Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is an individual’s ability to meet their work commitments and, as well as
their family and other non-work related responsibilities (Thomas, 2021). A healthy work
environment will help reduce stress and prevent burnout in the workplace. Employers can
save money, maintain a healthier and dynamic workforce by creating a workplace that
prioritizes work-life balance as a highly committed and motivated workforce will be more
productive.

Organizations need to understand that work-life balance is something a little different to

everyone due to the different generations of employees therefore creating a flexible work
environment that satisfies the needs of most employees is important. Happy employees will
feel work as their second home, and less like employed for a salary. Actionable steps should
be taken by employers and managers to aid employees who show signs of work related
burnouts before it’s too late (Whalen, 2017). Priority should be given to competitive
compensation, comfortable working conditions such as flexi-hours or work from home and
opportunities for professional growth. Overworking your best employees is tempting but it
makes them feel that they are being punished for producing great results and this could lead
to counterproductive.

My advice to the executive leader is that research has proven that by promoting work-life
balance and wellness in organizations boosts staff morale, employee and manager support is
high, motivation is high and this results in enhanced organisational productivity. According
to Mulvaney (2014), organizations which have family friendly benefits programs such as
health promotion programs have higher commitment level compared to organizations without
such programs. A health promotion initiative on workplace increases employee behaviors
which transforms into positive health effects and improves employee productivity therefore
work-life balance has become a necessity for organizations in today’s context.

References

Mulvaney, M. A. (2014). Leave programs/time off and work-stress family employee benefits
programs, organizational commitment, and self-efficacy among municipal employees.
Public Personnel Management, 43(4).
doi:https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/0091026014529661
Thomas, L. (2021). Importance of a Work-Life Balance. Retrieved September 15, 2021, from
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Importance-of-a-Work-Life-Balance.aspx

Whalen, R. (2017). Here’s How to Spot Burnout in the Workplace (And What To Do About
It). Retrieved September 15, 2021, from
https://info.totalwellnesshealth.com/blog/heres-how-to-spot-burnout-in-the-
workplace-and-what-to-do-about-it