Wannon Water saves $1.6 million by offering flexible work arrangements

The state government released a report by the Nous Group, which found flexible work delivered significant savings to the three sampled organisations, with Wannon Water saving $150,000 annually.

According to the report Wannon Water employed 220 staff with 23 per cent of employees working flexibly.

The report found that flexible work improved participation and work-life balance, which ultimately boosted productivity. By contrast, the absence of flexible work was shown as a key contributor to the gender pay gap and drove women out of the paid workforce.

Wannon Water branch manager of people and resilience Jeremy Dixon said the organisation had a strong focus on flexibility, particularly around providing more gender equitable solutions.

He said ultimately workplace flexibility helped to provide increased job satisfaction and part of the intention was to also help employees be involved in the community.

“So it might be coaching or volunteering and some of those things,” Mr Dixon said. “So that’s part of the intent and this business case provides some tangible evidence that there’s actually some productivity returns as well, which industry has spoken about for a long time but I think this is the first time that it’s consolidated into an actual number.

“There are studies outside of this which show that if your engagement is increased… then there’s productivity increases, happiness increases, cultural aspects increase and so that results in better outcomes for everyone… there’s less stress people are taking home.

“Some of the studies show that by reducing work hours people make sure that they get stuff done because they’re planning a lot more effectively. We have executive members on flexible working arrangements. It’s right through.” 

Mr Dixon said one example included job sharing that created opportunities for those who thought they couldn’t be part of the workforce.

“One of the jobshares we’ve got at the moment is we appointed two fantastic people and one of them is now moving on to a higher level and moving through the organisation that way,” he said. “It creates an entry point for someone who might think they can’t do full time.”

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Mercy Health were also selected for the study, which found the organisations saved $31 million and $23 million respectively.

FOR Annie Grundy, flexible work arrangements takes out some of the stress of being a working mother.

Ms Grundy, an assets department administrator at Wannon Water, works five days a week with her hours fitting in with school time. 

“For me the most important thing personally is to be home after school with the kids and that flexibility in the workplace allows that,” she said. 

“The other thing is being with them in the morning and getting them ready for school because if there’s a meltdown I’m there.

“I sacrifice 15 minutes of my lunch time, which enables me to start 15 minutes later (and) that’s how I get that school drop-off in in a morning.

“Because I’m not stressed or worried about how am I going to manage the kids or take them places after school I don’t have that worry because I know all of that is handled. 

“So while I’m here I’m 100 per cent here. My mind is not somewhere else thinking of this that and the other that I’m going to have to deal with.”

Ms Grundy said when starting at Wannon Water she originally applied for a full-time role but made it clear she could only work part time.

She inquired whether it was worth her applying and was told if she was the right person for the job then the organisation could be flexible with her hours.

Initially she worked four days during school hours while she had a prep at primary school who had one day off a week.

“Because I’m working here I have the ability to be way more involved in the kids’ day-to-day school stuff which is nice and so it makes me feel more connected to them,” she said.