Work/Family balance has become increasingly hard to navigate as technology has become so important in our daily lives. Because most of us have cellphones that we also use for work purposes, we can never actually “turn off” the feeling of work when we are at home. Employees have come to recognize this and have started asking their employers to step up to the plate with some solutions. While there are some things workers themselves can do to help their work/family balance, it’s mostly up to the organization:
Encourage your employees to take paid leave. More and more, employees believe that they can’t take vacation because they will be behind on projects at work, or that they will be looked down upon for “skipping out” for any amount of time (and therefore will be passed over for a promotion when it comes down to it). The point of having paid vacation should be for employees to reconnect with themselves and take a break from the stress of work – reassure your workers that they will not have any negative fallout for taking advantage of the benefits they receive from the company.
Become invested in your employees lives. When we say this, we mean really get to know your employees. When you can have that connection and relationship with your subordinates, they will feel more comfortable coming to you with any issues they have. They are also more likely to stay with the company when they can identify with the people in it.
Offer unique benefits. Look into offering things like wellness, financial, and leadership programs to motivate your employees to become better and succeed in their lives. When employees can link encouragement with their employer, they are more likely to be happy with their position and this will translate over to their family life.
Emphasize workplace relationships. There are many ways you can encourage your employees to get to know one another – by offering team building exercises, a company sports league, barbecues, retreats, or group incentives. If you’re having a hard time coming up with something, ask your employees!
Work, family, and life balance isn’t an easy thing to accomplish, no matter who you are. As an employee, scheduling time for yourself amidst your work schedule, knowing when to say “no,” letting go of perfectionist tendencies, and delegating tasks when you are overwhelmed can all help you keep your balance in check.