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01 April 2013

Greens launch Green Paper on work- life balance

The Green Party today launched a discussion paper to promote better work-life balance for Aotearoa/New Zealand.

“New Zealander’s work some of the longest hours in the world and it’s something we need to address if we are serious about promoting NZ as a place to have a great life style, said Holly Walker, Green Party Work-Life balance spokesperson.

“We also have a real issue with brain drain in this country - we can’t compete on wages with bigger economies but we could. For this to be real we need address a work culture of long hours.”

OECD research shows that Kiwis work on average 10 hours a week more than the average for OECD countries.

The Green Party discussion paper covers three main areas:

· Promotion campaign and resources for work-life balance

· Development of at least 8 additional statutory holidays to ensure coverage throughout the year.

· Provision for space in work places for naps, mediatation, yoga and other stress relief techniques.

“Firstly, the message needs to get out there to the public, this could involve a website and resources being available in all work places.

“We also need lots of billboards everywhere to promote that its ok to work normal hours. They could say things like – “work to live, or live to work?” “take a break, take it easy”, said Ms Walker, “we are open to other suggestions”.

“I also think that high profile people such as MPs, broadcasters and sport stars need to take the lead and promote cultural change. by wearing t-shirts or placards with appropriate messages like “Samuel Parnell says - 40 hours is cool”, and “Be a winner and have a nap!

“Personally, I’m going to get a shirt and maybe a sign that says you’ll be dead one day, enjoy today!

Green Party Meditation spokesperson Catherine Delahunty, “Parliament would be so much better off if we could all do some mediation and yoga together, and I think that’s true for everyone. It’s about stress relief and positive vibes. People will be cynical but, man, it could make a real difference. Just give it a go I say.”

Green Party Holidays spokesperson Gareth Hughes added “We also need more statutory holidays and plenty of them! Everyone loves holidays, and they are good for the environment, economy and people. It’s a win-win-win proposal, and those are the best kind!

The Green Party MPs have chosen to sponsor the following holidays in the consultation process.

Proposed additional statutory holidays

· March 24: Look after the environment day (all)

· April 16 – Rebirth the Earth (Catherine Delahunty)

· May 5 - Buy local, Eat local day (Eugenie Sage)

· May 11: Bob Marley’s commemoration day (all)

· June 20: Love your cycle (not in a dirty way) day (Julie Anne Genter)

· July 12: Bigger words are better day (Kennedy Graham/Eugenie Sage)

· September 20: Dave’s dancing day (David Clendon)

· October 11: Dolphin love day (Gareth Hughes)

· April 1: April’s fool’s day (all)

All days would be Mondayised or Fridayised as appropriate

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