A leading business figure and former Government Minister said his company recognises how key women are to Bermuda?s workforce, and strives to create a work environment where ?women feel free to acknowledge their home commitments?.

Gerald Simons, president and chief executive of leading domestic insurer Argus Group, told an audience of women gathered for the monthly meeting of the Organisation of Women in Trade (OWIT) yesterday that his company ? run by a workforce made up of 70 percent women ? gave employees the option of arranging non-traditional working hours (7:30 to 4:30 instead of 9 to 5, say) as necessary, and instituted a free after-school childcare service at the company.

A parent himself, Mr. Simons said that Argus saw how critical women were to Bermuda?s workforce ? with females holding 48.5 percent of local jobs, according to 2000 statistics ? and the greater opportunities for careers women now have.

But he said the reality was a woman is still most often the primary caregiver in her family. ?It is a real challenge for a woman to cope with her responsibilities at work and at home,? he said.

Mr. Simons, who also worked closely with a large female workforce when he was Education Minister, said he believed jobs and promotions should go to those best qualified.

That is a policy adopted at Argus, he said, with the promotion of those most capable showing in the migration of the company?s management team in the last 20 years from 12 positions held by men to a 50-50 split between six men and six women today.

Mr. Simons said during his seven years and counting as Argus CEO he has never worried about whether or not the group?s 137 employees are working hard.

?I believe everyone in the company wants to do a good job and will work hard, and quite frankly the few who don?t work hard will be found out in their regular appraisals,? he said.

?I?m not suggesting we are soft on people, there are objectives and people must perform.

?I worry much more that people maintain a proper work/home balance.

?If people spend too much time in the office, and their home life starts to fall apart, in the long run they are not going to be as useful to me and the company.?