New initiative Dads@Workplaces started

A NEW Dads@Workplaces initiative - which seeks to make workplaces more father-friendly - was launched on Friday by the Dads for Life movement.

Companies which sign up can introduce initiatives that help employees who are also fathers, better manage work-family balance, organise or encourage such employees to participate in father-child bonding activities, organise awareness talks and many other activities as part of the initiative.

'Work-related issues prevent them from being more effective fathers, which is why this initiative was started,' said Mr Richard Seow, chairman of the Dads for Life movement.

A conference for fathers was also held at the launch. Keynote speaker, Dr Ken Canfield, who was the president of the US National Center for Fathering for 16 years, gave advice to the 1000-strong audience, mostly made up of fathers, on how to be a better father.

He said fathers are traditionally the providers of the family, which is why many neglect to nurture their children due to work. He added that this problem is prevalent in Singapore because many people here suffer from 'workaholism'.

But Dr Canfield said: 'The new generation of fathers is trying to give their children what they didn't have...to see the need to spend more time with the kids.'

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