How to Achieve a Work-Life Balance for You and Your Employees
It is estimated that you’ll spend one-third of your life at work, totaling roughly 90,000 hours of your lifetime spent at a job. [1] In terms of work schedules, 94% of service professionals in the U.S. spend over 50 hours working per week, while many of these people work on the weekends. Even more alarming, but also not surprising, studies show that 48% of Americans consider themselves to be true “workaholics.” [2]
So, if we’re speaking statistically, you could say that for most of us, work is a BIG part of our daily lives.
Work-life balance can be considered the approach to how one manages both the demands of their career and the demands of their personal life. As times have become more hectic, the typical work schedule has become less confined to usual office hours, and humans have grown to be more engaged in their careers, achieving work-life balance seems far-fetched and unattainable by any means. Oftentimes, we let work take precedence over everything else in our lives and if we’re not careful, this can lead to burnout, additional stress, diminished mental health and poor job performance.
Employers should recognize the importance of providing a work-life balance for their employees and strive to create an atmosphere where maximum productivity does not have to come at a cost to others’ time and well-being. Work-life balance is imperative for employees and you’ll find that those who can put equal importance on their personal lives with their work lives are undoubtedly more satisfied and happier which, in turn, greatly reflects in their long-term job performance and skills. If you want to promote a workforce high in morale and a greater sense of well-being, check out these tips for achieving a work-life balance.
Offer competitive PTO.
Do you ever come back from vacation feeling better than before you left? This same principle applies to the workforce with some companies now enforcing mandatory paid time off equal to two weeks per year. Employees who are encouraged vacation time return more motivated and more productive when they are allowed time to relax without the pressures of their job for a bit of time.
Volunteer time off through team building.
If your employees don’t want to take off, force them to. Planning a few hours for team building, such as volunteering at a local charity, pushes your team to take a break and de-stress when work begins to feel overwhelming.
Allow remote work, if/when possible.
In recent years, the ability to work from anywhere has become a huge factor for people considering work-life balance when job searching. Though not feasible for all organizations, employees who can escape the monotony of office scenery from time to time have a remarkable improvement in productivity and overall work ethic.
Leniency on appointments.
Life happens, and most of the time it’s somewhere between 8AM – 5PM. By fostering a flexible hours policy for your employees to be able to go to certain appointments when they come about, you promote an active work-life balance. This trust allows your employees to adhere to timelines on their own time and terms which stimulates growth and great culture.
