Work Life Balance
What does that even mean? It sounds peaceful. Maybe something to wish for? Thinking back 20 years ago while raising two children, I was more focused on survival mode, so work-life balance meant those rare times when I wasn’t exhausted and could put the to-do list aside to enjoy time with family. I’m sure my husband would concur. While I worked full-time, he worked a 40+ hour evening position and a 30+ hour morning job as well. Did I wish we could win the lottery? Absolutely, but we made it work. We were grateful to have stable employment and appreciated every moment we could spend together as a family.
I wonder how our parents and grandparents would describe work-life balance? I view it as a more modern term for today’s young generation. Not to say that the concept hasn’t always been important, there just seems to be a heightened awareness and a much bigger focus today. I applaud the generation entering the workforce today who is already prioritizing that balance. They have the confidence and determination to set boundaries, and they are seeking companies whose culture supports work-life balance. Does your company?
“Employers who are committed to providing environments that support work-life balance for their employees can save on costs, experience fewer cases of absenteeism, and enjoy a more loyal and productive workforce,” said Chris Chancey, career expert and CEO of Amplio Recruiting, in a Business News Daily article. There isn’t a cookie-cutter model that will work for every size and type of business but here are a few prevalent ideas to consider.
- Ask your employees what they need.
- Embrace flexible work schedules.
- Support remote work options.
- Consider a variety of benefits like offering on-site daycare or scheduling exercise classes during work hours.
- Give employees time to volunteer.
- Provide educational support for ongoing education or leadership programs.
- Lead by example!
-Debbie Hawkinson, Executive Director