Work life balance is essential to a successful company today. When your employees are happy, your office is more productive and efficient; it is as simple as that. Often, when people look for a job today, one of the things they look for is a company that promotes work/life balance, including wellness programs. There are lists that can be found online that offer the names of companies that have the best work/life balance policies.
Types of Work/Life Balance
There are several types of work/life balance. You have those companies that offer telecommuting, enabling employees to work from the comfort of their own home, and those companies that offer flexible scheduling, allowing the ability to take time off as needed within reason. The type of balance that employees desire typically depends on their status in life at the moment. New parents and employees with a long commute might be happiest with the ability to work from home certain days, while others would be just as happy to have flexible scheduling, taking the time they need when they need it.
Keeping Your Best Employees
What work/life balance achieves is it allows you to keep your best employees. No one wants to stay at a company where they are regarded only as a number or a “producer.” When an employee knows that his or her boss really cares, and will allow the time off needed to deal with whatever challenges life throws at them, that employee is more likely to stay loyal to the company. If you are the type of boss who gives your employees a hard time when they ask for a much deserved day off or need an hour or two during the middle of the day to attend to a doctor’s appointment, you are likely not gaining the respect of your employees, which decreases their productivity and the reputation of your company.
There is no secret formula to creating the perfect work/life balance in the office; each office will have their own rules that work best. You can find out what your employees want most by creating a poll, or simply by sitting down and talking with them. When you show your employees that you care, you are more likely to win them over, giving them incentive to be efficient and productive on a day-to-day basis.