Work Life Balance in DCU

Work Life Balance is defined as a means of flexible working or flexible leave available to employees. These arrangements may be in addition to statutory entitlements and are generally granted to the employee to accommodate their needs outside of the workplace. They may be to facilitate family commitments; study or health and DCU is very supportive of these initiatives, provided that the needs of the university are not adversely affected.

Work Life Balance initiatives can benefit the employee by assisting them to start, stay in, or re-enter employment while dealing with other responsibilities or availing of other opportunities in their lives.  The benefits of Work Life Balance for DCU is that it enhances recruitment and retention of workers, facilitates diversity in skills, reduces sickness and absenteeism, stress and builds workplace morale and productivity. Studies have reported such benefits as enhancing working relationships between colleagues and encouraging employees to show more initiative and teamwork. Work Life Balance initiatives also benefit workplace equality in that they support the presence and participation in the work-place of a diverse range of workers from across the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and membership of the Traveller community. 

DCU currently operate a number of Work Life Balance initiatives. The aim is to help create a better balance between the demands of your job and the healthy management (and enjoyment) of your life outside of work.

The HR department welcomes any queries from you regarding these policies and would like to encourage you to find out how these policies can be of use to you. We are endeavouring to continue to further develop existing policies that support Work Life Balance and you are encouraged to make suggestions to the HR department at any time.