Employees view work-life balance as a top priority
According to a recent LinkedIn poll conducted by Capleo Global, employees place great importance on work-life balance besides salary and benefits when considering their next role. Additionally, work culture and recognition were also valued factors.
What is interesting to note in the poll result is that the 450 respondents, accounting for 49%, expressed a strong preference for work-life balance over salary and benefits. This reflects how professionals prefer to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
Additionally, the poll revealed that 36% of respondents prioritized salary and benefits, indicating that financial considerations are important for a significant portion of the workforce. It is also worth noting that 10% of respondents valued work culture, and 5% of them gave more importance to recognition at work. All these findings underscore the different factors that influence employees’ career decisions.
Meticulously, our observations suggest that we must engage continuously as our circumstances and priorities evolve. Hence, prioritizing work-life balance has numerous positive effects, including stress reduction, a low risk of burnout, and a greater sense of well-being. This benefits both employees and employers. Employers committed to providing a work-life balance for their employees can save on costs and enjoy a more productive workforce.
Importance of work-life balance
Improving work-life balance improves your well-being and physical, mental, and emotional health. Many studies suggest that long working hours lead to serious health issues such as sleep impairment, depression, diabetes, and impaired memory. Unfortunately, they can also lead to burnout and other repercussions.
While employers and employees may associate long working hours with increased productivity, many studies have shown that after a certain number of hours, workers’ productivity declines as work tension increases. Achieving a healthy work-life balance can reduce stress and increase overall productivity.
Work-life balance at an employee level
Each person defines work-life balance differently. Some seek greater flexibility in their work arrangements, such as flexible hours, a condensed work week, or remote options. For others, it serves as a guiding principle influencing their career decisions, preferred roles, and choice of employers. While not a novel notion, the pandemic has undoubtedly prompted many individuals to reassess their work-life priorities and reconsider how they allocate their time in the workplace.
In short, work-life balance is the state of equilibrium where a person equally prioritizes the demands of work.
Work-life balance at an employer level
Employers must analyze the cause of burnout or employee unhappiness before implementing work-life balance strategies. A lack of motivation, emotional turmoil, depression, or a lack of interest could cause burnout. Many research investigations have suggested that higher burnouts are directly proportional to the employee turnover ratio; the higher the burnout, the higher the employee turnover.
Employee burnout can be tackled by the following measures, as given below:
- Increasing employee control
- Employee suggestion programs
- Rewarding exceptional performance
- Ensuring consistency in communication with employees
- Employee assistance programs
Besides the above factors, employers can also strategize employee work-life balance.
- Allowing flexible work schedules
- Modelling work-life balance practices
- Paid time off
- Allowing the employees to take unpaid leaves.
- Setting clear expectations that a time off or a break from work should be the time off.
Work-life balance is important to many employees who are faced with daily challenges. Good organizational policies, rules, and well-planned initiatives can help employees have a productive and happy workplace.
How do you improve work-life balance?
There are some ways to improve your work-life balance. Work-life integration looks different for everyone. In striving for a greater work-life balance, you get to determine your priorities.
Some examples include:
- An employee who crafts their schedule to work on specific days so that they can balance other personal chores.
- A new employee who dedicates extra time to tasks and responsibilities.
- Stay-at-home parents who manage to equalize work assignments and tackle newborn baby naps.
Five great tips to improve your work-life balance
Below, we have consolidated some tips for improving the work-life balance. Recall that finding an approach that works for you is a process and will take time.
Take a moment to assess
Spending quality time with people is meaningful and reflects how different areas of your life impact one another.
Evaluate your priorities
Identifying what you want to prioritize will make a change. Prioritizing where you can make compromises and what actions can help you do more of what you love.
Manage your time
Effective time management equals meeting deadlines on time, which means you can avoid the unnecessary stress of last-minute work.
Set your boundaries
Undefined work boundaries lead to physical, mental, and emotional burnout. Work boundaries help us satisfy these needs – by giving us a healthy work-life balance and time to use as we please.
Refine, improve, and iterate
Experiencing work-life balance is a process. So, set time aside to reflect on what feels best for you and refine your approach until you’ve achieved your goal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s evident that employees universally prioritize work-life balance as a top consideration in their professional lives. This recognition underscores the importance of organizations prioritizing and supporting initiatives that promote a healthy balance between work and personal lives. By acknowledging and addressing this fundamental need, employers can cultivate a more engaged and fulfilled workforce, ultimately leading to increased productivity and retention rates.
Explore Capleo Global to identify your best approach to attaining a balanced work-life dynamic. Sometimes, you might even decide that a career change is the best option for the best work culture. Capleo Global has a unique culture of taking care of its employees internally and externally.