Work-life balance is high on the priority list of most workers – and for good reason. According to one Harvard Business School survey, 94 percent of working professionals reported working more than 50 hours in an average week. Just over 50 percent clocked in 65 hours per week or more.
Stress can damage not only personal relationships and health, but also an employee’s productivity and work quality. Here are four steps to improving work-life balance across a business in order to preserve productivity, boost retention, and get more done in less time:
Know your company – and make sure employees know themselves.
Why are you and your employees juggling so many tasks? What are the company’s, department’s, and employees’ goals? Do the daily tasks of the business move everyone toward these goals – and if not, why are they being carried out?
When you know what the business must accomplish and your employees are clear on their own goals, the entire organization is better equipped to focus its energy where it will do the most good with the least effort. This means more free time – and a better work-life balance.
Be flexible with scheduling and work styles.
The CEO of your company may need to be available round the clock, but the receptionist may not. Account not only for each employee’s job and the availability it requires, but also for their lifestyle habits – a parent of young children, for instance, may get more done if he or she is allowed to start an hour early and leave an hour early, while another employee might do their best creative thinking between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Leverage flex time and telecommuting to take advantage of productivity and scheduling.
Encourage cohesiveness and cooperation.
Office offerings like catered lunches, daycare, or a dry cleaning drop-off service can help employees stay focused when a big project looms. A company culture that encourages teamwork and cooperation also helps instill a work-life balance by making it easy for employees to “cover” for one another when one has to address a sudden personal or family emergency. Consider adding office outings, charity events, and the like to build this “all for one and one for all” ethic.
Monitor employee stress levels.
Stress is often a direct result of a work-life balance that is out of whack – and stress is the number-one killer of job productivity. Ask employees about their stress levels and the major stressors they face, and then take steps to correct them through additional training, better project management, or optional classes in items like financial literacy.
At THE RIGHT STAFF, LLC, we connect companies and candidates that share a work ethic, personality, and common goals, allowing both to thrive while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Contact us today to learn more.
