arrange my own schedule and have more time for my family my friends and for
time for my family my friends and for
time for my family my friends and for myself and it gave me more job
myself and it gave me more job
myself and it gave me more job satisfaction as well so when we look at
satisfaction as well so when we look at
satisfaction as well so when we look at dual income families dual income
dual income families dual income
dual income families dual income families the number of dual income
families the number of dual income
families the number of dual income families has doubled over the past 40
families has doubled over the past 40
families has doubled over the past 40 years when we look at Generation X so
years when we look at Generation X so
years when we look at Generation X so people that were born in the 60s and 70s
people that were born in the 60s and 70s
people that were born in the 60s and 70s they are used or more used or say to
they are used or more used or say to
they are used or more used or say to having women at home looking after the
having women at home looking after the
having women at home looking after the house and looking after the family
house and looking after the family
house and looking after the family looking off your family can be children
looking off your family can be children
looking off your family can be children it can be parents it can be grandparents
it can be parents it can be grandparents
it can be parents it can be grandparents but when we look at what’s happening
but when we look at what’s happening
but when we look at what’s happening nowadays those tasks or being split it’s
nowadays those tasks or being split it’s
nowadays those tasks or being split it’s quite often that within the couple the
quite often that within the couple the
quite often that within the couple the husband and wife will be sharing those
husband and wife will be sharing those
husband and wife will be sharing those tasks and responsibilities and that also
tasks and responsibilities and that also
tasks and responsibilities and that also means that man and fathers are seeking
means that man and fathers are seeking
means that man and fathers are seeking for more flexibility within their jobs
for more flexibility within their jobs
for more flexibility within their jobs I’m not going to say that that’s the
I’m not going to say that that’s the
I’m not going to say that that’s the only reason but it is one of the reasons
only reason but it is one of the reasons
only reason but it is one of the reasons why they’re looking for more flexibility
why they’re looking for more flexibility
why they’re looking for more flexibility so technology as I mentioned before it’s
so technology as I mentioned before it’s
so technology as I mentioned before it’s it’s everywhere we have the mobile
it’s everywhere we have the mobile
it’s everywhere we have the mobile phones some people have two or even more
phones some people have two or even more
phones some people have two or even more and then we have the internet emails we
and then we have the internet emails we
and then we have the internet emails we have social media it literally enables
have social media it literally enables
have social media it literally enables us to work and connect from anywhere and
us to work and connect from anywhere and
us to work and connect from anywhere and everywhere then we look at Millennials
everywhere then we look at Millennials
everywhere then we look at Millennials and generation Z they are great examples
and generation Z they are great examples
and generation Z they are great examples of what’s what I have been talking about
of what’s what I have been talking about
of what’s what I have been talking about so flexibility technology 75% of
so flexibility technology 75% of
so flexibility technology 75% of Millennials want the opportunity to work
Millennials want the opportunity to work
Millennials want the opportunity to work remotely that comes from the 2016
remotely that comes from the 2016
remotely that comes from the 2016 Deloitte survey what does that mean they
Deloitte survey what does that mean they
Deloitte survey what does that mean they see it as if they can work remotely it
see it as if they can work remotely it
see it as if they can work remotely it means that they will have better job
means that they will have better job
means that they will have better job satisfaction
satisfaction
satisfaction and it will boost their productivity
and it will boost their productivity
and it will boost their productivity quite often we hear people say yes
quite often we hear people say yes
quite often we hear people say yes Millennials they’re not they’re not
Millennials they’re not they’re not
Millennials they’re not they’re not ambitious no that’s not true they’re
ambitious no that’s not true they’re
ambitious no that’s not true they’re actually very ambitious and they want to
actually very ambitious and they want to
actually very ambitious and they want to get up the career ladder a lot faster
get up the career ladder a lot faster
get up the career ladder a lot faster than previous generations but they want
than previous generations but they want
than previous generations but they want it to be based on skill rather than on
it to be based on skill rather than on
it to be based on skill rather than on seniority and years of service so more
seniority and years of service so more
seniority and years of service so more read research has been done and has been
read research has been done and has been
read research has been done and has been proven that actually Millennials have
proven that actually Millennials have
proven that actually Millennials have been the most educated generation to
been the most educated generation to
been the most educated generation to date so what does that mean for
date so what does that mean for
date so what does that mean for employers how do they act how do they
employers how do they act how do they
employers how do they act how do they react to this let me start by saying
react to this let me start by saying
react to this let me start by saying that it’s a long and a very slow process
that it’s a long and a very slow process
that it’s a long and a very slow process but change is happening and they are
but change is happening and they are
but change is happening and they are reacting to it so when we first look at
reacting to it so when we first look at
reacting to it so when we first look at startup startups have actually been
startup startups have actually been
startup startups have actually been great employers because they’re offering
great employers because they’re offering
great employers because they’re offering better work-life balance and they put in
better work-life balance and they put in
better work-life balance and they put in place the technology needed to be
place the technology needed to be
place the technology needed to be flexible and that technology will enable
flexible and that technology will enable
flexible and that technology will enable them to actually hire people on a
them to actually hire people on a
them to actually hire people on a flexible basis they can work remotely
flexible basis they can work remotely
flexible basis they can work remotely and it allows people to return to the
and it allows people to return to the
and it allows people to return to the workforce as well as Millennials and
workforce as well as Millennials and
workforce as well as Millennials and fresh graduates to actually start a
fresh graduates to actually start a
fresh graduates to actually start a career for the employees in return
career for the employees in return
career for the employees in return sometimes that will mean that they have
sometimes that will mean that they have
sometimes that will mean that they have to take a salary cut because start off
to take a salary cut because start off
to take a salary cut because start off don’t have the big budgets as the large
don’t have the big budgets as the large
don’t have the big budgets as the large corporates do but at the same time they
corporates do but at the same time they
corporates do but at the same time they do allow them to work remotely and more
do allow them to work remotely and more
do allow them to work remotely and more flexibly when we look at them the SMEs
flexibly when we look at them the SMEs
flexibly when we look at them the SMEs and the larger corporations in Hong Kong
and the larger corporations in Hong Kong
and the larger corporations in Hong Kong or everywhere some more adapting quite
or everywhere some more adapting quite
or everywhere some more adapting quite quickly whilst others or stuck in the
quickly whilst others or stuck in the
quickly whilst others or stuck in the traditional way of doing business so on
traditional way of doing business so on
traditional way of doing business so on a daily basis I work with the innovators
a daily basis I work with the innovators
a daily basis I work with the innovators I work with the early adopters I also
I work with the early adopters I also
I work with the early adopters I also work with the followers and they also de
work with the followers and they also de
work with the followers and they also de startups the SMEs as well as the large
startups the SMEs as well as the large
startups the SMEs as well as the large corporations
corporations
corporations employers do react to this because they
employers do react to this because they
employers do react to this because they feel that they need to they want to
feel that they need to they want to
feel that they need to they want to attract and retain the talent that they
attract and retain the talent that they
attract and retain the talent that they have and also want to guarantee the
have and also want to guarantee the
have and also want to guarantee the future of their success so what are they
future of their success so what are they
future of their success so what are they doing they are putting in place new
doing they are putting in place new
doing they are putting in place new policies new strategies to keep their
policies new strategies to keep their
policies new strategies to keep their talent and to attract talent some
talent and to attract talent some
talent and to attract talent some companies mainly startups as well as
companies mainly startups as well as
companies mainly startups as well as SMEs are looking at flexible resources
SMEs are looking at flexible resources
SMEs are looking at flexible resources what what does that mean flexible
what what does that mean flexible
what what does that mean flexible resources flexible resources can be
resources flexible resources can be
resources flexible resources can be women mothers wanting to return to the
women mothers wanting to return to the
women mothers wanting to return to the workforce as SMEs and startups quite
workforce as SMEs and startups quite
workforce as SMEs and startups quite often don’t have the large budgets they
often don’t have the large budgets they
often don’t have the large budgets they look at hiring people on a part-time
look at hiring people on a part-time
look at hiring people on a part-time basis or on a project basis because that
basis or on a project basis because that
basis or on a project basis because that allows them to get senior people to come
allows them to get senior people to come
allows them to get senior people to come into the business help them grow their
into the business help them grow their
into the business help them grow their business but without having to pay them
business but without having to pay them
business but without having to pay them the salaries of the large corporates a
the salaries of the large corporates a
the salaries of the large corporates a great example of that was when a few
great example of that was when a few
great example of that was when a few months back I had a FinTech startup
months back I had a FinTech startup
months back I had a FinTech startup contacting me and they were looking for
contacting me and they were looking for
contacting me and they were looking for a CFO a senior CFO that had previous
a CFO a senior CFO that had previous
a CFO a senior CFO that had previous experience within their industry because
experience within their industry because
experience within their industry because not actually anyone in the company had a
not actually anyone in the company had a
not actually anyone in the company had a lot of previous industry experience
lot of previous industry experience
lot of previous industry experience within our database and within the
within our database and within the
within our database and within the network of flexi moms we had a perfect
network of flexi moms we had a perfect
network of flexi moms we had a perfect match a mom of two who had come to Hong
match a mom of two who had come to Hong
match a mom of two who had come to Hong Kong followed her husband for his career
Kong followed her husband for his career
Kong followed her husband for his career and she had 15 years of experience in
and she had 15 years of experience in
and she had 15 years of experience in finance and accounting and she had been
finance and accounting and she had been
finance and accounting and she had been a CFO for similar company so perfect
a CFO for similar company so perfect
a CFO for similar company so perfect match yes she had to take a salary cut
match yes she had to take a salary cut
match yes she had to take a salary cut but she got the chance to work for a
but she got the chance to work for a
but she got the chance to work for a start-up part time and combine that with
start-up part time and combine that with
start-up part time and combine that with being at home for her children after
being at home for her children after
being at home for her children after when they came back from school so it
when they came back from school so it
when they came back from school so it was it was a perfect match she was
was it was a perfect match she was
was it was a perfect match she was accepted for the role she started we
accepted for the role she started we
accepted for the role she started we were talking she’s like they’re getting
were talking she’s like they’re getting
were talking she’s like they’re getting a really good deal out of me I’m
a really good deal out of me I’m
a really good deal out of me I’m actually doing the same work part time
actually doing the same work part time
actually doing the same work part time as I would be doing full time but more
as I would be doing full time but more
as I would be doing full time but more efficiently and at a smaller cost for
efficiently and at a smaller cost for
efficiently and at a smaller cost for the company so it really was a
the company so it really was a
the company so it really was a deal from the company but she didn’t
deal from the company but she didn’t
deal from the company but she didn’t complain because she had a lot of
complain because she had a lot of
complain because she had a lot of flexibility as well then when we look at
flexibility as well then when we look at
flexibility as well then when we look at the the larger corporates they really
the the larger corporates they really
the the larger corporates they really want to keep the woman that they have in
want to keep the woman that they have in
want to keep the woman that they have in the business because they have been
the business because they have been
the business because they have been leaving because the work because they
leaving because the work because they
leaving because the work because they can’t give them enough flexibility of
can’t give them enough flexibility of
can’t give them enough flexibility of the work-life balance that they’re
the work-life balance that they’re
the work-life balance that they’re looking for so they are making changes a
looking for so they are making changes a
looking for so they are making changes a lot of companies have been looking at
lot of companies have been looking at
lot of companies have been looking at their maternity leave policies they have
their maternity leave policies they have
their maternity leave policies they have been looking at their paternity leave
been looking at their paternity leave
been looking at their paternity leave policies as well as adoption policies in
policies as well as adoption policies in
policies as well as adoption policies in Hong Kong nowadays the maternity leave
Hong Kong nowadays the maternity leave
Hong Kong nowadays the maternity leave policies or ten ten weeks which is quite
policies or ten ten weeks which is quite
policies or ten ten weeks which is quite short but companies have been looking at
short but companies have been looking at
short but companies have been looking at extending that to 16 weeks paternity
extending that to 16 weeks paternity
extending that to 16 weeks paternity leave in Hong Kong has only been
leave in Hong Kong has only been
leave in Hong Kong has only been introduced and it’s two days nowadays
introduced and it’s two days nowadays
introduced and it’s two days nowadays some companies have extended that to a
some companies have extended that to a
some companies have extended that to a week others to two weeks because they
week others to two weeks because they
week others to two weeks because they understand that if they want to keep the
understand that if they want to keep the
understand that if they want to keep the talent within their companies they have
talent within their companies they have
talent within their companies they have to do something about that other
to do something about that other
to do something about that other companies have also introduced adoption
companies have also introduced adoption
companies have also introduced adoption leave just to if we bring that back to
leave just to if we bring that back to
leave just to if we bring that back to actual reality that means that for women
actual reality that means that for women
actual reality that means that for women if they choose to breastfeed then they
if they choose to breastfeed then they
if they choose to breastfeed then they can do that for longer than the 10 weeks
can do that for longer than the 10 weeks
can do that for longer than the 10 weeks that also means that they actually can
that also means that they actually can
that also means that they actually can get used to having a new family
get used to having a new family
get used to having a new family dimension a new routine in their life
dimension a new routine in their life
dimension a new routine in their life because if you think about it when you
because if you think about it when you
because if you think about it when you join your new company you do not I I
join your new company you do not I I
join your new company you do not I I often say I I don’t think in 10 weeks
often say I I don’t think in 10 weeks
often say I I don’t think in 10 weeks you actually get you when you join a new
you actually get you when you join a new
you actually get you when you join a new company and a new role you don’t
company and a new role you don’t
company and a new role you don’t actually know your job completely within
actually know your job completely within
actually know your job completely within 10 weeks it takes longer than that well
10 weeks it takes longer than that well
10 weeks it takes longer than that well imagine having a newborn in your family
imagine having a newborn in your family
imagine having a newborn in your family that changes its routine every day it
that changes its routine every day it
that changes its routine every day it takes longer than 10 weeks so again
takes longer than 10 weeks so again
takes longer than 10 weeks so again companies have been looking at making
companies have been looking at making
companies have been looking at making this changes in their policies but then
this changes in their policies but then
this changes in their policies but then what about flexibility but because
what about flexibility but because
what about flexibility but because flexibility is really where the problem
flexibility is really where the problem
flexibility is really where the problem is laying so some companies have
is laying so some companies have
is laying so some companies have introduced flexi time what does that
introduced flexi time what does that
introduced flexi time what does that mean flexi time well they have found
mean flexi time well they have found
mean flexi time well they have found that some people because of their needs
that some people because of their needs
that some people because of their needs want to start earlier and leave earlier
want to start earlier and leave earlier
want to start earlier and leave earlier so some companies allowing people to
so some companies allowing people to
so some companies allowing people to start between HM in the morning and 10
start between HM in the morning and 10
start between HM in the morning and 10 and 10 a.m. in the morning and leave
and 10 a.m. in the morning and leave
and 10 a.m. in the morning and leave between 4pm and 8 p.m. at night as suits
between 4pm and 8 p.m. at night as suits
between 4pm and 8 p.m. at night as suits them best as long as the work is done
them best as long as the work is done
them best as long as the work is done there is no reason that this is not
there is no reason that this is not
there is no reason that this is not possible other companies are allowing
possible other companies are allowing
possible other companies are allowing their stuff to work from home one day a
their stuff to work from home one day a
their stuff to work from home one day a week another great example was a few
week another great example was a few
week another great example was a few weeks back I had a mom returned to the
weeks back I had a mom returned to the
weeks back I had a mom returned to the corporate sector she had sworn she would
corporate sector she had sworn she would
corporate sector she had sworn she would never return she had been a freelancer
never return she had been a freelancer
never return she had been a freelancer for many years because of the lack of
for many years because of the lack of
for many years because of the lack of work-life balance that they were
work-life balance that they were
work-life balance that they were offering but that employer was offering
offering but that employer was offering
offering but that employer was offering to work one day a week from home so four
to work one day a week from home so four
to work one day a week from home so four days in the office she was getting an
days in the office she was getting an
days in the office she was getting an extra day off for her birthday plus two
extra day off for her birthday plus two
extra day off for her birthday plus two days just for family events no questions
days just for family events no questions
days just for family events no questions asked it could be a child’s birthday it
asked it could be a child’s birthday it
asked it could be a child’s birthday it could be a family event who knows it was
could be a family event who knows it was
could be a family event who knows it was just two days you could take no
just two days you could take no
just two days you could take no questions asked she seemed interested in
questions asked she seemed interested in
questions asked she seemed interested in the role so she applied and she got the
the role so she applied and she got the
the role so she applied and she got the road just because she had had so many
road just because she had had so many
road just because she had had so many years of experience as a freelancer
years of experience as a freelancer
years of experience as a freelancer working with different companies and it
working with different companies and it
working with different companies and it was again it was a perfect match so all
was again it was a perfect match so all
was again it was a perfect match so all these examples show that if you if you
these examples show that if you if you
these examples show that if you if you want flexibility it is it is there you
want flexibility it is it is there you
want flexibility it is it is there you just have to ask for it and look for it
just have to ask for it and look for it
just have to ask for it and look for it because without asking you won’t you
because without asking you won’t you
because without asking you won’t you won’t get anywhere and that’s why a lot
won’t get anywhere and that’s why a lot
won’t get anywhere and that’s why a lot diversity and inclusion in has become a
diversity and inclusion in has become a
diversity and inclusion in has become a hot topic within companies and they have
hot topic within companies and they have
hot topic within companies and they have set up focus groups so focus groups can
set up focus groups so focus groups can
set up focus groups so focus groups can actually exchanged and work closely with
actually exchanged and work closely with
actually exchanged and work closely with the business and tell them what they’re
the business and tell them what they’re
the business and tell them what they’re looking for what are they needs whether
looking for what are they needs whether
looking for what are they needs whether their wishes and as they express them
their wishes and as they express them
their wishes and as they express them change is actually happening I’m for the
change is actually happening I’m for the
change is actually happening I’m for the Millennials amongst you and I assume
Millennials amongst you and I assume
Millennials amongst you and I assume there’s quite a few and it is be be
there’s quite a few and it is be be
there’s quite a few and it is be be there and really ask for that change
there and really ask for that change
there and really ask for that change because you are the employees and as
because you are the employees and as
because you are the employees and as well the actual customers of the future
well the actual customers of the future
well the actual customers of the future so you really have to help companies
so you really have to help companies
so you really have to help companies steer in the right direction so this is
steer in the right direction so this is
steer in the right direction so this is sort of
sort of
sort of an overview of how I would describe
an overview of how I would describe
an overview of how I would describe work-life balance and how it is not a
work-life balance and how it is not a
work-life balance and how it is not a concept but it is really a career choice
concept but it is really a career choice
concept but it is really a career choice thank you for listening and I hope you
thank you for listening and I hope you
thank you for listening and I hope you find the work-life balance
find the work-life balance
find the work-life balance [Applause]
”
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