The development of support practices and mechanisms for work–life balance must be reinforced through experiential learning. Within the CareDivide training programme, interactive activities serve as a vital bridge between knowledge and application—helping employers, HR professionals, and managers internalize inclusive practices and implement them effectively in their own organisational contexts.
This unit introduces two core activities designed to complement the hard skills explored in the previous unit. These activities are adapted for both face-to-face training delivery and online self-paced study, ensuring accessibility and impact across formats.
Activity 1: Tool Mapping for Inclusion
Aim of Activity:
The aim of this activity is to help participants critically assess the digital tools used in their workplace and explore how these tools can support work–life balance, particularly for employees with caregiving responsibilities.
Steps (prompt questions/scenario):
Step 1: Each participant or group receives a worksheet listing common workplace tools (e.g. Trello, Zoom, Outlook) and space to add their own. Based on the prompt: What tools do you use daily or weekly in your role?
Step 2: Participants assess each tool across three dimensions: Hard Skill Alignment (What skill does this tool support?), Contribution to Inclusion (How does it enable flexibility or support caregivers?) and Barriers to Use (What limits its effectiveness?). Based on the prompt: Which tools are most widely used, and why? Are any tools underutilized despite their potential?
Step 3: Groups discuss their findings and share personal experiences with tools that helped—or hindered—their caregiving responsibilities. Based on the prompt: How do these tools intersect with caregiving needs?
Step 4: Each group creates a visual tool map categorizing tools by their impact on inclusion and presents one recommendation for improving digital infrastructure to support caregivers
Links/Resources:
- Tool Mapping Worksheet
- Sample Tool Map
- Suggested platforms for mapping: Miro, Jamboard, Padlet
- Optional: Flipchart or whiteboard for in-person sessions
Activity 2: Design a Support Mechanism
Aim of Activity:
The aim of this activity is to empower participants to apply hard skills in designing a workplace support mechanism tailored to a caregiving scenario.
Steps (prompt questions/scenario):
Step 1: Each group receives a caregiving scenario card (e.g. elder care, postnatal return, chronic illness support). Based on the prompt: What are the key challenges this employee faces in balancing care and work?
Step 2: Groups design a support mechanism using relevant hard skills and digital tools. Some examples: A remote work protocol using VPN access and asynchronous platforms and a flexible scheduling system using shared calendars and task boards. Based on the prompt: What tools and skills are most appropriate for this scenario?
Step 3: Teams assess their design for: Technical feasibility, cultural acceptance, managerial support and long-term sustainability. Based on the prompt: What barriers might arise, and how can they be addressed?
Step 4: Each group presents their proposed mechanism. Based on the following feedback prompts: How adaptable is the mechanism to different workplace contexts? What additional supports would strengthen its impact? Does it reflect both care and productivity needs?
Links/Resources:
- Scenario Cards
- Design Canvas or Template
- Hard Skills Checklist
- Flipchart or digital presentation space