Initiatives That Can Promote Work-Life Balance

Priorities for work and personal life used to be seen as separate and till a few years ago mental burnout was just considered part of the job

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.” by Brian Dyson, former Vice Chairman and COO of Coca-Cola.

As the quote implies, managing your family, health, friends and spirit along with your job is equally an essential part of your well-being. Employees who spend a significant portion of their day at work or who occasionally put in overtime have the issue of juggling the demands of their personal and professional life. The capacity to manage your personal and professional obligations while still making time for your interests and hobbies is referred to as having a "work-life balance."

Priorities for work and personal life used to be seen as separate and till a few years ago mental burnout was just considered part of the job. However, maintaining a work-life balance has caught the attention of both employers and employees in recent years as a result of globalization and mounting job demands. The working conditions of corporations were extremely erratic before globalization. The management did not prioritize its employees' ability to balance their professional and personal lives. As a result of their improper work-life balance, employees gradually began operating below their productivity level and started experiencing work burnout.

Additionally, workers continued to be unhappy and anxious without having time for self-care. The issue was soon noticed by companies and most of them started implementing the work-life balance culture gradually. Companies understand that preserving a healthy work-life balance can not only boost employee performance but also enable them to find fulfilment at work.

Some initiatives that should be taken for work-life balance are as follows:

· Encourage time off: Maintaining a work-life balance is essential for positive workplace culture. Maintaining a good work-life balance may improve employee performance and increase productivity. Work-life balance is also crucial for relationships and health. Your health depends on having adequate time for both job and personal pursuits, which may lead to a more fulfilling existence at both home and work.

· Creating flexible leave policies- In place of offering specific amounts of sick or casual leaves, companies have combined them with paid time off (PTO). Employees highly respect such initiatives that promote work-life balance and normalize taking time off from work.

· Build a healthy work environment even during remote work- Companies can provide stipends to work from home employees so that they can purchase standing desks or other office materials that might improve their work setup. Additionally, companies can provide yoga or gym memberships to encourage employees to take care of their health as well.

· Training managers to be helpful towards the employees- In a company manager is best suited to assist staff in achieving a better work-life balance. Companies should work on developing the managers' coaching abilities and provide managers with the freedom to provide specific benefits to employees who are struggling with mental health.

· Hiring counsellors for employees and employers- Employees and employers who have lost loved ones in the post-pandemic era feel burdened and can feel uncomfortable sharing it with their co-workers. By on boarding expert counsellors, they will get the opportunity to express their emotions to someone without the fear of being judged and can get the right guidance.

A good work-life balance can make employees feel more in control of their working life and lead to increased productivity, less absenteeism rate, improvement in their mental health, increase in employee loyalty and motivation.

A work-life balance initiative has advantages that extend beyond the employees. Employers can also benefit from work-life policies and flexible working arrangements by having better communication and teamwork, reduction in staff turnover and recruitment costs, less negative organizational stress and an increase in the employers' morale. Promoting and implementing a healthy work-life balance is valuable for both individuals and organisations. The advantages are numerous, and it significantly deepens the relationships between employees and their employers. Organizations must start making good work-life balance investments to start enjoying a healthy work-life.

About the author -

Senior Vice President - Human Resources, Hirect India.