GS chairman stresses work-life balance

GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo speaks at a meeting with the group's executives at GS Tower in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of GS Group

By Park Jae-hyuk

GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo urged executives to find a smarter way of working, in line with the implementation of the new 52-hour workweek, the conglomerate said Wednesday.

“The statutory maximum working hours have been shortened since this month to improve the life quality of workers. Our affiliates have adopted new systems to comply with the rule. I want to ask all of our executives and employees to find an efficient and smart way of working for a work-life balance,” the chairman said at a meeting with the group's 150 executives at GS Tower in Seoul.

Following the chairman's request, GS is expected to make more efforts for the shorter working hours to enhance the group's overall competitiveness and its employees' work-life balance.

The conglomerate is also expected to create more jobs to be true to the purpose of the new policy.

According to GS, its affiliates have already adopted flexible working hours and a “PC-off system,” which automatically shuts down workers' computers in their offices during non-working hours.

GS Caltex, which has implemented the systems, makes an announcement ten minutes before closing of the office and automatically shuts down computers of its workers.

Also, team leaders of the company are obliged to take a day off every month.

The oil refiner finished hiring additional employees in the first half of this year to supplement the personnel to meet the needs at its factories. It plans to recruit workers in the second half as well.

The conglomerate said its other affiliates ― GS Retail and GS Homeshopping ― also decided to shorten their working hours, although they are categorized as companies not subject to the new rule.

GS Retail will start implementing a flexible working hour system from next month. GS Homeshopping has already adopted the system.

GS Engineering & Construction, which started implementing the 52-hour workweek earlier than other builders in Korea, has allowed its employees to work flexibly. Those who work at the builder's overseas construction sites can also work flexibly, according to the company.