The general point is that WINZ are changing benefits rules and obligations are being placed on beneficiaries to become work ready.

The idea itself is pretty logical, I paraphrase here "if you are capable of work and on a benefit then WINZ want you to secure work, and if you do not then your benefit is at risk. Part of the changes include obligations on parents to seek part time work when the children reach a WINZ prescribed age".

This sounds reasonable except for one small fact - my observations on our Manawatu job market tell me that most employers have little capacity for having a workforce that can only work child-friendly hours. There are some employers who can manage this but not all can.

We have had some fantastic success putting people into part-time roles and when we have recruited them we have been impressed with the drive and abilty of many return to work parents (yes this is not a female only trend). We also notice that the demand for these roles is very high - with applicants being committed, energetic and comingin normally very high numbers.

I think the general idea is good, as return to work parents have a lot to offer and if it helps reduce the benefit levels its got to be good for the New Zealand economy.

I am looking forward to seeing if Manawatu employers can get creative and find ways to hire this motivated work ready pool of people. And wonder if the Government will be educating/incentivising employers with programmes to have child-friendly roles, job-sharing or similar things.

I wonder if Government as an employer will be staffing their call centres with child-friendly workers?

As business people will we need to make sure we ring IRD between 0900am and 0300pm to get a human on the phone? :)