Flexi-Works! offers a grant of up to $100,000 to support a company’s efforts in implementing flexible work arrangments. The programme has been extended to run from 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2012.

Two Tranches of Flexi-Works!

Funding will be disbursed in two tranches:

Tranche 1 : Companies can claim up to $10,000 for introducing flexible work arrangements in the company. For this tranche, companies will have to:

• Send HR staff for MOM-approved Work-Life training;
• Make provision for flexible work arrangements in their HR policies; and
• Communicate the policy to their staff.

Grant Computation

The grant amount will be based on 80% of actual cost incurred, capped at $10,000 per company. Companies can apply for reimbursement of costs. This tranche is the same as the first tranche of the WoW! Fund. Each applicant can only tap on this tranche once, either under the WoW! Fund or Flexi-Works! programmes. They can tap on the second tranches of WoW! Fund and Flexi-Works! independently.

Tranche 2 : Companies can claim up to $90,000 for recruiting eligible workers on part-time or flexible work arrangements. For this tranche, companies will have to:

* Fulfill the requirements of Tranche 1 (companies must apply for Tranches 1 and 2 concurrently);
* Recruit local workers with the following two requirements:
o 60% of the recruited workers to be out of work for at least 3 months; and
o Aged 30 and above.

Grant Computation

The grant amount will be based on:

* Number of workers recruited on part-time or flexible working arrangements and retained for at least 2 months multiplied by $1,500; OR
* 80% of the declared project costs, whichever is the lower, subject to a cap of $90,000 per company.

Companies should aim to achieve their recruitment target six months from the date of approval for their applications. For company receiving or applying for the ADVANTAGE! grant, the total cumulative grant for both projects is capped at $400,000.
What can the Grant be used for?

* The grant can be used for costs incurred for job redesign, consultancy, recruitment, training, absentee payroll and equipment, or to put in place part time or flexible working arrangements.
* The grant cannot be used for any form of retention bonus or salary support.

How to Apply?

Companies interested to apply for the Flexi-Works! grant may contact:

• NTUC at Tel: 6213 8382 or email wds@ntuc.org.sg; or
• SNEF at email flexiworks@snef.org.sg for more details.

  
  
  

  ]]> http://www.smecentral.com/flexiworks/feed/ 0 http://www.smecentral.com/work-life-works-wow-fund/ http://www.smecentral.com/work-life-works-wow-fund/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:17:21 +0000 admin http://beta.smecentral.com/?p=243 The Work-Life Works! (WoW!) Fund is a one-time grant given to businesses to encourage employers to introduce Work-Life strategies at the workplace. The WoW! Fund helps to defray costs incurred by organisations while introducing Work-Life measures. An approved project can be funded up to 80% of costs subject to a maximum of $20,000.

  All organisations (including private-sector, non-profit and public-sector organisations) can apply for the grant. Organisations operating as a group of closely related subsidiaries should submit only one application.

  Scope of use of WoW! Fund

  The WoW! Fund can be used to subsidise the following types of expenditures:

  • Training HR managers and line supervisors to facilitate or implement Work-Life strategies

    It is compulsory for project leaders to attend the work-life training, and they should attend the training upon project approval. The training is optional for line managers, HR and/or affected staff. Only training courses approved by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be funded. Upcoming courses can be found at the Calendar of Work-Life activities.

  • Infrastructure that facilitates the development of flexible work arrangements (FWAs)

    The Fund covers basic items that are relevant to FWAs. Items for business needs are not funded.

  • Infrastructure and programmes that support selected Employee Support Schemes (ESS)

    Examples: Personal Work-Life Effectiveness (PWLE) Workplace Workplace Programmes; lactation or family rooms.

  • Optional: Work-Life consultancy

    Organisations may use the WoW! Fund to engage an external third party to provide advice and assistance on work-life issues, not business process. Only the consultants listed on the MOM website are eligible for funding.

    The WoW! Fund does not cover:

    1. Softwares for business needs (e.g. inventory/HR/accounting)
    2. Recurrent cost (e.g. maintenance of IT equipment)
    3. Manpower cost
    4. GST
    5. Schemes designed mainly to enhance personal wellness (e.g. gym membership) or foster employee bonding (e.g. family day, dinner and dance)
    6. Items that are frivolous or are not prudent use of public fund
    7. Projects that fit better with other funding schemes (eg. workplace health and fitness)

    How the WoW! Fund works

    Organisations need to obtain in-principle approval before incurring costs. Approval does not guarantee reimbursement, which is subjected to the achievement of outcome targets.

    With effect from 1 March 2011, it is a requirement for the project leader and Work-Life champion to attend the WoW! Fund briefing before the organisation apply for the WoW! Fund. This requirement applies to applications that are received from 1 March 2011 onwards.

    The project must be completed within one year from approval. Please click here for the application procedure.

    Organisations may seek reimbursement after completing the whole project (ie. achieved all outcome targets). If cash flow is a consideration, organisations may seek reimbursement in 2 phases – after they have achieved the outcome targets under the Common Tranche and subsequently the Enhanced Tier. Please click here for the claim procedure.

    
    
    

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