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Work-life balance part of politics

25 Jan, 2011 07:54 AM
Juggling a personal and family life with a political career is not just an issue for David Bartlett.

Will Hodgman has seen this balancing act from both sides, as the son of a federal and state politician, and now as Opposition Leader and dad to William, 9, James, 7, and Lily, 4.

He wasn't even born when his father Michael entered politics in 1967, but recalls going through school when his father was away in Canberra for weeks of the year.

"Dad was aware and I certainly am that it's about managing your time well and maximising the quality of the time you spend with your children," he said.

Asked if David Bartlett's resignation as premier was an admission it was impossible to be both a political leader and a good dad, he said: "I think it's important to recognise that everyone's family circumstances are different, that there's not one size or one rule for everyone.

"I can appreciate a lot of what David talked about, there are certainly times when it becomes very difficult to achieve both objectives, to do your job properly and to be available to your family, but you've just got to do it as best you can."

It would be wrong to assume new Premier Lara Giddings didn't have other demands on her time simply because she was single and didn't have children, he said.

"Everyone's got their own life and their own circumstances," he said.

"... it would be wrong to assume that for Lara that it's not also going to be very important and challenging for her to manage her time."

At her first press conference as premier, Ms Giddings made light of questions about her relationship status.

When asked if being a parent was incompatible with being a leader, she replied: "If I'd had the choices, it might be an issue for me.

"But I'm yet to find that man."

Ms Giddings confirmed she was not in a relationship.

"I have certainly met some wonderful men in my time and I've met some men that I would have loved to have had a life with," she said.

"Of course at times you wonder whether or not your role as a member of parliament and the responsibility you have as a woman in a leadership role may in fact inhibit a relationship from developing.

"And that's something that women in politics deal with.

"For some reason men in politics seem to have a larger charisma and women drop around their feet. I haven't noticed that so much for me and men.

"But I'm hopeful that one day I will meet that right man and will have a very happy life partner."

Juggling personal and work commitments is also becoming harder for the average worker as organisations expect more and more from employees.

University of Tasmania human resources specialist Dr Graeme Tonks said most organisations only paid lip service to work-life balance in their policy statements.

"More and more people are going on a salary, and organisations are saying, here's a basic salary, it's up to you how many hours you work to get the job done, so rather than hours-based, it's becoming output-based," he said.

"(This leads to) more burnout, disillusionment with work, alienation and people just find other ways, from the work aspect, to try and claw back time."

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
If all the politicians who have children give up we will certainly need a larger skilled migrant intake.
Posted by Jo, 25/01/2011 12:23:54 PM, on The Examiner

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