4 reasons to remember work-life balance

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The term work-life balance has been used so often over the past ten years that it has practically lost all meaning and has become a vague goal that we strive for, but which we can not achieve. Many employers do not pay enough attention to this aspect of their employees' lives. Here are some reasons that will make you think about changing the corporate culture of your company.

In a recent experiment with an app that measures happiness, 10,000 participants noted how happy they felt every hour every hour. In the course of the experiment, it turned out that the subjects' peak of happiness fell on about seven o'clock in the evening every day. This is the time when we usually hang out with family and friends or just relax.

Why it's important to find work-life balance

1. Reducing stress

The ability to completely disconnect from work on time (both physically and mentally) is extremely important in reducing stress. In addition, here are three more reasons that support the importance of a balanced professional and personal life.

2. We are not at all as productive as we think

According to one study. most employees spend an average of 50 minutes each working day on activities that have nothing to do with work. And it is quite possible that this figure is even higher.

Research has also confirmed that employees' productivity drops significantly when they work more than 50 hours a week. People who work 55 and 70 hours a week had the same productivity levels.

3. Overwork is harmful to health

According to. American Institute for the Study of Stress, the link between occupational stress and heart attacks is so widely recognized that police heart attacks are equated to and compensated for in New York, Los Angeles, and some other cities.

4. Women are often more stressed

Women who work full-time are more stressed than men because they work the second shift at home, taking care of children and household chores.

How to help employees maintain balance

1. A “use it or lose it” approach to vacations

Research has shown that a 'use it or lose it' approach that does not carry over accumulated days off into the next year is effective in encouraging employees to take vacations.

2. Flexible hours or work from home

According to the survey. by the Society for Human Resource Management, employees working from home are 13% more productive than their colleagues in the office.

Of course, not all positions offer the ability to work from home or be flexible. But even small changes in the schedule can significantly affect employee satisfaction (for example, the ability to come and leave earlier for those who commute to work for a long time, thus avoiding rush hours).

3. Thoughtful office culture

Consider if late meetings are getting in the way of your employees getting home on time. Are you encouraging them to stay up late by ordering dinner delivery to the office? It may be that all of this is preventing your employees from pursuing a balanced work and personal life.

4. Training

Educate your employees about the importance of work-life balance. Various seminars and webinars will help with this. Alternatively, you can hire a professional to deliver the lecture.

conclusions

The main thing is to set an example yourself, because no practice will take root among employees if it is not supported by their superiors. Having executives constantly working late, responding to messages outside of office hours, and not taking vacations sets the standard for everyone.

Of course, sometimes there are times when you have to work in the evening or on a weekend, but it is important to remember that this is just an exception, not a rule.