As literature and studies have evolved concerning conditions at the workplace and management-employee relations, increasing attention is being paid to the importance of a satisfactory work-life balance for everyone at the workplace. This includes supervision as well as the employees.
An article entitled “10 Ways Employers Can Encourage a Healthy Work-Life Balance for Employees” from Pinboa focuses on the employees. The article notes the challenges maintaining this balance poses due to people’s schedules getting busier and the pressures to make a profit or fulfill a company or agency mission statement usually increasing. It is important to note that employees having this balance feel increased motivation and are less stressed on the job. This results in greater organizational productivity and reduced number of conflicts among co-workers and management.
The following are some benefits employers can offer employees assuming they have a budget to cover these items:
· Access to Exercise – Employees who are able to exercise 30 minutes a day are at less risk for getting sick and missing days from work. Some companies have a gym facility onsite. If not, a company can offer its employees a membership discount at a local gym.
· Childcare Services – Options for this include an onsite childcare facility, a childcare service discount, or allowing employees some flexibility to care for their children.
· Company Outings – This can work wonders for improving company morale and helping workers get to know each other in a non-stressful setting. It can be higher end or low-key.
· Offer Community Engagement Activities – This could be anything from volunteering at a charity to participating in an AIDS walk.
· Designate a “Quiet Space” – Rather than a noisy employee lounge, this should be a calm space, free of clutter with comfortable seating.
· Allow Schedule Flexibility – Without compromising company productivity, offer employees the option to work remotely because of an emergency.
· Team-Building Exercises – These exercises can involve management and employees participating together and can increase morale.
· Encourage Vacations – Studies have shown that 14 days off per 365 days is not enough. To encourage the taking of vacations, consider a “use it or lose it” policy.
· Allow Short Breaks Throughout the Day – Frequent short breaks can make employees more focused, less burned out, and more productive long-term.
· Allow Unpaid Time Off for Life Events – This can include caring for a parent with a serious illness or extending maternity leave.
· Ask Employees for Guidance – The employees are an excellent resource for management to consult regarding ways to facilitate a healthy work-life balance in the workplace. This can be a regular agenda item for periodic company meetings.
· Respect the work-life boundary – Avoid contacting employees during their private time unless it is a real emergency.
· Older employees – For your valuable senior employees, a company can offer good health care coverage, wellness benefits, preventive benefits (such as colonoscopies and prostate exams), self-care benefits (personal care, legal services), letting seniors telecommute, flexible hours, retaining employees as part-time or contractors, and encouraging employee training and education.
What about management? If anything, they are under even greater pressure to perform. They are human and also need a work-life balance. We all know the micro-manager. He is all over his employees to make sure everything gets done—but what is the result? Those long days of doing everybody’s jobs will catch up with him/her. Not only will their concentration be affected, but also their health. They will be more productive if they take a break and recharge their batteries.
Now consider the owner of a small business who feels they can never get away. This can also be managed by taking the following steps:
1) Your Staff – Have staff take the lead on important assignments before the owner departs.
2) Manage Client Expectations – Assure the client that the same quality of work will be performed in their absence and give them the name of at least one contact person.
3) Take Leave Around Slow Periods – Plan the trip when business is light.
4) Set A Schedule – Set aside a particular time each day to make calls or check e-mail.
One other factor impacting work-life balance negatively is not only the time involved for lengthy commutes but also the stress associated with them. Maintaining an office in a location that’s in the midst of a residential and commercial hub reduces travel time and consequentially improves work-life balance.
Ignoring a work-life balance at the workplace is a losing strategy over time and these are some of the ways to foster a good balance.
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Originally Published on LinkedIn
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