Hard-working employees are the foundation of any successful business. Unfortunately, when overworked, they may become exhausted, burnt out, and non-productive. Work-life balance is the ability to equally manage professional and personal life without making extreme sacrifices.
It’s vital for optimal mental health, job satisfaction, and productivity. Work-life balance helps employees and business to flourish, so it’s a win-win deal. Studies show many managers and employees consider quitting their jobs due to bad work-life balance. Implementing employment policies that support employee wellbeing can benefit your organization in different ways, such as these.
1) Reduces employee turnover
As explained before, poor work-life balance can lead to burnout, resulting in quitting. However, high employee churn can reduce profit and increase expenses. Replacing an old employee may cost a business financially. One way to reduce employee turnover is to boost work-life balance. Staff who enjoy this are likely to stay with a company. That can save your organization a lot in expenses on new hires. On the other hand, exhausted employees are two times more likely to look for a new job.
Many employees quit their jobs because of childcare issues and a lack of flexible working. When your staff are able to balance their professional and personal life through flexible working, support, and paid time off, they may not walk away.
2) Reduces work-related stress
Stress can occur when you overwhelm employees with massive workloads and responsibilities. Therefore, ensure you control these factors to prevent this. Examples of decisions you can make to reduce work-related stress include outsourcing and declining to assign more work than employees can reasonably handle. Another method to manage workload is to consider employees’ mental and physical well-being and save tasks for the next day. This will let a tired worker get enough rest and return the next morning more refreshed to complete the job.
3) Boosts engagement
Engagement is vital for growing a business. Fortunately, there is no better way to achieve this goal than by giving employees the support they need to improve their work-life balance. After all, a happy worker is more engaged and able to drive your business forward. They are also more productive than those that score low engagement. Plus, this group of workers is not likely to leave a company. Providing them with the right training makes them feel a lot more competent at their job, which is why looking at useful training content examples, for instance, can help you give them what they need to create a strong business base.
4) Increases productivity
Many employees want to be more productive in this fast-paced world, whether that has to do with their work or personal life. However, the opposite is the truth when they are stressed about their job. Effective time management is key to boosting productivity without sacrificing your employees’ well-being. A better work-life balance makes a workforce more productive.
Therefore, make sure you create room for your workers to rest so that they can recover and perform at a higher level. Well-rested teams will be more motivated when they return to work. You will want to enable your staff to operate on flex schedules and shifts. Although the pandemic has slowed down, the demand for flexible work options remains high, particularly among the younger population. Give your staff the opportunity to create their own schedules without micromanaging them. This show of trust can encourage employees to always do their best.
5) Uplifts morale
Good work-life balance also boosts morale in the workplace, resulting in improved performance and high-quality output. Employees who are burned out are likely to take a sick day, and this can impact productivity. On the other hand, satisfied workers are unlikely to skip out on work, meaning you will record less absenteeism. Also, they won’t create drama in the workplace, which can hinder growth. You can increase morale by creating more time for employees to enjoy their personal lives.
6) Increase company reputation
Poor work-life balance can mar a company’s reputation. The days of loyalty are fast disappearing in the corporate world. Since employees are unlikely to stay in one place for their entire lives, managers have to create an attractive workplace and sustain their reputation with a healthy work-life balance.
About 84% of job seekers look at company reputation as an important factor in their search. One PwC research found that many potential employees want to work for organizations that care about their well-being. If you establish a reputation as a business that cares for its workforce, you can attract top talents and prevent experienced workers from leaving. Employees who benefit from work-life balance may recommend your organization to others.
7) Offers child care support
Combining work and parenting is incredibly challenging. Companies that prioritize work-life balance are able to ensure their working parents don’t easily burn out or feel unable to carry out their parental responsibilities. As a tip, consider offering a range of benefits like childcare vouchers and creche facilities. If companies provide a more generous parental leave scheme, they can build a more loyal workforce.
8) Improves mental health and well-being
Too much work can consume an employee’s life, leading to mental health issues, including depression. Poor work-life balance can leave employees dreading your work environment. Therefore, consider offering well-being guidelines and support to build a resilient team. Small businesses should create a support system, making it possible for people to feel safe and freely discuss issues affecting their mental health inside and beyond the workplace.
Work-life balance allows individuals to focus on their physical and mental health, leading to better overall wellness. Enough sleep, exercise, and good nutrition are all crucial components of a healthy life. When employees are able to balance their work life, they will have sufficient time to engage in their hobbies, which can improve their physical and mental well-being.
9) Job satisfaction
Good work-life balance improves job satisfaction, a key factor that promotes loyalty. According to one study by Investors in People, 66% of employees search for ways to create boundaries between their personal and corporate lives, with many of them admitting they are unhappy at work. This stat shows that employees don’t only value money but job satisfaction. People understand that they have to spend most of their life at work. Therefore, they appreciate contentment in their dream job. By balancing work and personal life in your workplace, you are creating a health-conscious brand that meets the needs of employees.
10) Stronger relationships
Work-life balance allows employees to achieve their relationship goals. They can build connections with their family and friends. Spending good time with loved ones improves mood, strengthens relationships, and builds a sense of support and community. Businesses may want to communicate boundaries with managers and employees and ensure work doesn’t interfere with personal time. You will find out the help expectations around response times and be specific about availability outside of working hours.
11) Profitability
Apart from being more productive, employees with better work-life balance can have profitability advantages. Staff that are happy in mind and body may take fewer sick leaves, have good control over their finances, and increase their commitment to a company. A good work-life balance allows individuals to be more flexible so that they can seize business opportunities when they arise. Plus, they are more willing to undertake personal growth training programs to level up their career.
This can help a business expand its service with new skills and proficiencies. Encouraging vacations is a great way to promote work-life balance. As an employer, you should know how much time off your employees are entitled to and motivate your team to take these opportunities to refresh. Whether your employees jet off to the Bahamas or embark on staycations, time off will allow them to reset, recharge, and recover.
