Wavemaker Hong Kong's "Bring Your Family To Work Day" confronts the work-life balance

Wavemaker Hong Kong has launched its first family day, demonstrating to the families of the staff what a normal day is like in the agency and encouraging a work-life balance approach. The “Bring your family to work” event took place on 25 March at the office of Wavemaker Hong Kong with about 50 staff of Wavemaker Hong Kong and their family members in attendance. Adrian Lee, head of digital, client solutions, said, "We decided to organise this event for a couple of reasons. First, the workforce is so young and only three of us have kids! It would only be a small event (if we organise a parents' day)." “Secondly and most importantly, we know that family – and parents especially – play a crucial part in young professionals’ lives and often act as sounding boards for career decisions. We felt it was important to recognise and celebrate these communities that support our people outside the office." The event kicked off with “A day in the life of a Future Maker”, showcasing how an employee in Wavemaker Hong Kong spends a day in the office. Some employees also did a presentation in front of their families - the agency said being able to explain their jobs succinctly to parents sounds basic, but it is a useful skill for similarly complex conversations with clients seeking simplicity and guidance. Steven Wong, digital director, client solutions, said, "My parents barely know what I am doing here. They know I am in the advertising industry and doing something about digital, but I am glad to have them here to understand my job.” The event was part of Wavemaker Hong Kong’s plan to help employees achieve work-life balance. In an article posted on his personal LinkedIn account, Lee said that the agency encourages employees to have personal interests outside of the workplace because ultimately they work in an industry that thrives on creativity, new ideas, and a fresh mindset. He also believed that taking good care of employees is good for the business. “People leaving has a negative impact on our ability to service clients, and churn rate is increasingly something that prospective clients ask about as part of the agency evaluation process, to ensure their business is managed in a stable and sustainable way. I know that this is not a unique challenge for Hong Kong-based agencies as we all try to balance talent retention with running an efficient operation,” he concluded.