Greens MP and employment spokesperson Adam Bandt will introduce a new bill to help people have a better work/life balance.
The bill, to be introduced on Monday, will give people more control over their time and working arrangements, balancing this against their employer's legitimate operational needs.
"If people want to work different hours or work from home so that their life is better, then the law should allow it, provided it doesn't unduly impact on their employer," Mr Bandt said.
"Allowing workers more flexible hours will be a productivity bonus for the economy. Business will benefit from this reform and good employers are already promoting work/life balance. Satisfied employees are likely to remain in a workplace longer, be healthier and more productive."
"The average full-time working week in Australia is 44 hours, the longest in the western world. We perform $72 billion in unpaid overtime each year."
"Just over half of all Australians want to change their hours of work, even if it might impact on their income. On average, full time employees would like to work about 5.6 hours less per week, while part-time workers would like to work on average 4 hours per week."
"Caring for those close to us must be a central concern for our society and is important to the economy. People need greater control over their time not just to look after their kids, but increasingly also their parents and grandchildren. That is why this bill will extend the existing right of some carers to request flexibility to all carers."
The Fair Work Amendment (Better Work/Life Balance) Bill 2012:
* Gives people who have been in their job 12 months enforceable rights to request flexible working arrangements, including the number of hours they work, the scheduling of those hours and the location of work;
* For carers who are looking after another person, employers may refuse flexible arrangements only where there are serious countervailing business reasons. For all other employees, employers can refuse on operational grounds;
* Gives Fair Work Australia the ability to hear and determine any disputes if an employer refuses a request.
Find out more - http://greensmps.org.au/worklifebalance