Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Employer Flexibility And Employee Work-Life Balance.

 "Prioritize your peace. You may have to lose your balance for a while to gain a lifetime of stability." 



The conventional understanding of work-life balance is the ratio of the time you spend working at your job to the time you spend doing the things that are essential to you outside of work, such as spending time with your family or engaging in hobbies and personal interests (Coursera, 2023). You won't have as much time to devote to your other commitments or interests when work takes up more of your time or attention (Lahmeyer, 2023).


A lot of people wish to strike a better balance between their personal and professional lives. However, putting it into reality can be challenging (Coursera, 2023). Hard work might occasionally translate into greater money for family assistance. According to Maltese (n.d.), there are instances when working might worsen your mental health, leaving you depleted in interpersonal interactions.

Integration between work and life




The idea of work-life integration, or the harmonious merging of our personal and professional obligations, is gaining popularity (Coursera, 2023). Work is just one element of our life that must be taken into account, along with our communities, our families, and our own wellbeing. Work-life integration more closely resembles a Venn diagram of overlapping interests than a scale with two opposing sides (Lahmeyer, 2023). 

Importance of work-life balance


Your physical, mental, and emotional well-being can all be enhanced by striking a better work-life balance. According to studies, working long hours can cause major health problems such heart disease, diabetes, depression, poor sleep, and heavy drinking (Coursera, 2023). Regretfully, when these circumstances develop, they may also make our work-life conflicts worse, which can have detrimental effects such as burnout (Lahmeyer, 2023).

Many experts dispute the notion that extended work hours correlate with higher production, despite what businesses and employees may believe. According (Lahmeyer, 2023) to a 2014 study, for instance, workers' output started to decline as the risk of errors and injuries increased as they reached a particular amount of hours (Coursera, 2023). Finding a healthy work-life balance might help people feel less stressed and be more productive overall.




Ways to improve work-life balance 

  1.  pause and evaluate.
  2. Assess your priorities. 
  3. Manage your time. 
  4.  Establish boundaries 
  5. Reflect,refine,repeat. 

Being a well-rounded person who excels both at home and at work requires striking a healthy work-life balance. However, that requires work, and each person's ideal equilibrium is unique(Sanfilippo, 2023)‌. It can entail taking a break, working with your employer to set up a flexible schedule, or looking for a whole new position that better suits your needs. Consider what you need for a better work-life balance, then take the necessary steps to achieve it (Coursera, 2023).  

 
                          
References 

Maltese, A. (n.d.). Emerging Themes in HR: Top 4 CHRO Priorities in 2021. [online] www.quantumworkplace.com. Available at: https://www.quantumworkplace.com/future-of-work/emerging-themes-in-hr.


Writer, S. (2023) Emerging Issues in Human Resource ManagementHCM Technology Report. Available at: https://www.hcmtechnologyreport.com/emerging-issues-in-human-resource-management/.


Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance: Differences between Homework and Work at the Workplace of the Company (no date) www.iza.org. Available at: https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/13504/job-satisfaction-and-work-life-balance-differences-between-homework-and-work-at-the-workplace-of-the-company.

Sanfilippo, M. (2023). How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance. [online] Business News Daily. Available at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5244-improve-work-life-balance-today.html.



4 comments:

  1. Appreciation :
    This blog clearly defines work-life balance and highlights the importance of integration over strict separation.

    Critical Comment :
    The blog offers solutions but could delve deeper into employer flexibility as a key factor in achieving work-life balance.

    Question :
    How can companies create a culture of flexibility to empower employees and enhance work-life balance?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Creating a culture of flexibility requires a combination of policies, practices, and attitudes that prioritize work-life balance and empower employees to manage their time effectively. Here are some strategies companies can implement:

      1. Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer options such as telecommuting, flextime, compressed workweeks, or part-time schedules. This allows employees to adjust their work hours to better accommodate personal commitments or preferences.
      2. Clear Communication: Establish open communication channels where employees feel comfortable discussing their needs and concerns regarding work-life balance. Managers should actively listen and be supportive of flexible arrangements.
      3. Set Clear Expectations: Clearly define performance expectations and deliverables, regardless of where or when work is performed. This ensures that employees understand what is required of them and can manage their time effectively.
      4. Technology Enablement: Provide the necessary technology tools and infrastructure to support remote work and collaboration. Invest in secure communication platforms, project management software, and other tools that facilitate flexible work arrangements.
      5. Training and Development: Offer training programs to help employees develop time management, prioritization, and self-motivation skills. This can empower them to work more efficiently and effectively, whether in the office or remotely.
      6. related to work-life balance. Provide constructive feedback and adjust expectations as needed to support employees' well-being.

      By implementing these strategies and fostering a culture that values flexibility and work-life balance, companies can empower their employees to thrive both personally and professionally.

      Delete
    2. The blog post emphasises the idea that finding work-life balance requires putting peace above constantly striking the ideal equilibrium. It recognises the difficulties in achieving balance and presents the argument that putting peace first can eventually result in more stability.

      A thought-provoking viewpoint on work-life harmony. I certainly support the idea of putting peacefully above attaining the ideal balance. especially stepping into a career as rigorous as business. I appreciate you sharing.

      Delete
  2. As you have mentioned in the article corparation between team members and is very important.

    ReplyDelete

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