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More holistic approach needed to help women who rejoin workforce

The way companies here provide employees with flexible arrangements to help them juggle their personal and professional obligations has been in the spotlight recently.

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Khor Chern Chuen, managing director of SAP Singapore

The way companies here provide employees with flexible arrangements to help them juggle their personal and professional obligations has been in the spotlight recently.

While Singapore has come a long way in advocating benefits for new parents, women returning to the workforce still face hurdles, though companies are now keen to address this (Plans afoot to support job trials for mums returning to workforce; July 14).

One of the barriers these women face is the fear of being out of touch with the current workplace — that their skills are not relevant.

Career breaks are not uncommon; according to a recent Robert Walters survey, 72 per cent of women here have taken one at some point in their lives.

To encourage them to rejoin the workforce, more companies need to have programmes that are targeted at these women and geared towards making the transition seamless.

Programmes like the labour movement’s Returners Programme and SAP’s Back-to-Work initiative are aimed at supporting professional women looking to re-enter the workforce after a career break, and recognise the experience and diversity they bring to the party.

This is especially pertinent in the technology industry, as gender diversity helps to drive the digital economy and is a source of strength that allows companies to better understand and meet their customers’ needs.

Though some strides have been made in this aspect, more can be done. While businesses can develop programmes to bring women back into the workforce, these may not suffice to retain them.

A more holistic approach is needed, including policies to help balance work and family life, flexi-work arrangements, talent management and retraining for returners.

If companies believe in this and invest in efforts to encourage more women to join their ranks, they will be rewarded with a workforce that will drive innovation and rewards far into the future.

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