What is work-life balance really about
By Jacqueline Bennett, Organisational Psychologist & Careers Counsellor, AACC Member
Work-life balance is essentially about real life. It is the ability to effectively manage work, family and personal life without extreme stress or negative impact. Some companies offer programs and services which are designed to foster the well-being of their employees, to enable them to achieve a balance between their jobs, families and personal lives. These are known as work-life programs.
What are the benefits of achieving a healthy work-life balance?
Employers and employees benefit from work-life programs. For employees, work-life balance:
- Improves job and overall life satisfaction
- Alleviates on-the-job stress
- Improves self esteem
- Builds stronger families
- Assists with the management of work and family responsibilities
- Allows parents to be more involved in their children’s lives
- Promotes commitment to activities outside of work, for example sport or community activities
- Increases commitment to the employer
- For employers, work-life balance:
- Improves job satisfaction, commitment and retention
- Decreases absenteeism
- Increases on the job performance
- Lessens feelings of anger and resentment
- Improves accountability
- Enhances productivity.
How do you know when you don’t have work-life balance?
You may notice that you are spending more time at work. When you look back, it may be that you started increasing your work hours to “catch up” and now the extra hours are routine. Your family and friends may be making comments about not having seen much of you. You may feel constantly tired, or pressured, or feel that you have no choice in situations, nor any control of circumstances. Perhaps you perceive that your “to do list” is getting longer despite working hard at shortening it. Despite what others may see, you may see more negatives in your life then positives.
How do you know when you have a healthy work-life balance?
You probably feel satisfied overall with your work and home life, feeling physically and emotionally healthy, with a sense of control over your life. You have a social life whilst still being able to fulfil responsibilities at home, at work and in your community.
Where do you begin to put in place a better work-life balance?
- Firstly recognise where you are, and how you are feeling, whether your life is lacking in balance.
- Identify tangible and attainable short term goals that will bring your Back to Career and Job Search Tipswork-life closer into balance.
- Don’t attempt to “go it alone”. You need the support of your family, friends, community and workplace.
- Set boundaries between your work space and your personal space. This can be difficult if working from home. However, being disciplined in establishing limits will reap rewards in the long term.
- Look at the situation from the point of view of your employer, and approach them with practical and reasonable methods for achieving a better work-life balance, which will be mutually beneficial.
- Assess your health and lifestyle – excessive drinking, smoking, drugs, poor diet, lack of exercise and lack of sleep will not promote a healthy balance regardless of your working conditions.
How to approach your employer to ask for support
- Research if any work-life programs, policies and benefits currently exist within the organisation.
- Assess whether any practices exist, and whether there are any examples which have worked or not worked in terms of workplace flexibility.
- When talking to your employer, present the situation in terms of a solution rather than the problem. This way your boss will be able to have something concrete to assess and respond to.
Examples of work-life practices within some organisations
- Telecommuting – with the aid of technology, being able to work remotely for some part of the week.
- Job sharing – sharing your current role with a similarly qualified and capable employee.
- Flexible work hours – e.g. being able to arrive late and work late or visa versa.
- Variable work week – working longer hours for 4 rather than 5 days of the week.
- Part time employment.
- Maternity/Paternity leave benefits.
- Self funded leave.
- Employee Assistance Programs.
- Work place fitness programs.
- Occupational Health and Safety standards.
- Child/dependant care.
- Referral services for household needs – e.g. plumbing, electricity etc.
Many employers take initiative, and support employees when it comes to a healthy work-life balance. However, ultimately, you are responsible for taking steps to ensure your own life is in balance, so if you don’t feel supported by your employer, work out what you can do. It is well worth being determined to get the balance right.
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