The Importance of Emphasizing Work-Life Balance
Achieving work-life balance is an ongoing struggle for many employees. Busy family schedules, workplace stress, and even uncomfortable company uniforms are all common culprits which can make achieving balance difficult. However, as a business owner, you can play a key role by giving your employees work-life balance tips and tools.
Why Work-Life Balance Is Important
When your employees are stressed, they won’t be able to give 100% during their workday. Not only that, but, if an employee’s stress at work is causing ongoing stress at home or vice-versa for an extended period of time, this can have real and serious health consequences, which can lead to absenteeism, low retention, and high turnover, all leading to higher costs for you.
However, when the importance of employee wellbeing is recognized and supported by strategies for reducing ineffectiveness and burnout, you create a workplace of appreciative employees who are always inspired and engaged.
Stress-Reduction Strategies
There are several ways to help your employees to reduce their stress. Some of the more common strategies include telecommuting, quiet spaces, and redefining productivity. However, it’s also important to identify and understand the competency of each employee.
Telecommuting
Allowing employees the option to work from home one or more days per week can have a significant impact. For instance, if an employee has small children, offering flexible hours will mean they can spend less on babysitting or daycare, which can greatly reduce their stress.
A Quiet Room
Depending on the size of your business space, you may consider creating a quiet space for employees to go if they need a short break.
To do this, you’ll need to ensure the space is free of any company materials but has plenty of plants, comfortable chairs, and magazines. Note that this space should be calming and not an employee lounge where employee meetings or chatter occurs.
Quality vs. Quantity
Does your company culture equate productivity with hours worked? If so, it may be time to redefine. Focusing on the outcome of work done by employees instead of what they can get done in an 8-hour day can go a long way to reducing their stress.
Be the Change
While all of the above strategies can be very effective at reducing employee stress, being an example of work-life balance can also have a significant impact. When they can see the benefits of achieving this balance, they will see that it’s possible to attain it for themselves.
Get Inspiration from Your Employees
If you want to do more to help employees achieve the work-life balance they seek, you can also ask them what changes they would like to see. Scheduling regular brainstorming sessions about this topic can yield some very creative, win-win solutions.
When employees feel empowered to work at places and times that are comfortable for them, it improves their health and ensures they won’t feel the need to seek jobs with the best work-life balance. Employee satisfaction begins with comfortable uniforms. Prudential Overall Supply can help; call 1-800-767-5536.