Uses of Time

On February 27, 2020, the Work-Life Balance Measures Day took place as part of the Responsible Business Program of Barcelona, organized by Barcelona Activa at the Auditorium of the Technology Park on Marie Curie Street in Barcelona. The event was attended by 55 representatives from the business sector to learn about the good practices of Dinamon, Estabanell i Pahisa, the Consortium of Health and Social Services of Catalonia, Softmachine, and Oxfam Intermon in terms of work-life balance and time management. Throughout the event, the audience actively participated through mobile applications to gather opinions and assess the level of knowledge on topics related to Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility.

In the first part of the session, Mr. Jordi Hinojosa, CEO of Dinamon, Ms. Berta Guitart, HR Manager at Estabanell i Pahisa, and Ms. Marta Moles, from the Technical Secretariat and Responsible for Social Responsibility of the Consortium of Health and Social Services of Catalonia, presented the benefits of implementing work-life balance measures within their organizations to positively address technological, social, and cultural transformations, as well as the advantages of having a Corporate Social Responsibility policy aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. An interactive questionnaire was then conducted for attendees to identify work-life balance measures within their organizations, such as meal times, flexibility in arrival or departure related to the workplace, extended maternity and/or paternity leave beyond legal requirements, among others.

In the second part of the session, Ms. Carme Carrera, Programs Technician at Barcelona City Council, presented the Barcelona Time Pact initiative, a city commitment towards a healthier, more equal, and efficient time management. Ms. Elisa Stinus, Technical Secretary of the NUST Network (New Social Uses of Time), highlighted the Mentoring Program offered by the NUST Network and presented the guide "How to develop a plan that promotes a more equal, healthier, and efficient time management," which outlines the steps to implement work-life balance and shared responsibility measures within organizations, as well as the benefits of embracing a new organizational culture that takes into account individuals' life cycles.

Finally, Mr. Oscar Bermejo, Business Development Manager at Softmachine, and Ms. Florence Allard, HR Manager and Organizational Development Program at Oxfam Intermon, together with Ms. Lupe Martin, Labor Relations Manager at Oxfam Intermon, both participating organizations in the Mentoring Program of the NUST Network, highlighted their initiatives in schedule management, time banking, and teleworking as a set of measures that promote talent retention and attraction while contributing to the improvement of occupational health. The importance of communication, participation, and evaluation of these measures in collaboration with employees was emphasized, acknowledging the challenges that may arise in organizations with a significant number of employees. Additionally, the success of measures such as remote work implementation, even for extended periods, allowing employees to relocate for family reasons while maintaining their commitment to the organization, was highlighted.