6 foolproof practices to improve your employees’ work-life balance
A recent statistic by Toner Buzz showed companies that provide a positive work-life balance have a 25% lower employee turnover rate.
When your staff has a proper work-life balance, it impacts their work satisfaction and behavior, as well as how they execute their job functions.
As an employer, you would want your employees to work in your organization for a long period. This is why it is crucial that you continuously look for ways to promote work-life balance.
To help you achieve this, we’ll walk you through six surefire ways to improve work-life balance in your work environment.
What is work-life balance?
Work-life balance is the symmetry between a worker’s professional and personal life. This means that work-related responsibilities do not get in the way of your employees having a well-satisfying life outside the office.
Work-life balance is essential for welfare, especially since every individual manages various responsibilities. Besides work-related obligations, this also includes home life and relationships with family, friends, and other loved ones.
What causes poor work-life balance?
Finding an equilibrium between work and personal life is different for every individual. For example, a single woman who has just started her first job will have different needs than a married man raising kids.
One-third of full-time employees nowadays say that managing their work-life balance has become very challenging. This has been quite apparent in the younger generation and parents, according to EY.
As written in the same report, the common causes of work-life imbalance are the following:
- Working for extended periods
- Added responsibilities at work
- More expenses without additional compensation
- Having kids
- Additional responsibilities at home
If you take a closer look, most of these causes have one thing in common: the lack of control. If these aren’t properly addressed, it will eventually lead to burnout, which will also have a negative impact on workers’ mental, emotional, and physical health.
Why is it important to improve work-life balance?
If your employees are suffering, it will affect their morale and productivity and consequently slow down your day-to-day operations.
Work-life balance should start with employers. When you take steps to improve work-life balance, it impacts your organization in a manner that motivates your staff to do better. Put it this way: happy and fulfilled employees are loyal employees.
6 best ways to improve work-life balance
Here are six ways you can help your employees improve work-life balance and cultivate a healthy work environment:
Promoting a healthy lifestyle
Everyone should know the importance of having a healthy lifestyle as it plays a big role in establishing a work-life balance. Promoting a healthy lifestyle can help your employees avoid various health risks, both mentally and physically.
When your employees exercise a healthy lifestyle, they are more energetic and have a clearer mind. It aids in managing stress easily, which helps them excel in their professional and personal life.
Flexible work schedule
A flexible work schedule enables employees to set boundaries between work and personal and social life. Thus, work-life balance will not be possible if your staff doesn’t have enough time left for their personal life after leaving the office.
If you empower your workers to be responsible enough to manage their own time, they will give more value to your management.
Paid vacation leave
Your employees should be able to take a break from their busy life in the office every once in a while to recharge.
Paid vacation leaves help your employees improve work-life balance in a way that they can have long breaks without sacrificing their wages. They will be energized and feel more relaxed as they go back to work, resulting in better efficiency and productivity.
Periodical employee feedback and surveys
To improve work-life balance, you should also listen to what your workers have to say.
Gathering employee feedback and conducting surveys allow the management to get to know your employees more. And it will also help you make decisions on how you can address certain issues within the organization.
Team-buildings
Team building also helps improve work-life balance as it fosters good working relationships among your staff. Include fun activities that will encourage your team members to work together for a common goal.
Remote work option
The global pandemic has shown that employers can trust their employees enough to fulfill their jobs remotely. As more and more global companies fully embrace this work setup, remote work has become the new norm.
Give your employees the liberty to perform their daily work from anywhere as it will also help them improve work-life balance. This way, they can indulge in their social and personal life without missing out on their work responsibilities.
Improve work-life balance: Why should it be your priority?
Improved work-life balance equates to happy and satisfied employees. Make it a part of your goals to continuously improve work-life balance. It allows you to create a kind of work culture where workers are valued and treated as assets, and that is how your company will be known.
When you prioritize work-life balance, you will attract top talents!