HKPMG .and Virgin Australia experienced a decline in demand for business. At KPMG a number of people elected to
reduce their work hours, accessing KPMG's existing employee flexibility and employee assistance scheme. Flexibility
is regarded as a critical part of the employee-engagement strategy and essential for .developing a diverse, adaptive
and high-performing workforce. Virgin Australia implemented a hiring freeze and natural attrition for .ZOO roles. In
addition, 100 staff were deployed and another 100 staff were offered flexible working arrangements. These working
arrangements include part-time work, job sharing or leave without pay for 12 months.
Flexibility helps to reduce costs for employers. and .at the same time provides employees with more time for
personal activities . .Professionals, managers, clerical and administrative staff are more easily able to choose their
starting and finishing times than other workers and to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off. The
need to reduce costs has encouraged some employers to reduce staff and at the same time examine roles in the
organisation and the way work is done. Ideally, structural efficiencies, rather than short-term cost reductions
should be dealt with.
Flexibility has been used by employers to further economic outcomes. However, this can result in employees
being required to work even longer hours in order to achieve the requirements of the role and company results.
Most Australians are increasingly dissatisfied with the balance between their work and non-work life. More than
20 per cent of people work 48 hours or more and 60 per cent do not take regular holidays. Three-quarters of these
people would much rather work fewer hours.