On May 15th, we celebrate the International Day of Families. This is a day to reflect on the importance of families and work-life balance.
For employers, it is important to create a work environment that allows employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. And as an employee, it is important to take advantage of the resources your employer provides to you in order to achieve work-life balance. In this article, the ChandlerWoods team will share four secrets to work-life balance for both employers and employees!
1. What is work-life balance and why is it important?
Work-life balance is the ability to manage work and personal life in a way that meets your needs and prevents burnout. It is important for employers to provide opportunities for work-life balance because it can lead to happier, more productive employees. And for employees, work-life balance is important for their own physical and mental health.
“Work-life balance is important because it allows us to be our best selves both at work and at home. When we are able to manage our time well, it leads to a happier and more productive life”, says Melissa Powick, Director of ChandlerWoods.
Work-life balance is particularly important now, given the prevalence of work from home arrangements where it can be hard to draw a line between work and life.
2. The benefits of good work-life balance for employers
There are many benefits of work-life balance for employers, including increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and improved morale.
A study by the Families and Work Institute found that companies with a good work-life balance had approximately one-third less turnover than those without. And a study by CareerBuilder found that half of the employees who left their jobs in 2017 did so because they were unable to achieve work-life balance.
As such, it’s important for employers to create work-life balance policies that allow employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This can include flextime, telecommuting, and vacation policies. Employers should also encourage employees to use these benefits by providing resources such as training and counselling.
3. The benefits of good work-life balance for employees
There are many benefits of work-life balance for employees, including improved physical and mental health, increased productivity, and reduced stress.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that employees who have a good work-life balance are less likely to experience work-related stress and are more productive at work. They also found that employees with a good work-life balance are more likely to have higher job satisfaction and commitment to their employer.
So as you can see, there are many benefits of work-life balance for both employers and employees!
4. How to promote a culture of work-life balance in your company
There are many ways employers can promote a culture of work-life balance in their company. This can include providing resources such as training and counselling, flexible work arrangements, and vacation policies. Employers should also lead by example and take advantage of work-life balance policies themselves.
First up, employers should create policies that allow for work-life balance, such as flextime, telecommuting, and vacation policies. Employers should also encourage employees to use these benefits by providing resources such as training and counselling.
When creating work-life balance policies, employers should consider the needs of their employees and what will work best for their company culture.
Work-life balance policies can’t just be lip service – employers need to put in the work to make sure these policies are effective and that employees are actually taking advantage of them.
Secondly, employers should provide resources that help employees manage their work and personal life, such as child care, eldercare, and financial planning resources.
Child care, for example, is a vital resource for employees with families. Employers could look into offering subsidised child care. This can be especially helpful for working mothers who need to balance work and childcare responsibilities.
Thirdly, employers should create a culture of work-life balance by setting expectations and communicating the importance of work-life balance to employees.
Finally, employers should lead by example by maintaining a healthy work-life balance themselves.
By following these tips, employers can create a work environment that supports work-life balance and leads to happier, more productive employees.
Final thoughts on work-life balance
Work-life balance is important for employers and employees alike. There are many benefits of work-life balance, including increased productivity, higher morale, improved physical and mental health, and reduced stress.
Employers can promote a culture of work-life balance in their company by creating policies that allow for work-life balance, providing resources that help employees manage their work and personal life, setting expectations, and leading by example.
“Work-life balance is important for a healthy, productive workforce. When employees feel overworked and stressed, it can impact their work performance and personal life. A work environment that supports work-life balance is crucial for employee productivity and satisfaction”, says Michael Hamson, Director of Recruitment and Executive Search at ChandlerWoods.
What are some of your tips on promoting a culture of work-life balance in the workplace? Get in touch with us and let us know!
Until next time, happy International Day of Families and we hope you get to spend some time with your loved ones!