The Roles of HR in

Promoting Work-Life Balance

Today's companies do not have a choice regarding employee happiness; rather,

it is a need that could have a direct impact on the organization's top- and bottom-line
profitability. Employers who understand the value of work-life balance are more
profitable and successful because their staff tends to be happier, more creative, and
more willing to take risks and produce outcomes in a better way without worrying about
punishment for mistakes or pressure from superiors. In a sense, it may be inferred that
businesses that focus on work-life balance objectives have higher performance and
produce profitable results.

Prioritizing one's personal and professional responsibilities is the essence of

work-life balance. But this is already known by HR Teams. Just so happens that there
has been a seismic shift in how businesses are letting their employees to behave.
Global HR leaders need to face a new set of issues brought on by this new working
environment

We can now conclude that businesses ought to pay more attention to their work-
life balance rules. Naturally, organizations like HR are at the forefront of such rules. For
instance, HR Teams are required to monitor employees' working hours and degree of
engagement at work. This is a crucial component of their mandate, which includes other
important duties including serving as the guardians of employees' wellbeing.

In an effort to encourage a healthier work-life balance among their employees,

top HR experts around the world have used some of the following best practices:

Cultivate a More Supportive Company Culture

At the end of the day, HR should be at the forefront of offering employees a supportive
backbone that they can rely on for strength and motivation. This is especially true when
it comes to cultivating an environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance. HR
Teams can encourage employees to maximize vacation or sick leaves whenever
appropriate.

Consistently Review Employee Workload

Too often, companies will be guilty of merely focusing on the results without paying
closer attention to the process that one needs to go through to attain such results. While
bumps in employee productivity might be a good thing, management needs to
constantly reassess the workload that they are imposing on their work force and
whether it’s sustainable for the long-term. Sometimes, these short-term productivity
boosts aren’t sustainable and employees end up getting burned out because too much
is being demanded of them too quickly.

Protect Employees from Inappropriate Client Interactions

This tip is particularly important for employees whose jobs require them to be in direct
communications with clients. It’s important that the company enforces strict policies in
maintaining cordial and professional working relationships between its clients and
employees. Even something as simple as disallowing employee-client communications
outside work hours is a very good measure in enforcing a healthy work-life dynamic
within the office.

Promote Health and Wellness within the Office

Whether in one’s personal or professional life, health and wellness are crucial. People
who work long corporate hours are especially more susceptible to leading very
sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles. These kinds of unhealthy lifestyles can result in
compromised health for the employee and that will not only compromise their work, but
their life as a whole. This is why companies should make it a point to be more open to
exploring new ways of promoting health and wellness within the office. Whether it be
through comprehensive insurance plans, promotional gym memberships, or even just
having a well-stocked pantry of healthy food, a little effort can go a long way in making
employees feel like they are cared for.

Embrace Technology to Promote Appropriate Tracking

Of course, there are only so many things that HR Teams can do on their own without
the help of the proper tools and technology. Intuitive technological tools like Payruler
offer timekeeping features that allow for a stricter implementation of employees working
only within specified office hours. This high-level of precision when it comes to tracking
an employee’s time can be very effective at helping separate their home and office life,
regardless of the location of their physical workstation.

Allow Flexible or Remote Working

This should practically go without saying during a time of a global pandemic wherein
everyone is encouraged to stay home. Sometimes, employees won’t be comfortable
with reporting to work if they feel like they are more susceptible to getting sick. This kind
of stress and anxiety might compromise their productivity and efficiency when forced to
come into work. If possible, allow employees to engage in remote working, especially
when they are immunocompromised. After all, in the advent of technology, it’s a lot
easier for teams to work remotely and still stay productive now with all of the
communication tools that are available out there.

Encourage Breaks

We already talked earlier about how companies should look to encourage their
employees to make the most out of sick leaves and vacation leaves. That’s a good
practice for preventing burnout in the long haul. However, it would also be prudent to
encourage breaks within the daily life of an employee as well. Try to encourage your
employees to not work through their lunch breaks so that they can take the time to reset
and recalibrate themselves in the middle of the day.
Implement a Strong Employee Feedback System

Employees need to feel like they’re heard. It can be very demotivating and discouraging
to work in a corporate structure that doesn’t make one’s voice feel valued. HR Teams
should be at the forefront of allowing employees to air out certain grievances or
exceptions to policies within the workplace. This kind of open and honest
communication can foster a healthier work environment that empowers employees and
makes them feel more respected and dignified.

Enforce Strict Work-Life Balance Guidelines

Lastly, HR should be strict about practicing what you preach. If a company truly wants
to enforce proper work-life balance guidelines, then it all starts with management. Even
simple rules like disallowing late-night phone calls or weekend emails to employees can
go a long way in building a healthy work environment. HR should take it upon
themselves to enforce such policies in order to really cultivate that ideal company
culture for the benefit of everyone.

Create a Work Environment That Promotes Work-Life Balance

The reality of burnout, and past views on productivity, have made work-life balance an
essential part of today’s workforce. Behaviors that were once encouraged or seen as
high-achieving, like working after hours, have gone out of vogue as they often lead to
disengagement. New understandings of employee engagement and productivity relate
to their well-being.

Equating working late or overtime with increased productivity and engagement is not
only outdated, but it’s also simply untrue—employees’ productivity drops 19% every
hour they work beyond the typical 8-hour day. When employees cannot disconnect from
work at the end of the day, it might be due to unspoken expectations around stamina.
This inability to disconnect not only causes stress but ultimately hurts organizations'
cultures and retention rates.
Organizations can provide boundaries for communication after hours to help employees
disconnect at the end of the day. For example, let employees know anytime outside of
work hours should be considered “quiet hours” and discourage work communication. In
addition, relieving employees of the obligation to respond after-hours ensures their time
at home isn’t disrupted by coworkers.
It’s important to dispel any feelings of obligation after the workday has ended so
employees can recharge. Remind your team that emails can be saved as drafts and
sent in the morning. When employees can unplug at the end of the day, they are more
likely to be engaged during work hours.

Help Managers Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance in the Workplace

Encouraging a healthy work-life balance isn’t just about communication—leadership has

to walk the walk. If your managers don’t have healthy boundaries between work and
home, it’s likely that their employees don’t either. So managers need to demonstrate
their ability to balance work with their personal lives to lead by example.

Employees will note if your managers demonstrate healthy boundaries, like

disconnecting at the end of the day. Managers can lead by example more directly, too.
For instance, after a long meeting, managers should encourage employees to take a
break before returning to work. Suggesting employees take time for themselves sends
them the message that their well-being is just as important as productivity. Breaks also
allow employees to recharge and return to work more engaged.

Leading by example can encompass your employees’ mental and physical health.
Encourage managers to walk with their team members when they conduct one-on-ones
or just to check in. This change in pace can give employees a break from their screens
and make them more engaged when they return. Managers and employees don’t have
to be in the same place to do this. Switch your virtual conference invites to a phone call,
and take a virtual walk with employees during your weekly check-in.

Reframe Perspectives on Work-life Balance and Employee Performance

The way we work has changed considerably in recent years, and it only continues to
evolve. One thing that remains true is that employee performance is inherently linked to
their work-life balance. Employees who reported having a good work-life balance work
21% harder than those who don’t. When employees can care for their well-being, they
are better performers.

As the way we work has changed, so has how we balance our work and personal
lives. With burnout on the rise, employers offer more flexibility to their employees to
promote work-life balance and job performance. Job flexibility enables employees to
balance the demands of their personal lives and get their job done during peak
productivity hours. While each organization has unique needs, leadership should look
for opportunities to offer employees flexibility on the job.
Most companies have adopted flexibility in remote work, but that’s not always an option.
Some companies have also implemented flexible work hours if their business isn’t
tethered to the traditional 9-to-5 workday. When employees choose their work
hours, employee engagement improves significantly. While this may add extra work in
terms of time tracking, employees can get their job done around their personal lives.
Choosing when they work can lower stress levels and allow employees to have more
well-rounded lifestyles. When organizations are flexible, employees’ work-life balance
improves, and productivity increases.

Implement an Employee Mental Health Program to Support Employee Well-being

When implementing work-life balance programs, focus on your employees' well-being

and mental health. Thousands of employers have adopted workplace mental health
programs to support workplace well-being, reduce burnout, and improve employee
engagement.
Employee mental health programs are proactive and give teams the skills and tools to
manage their well-being daily. Workplace mental health training should consist of live
and on-demand training sessions so employees can learn in real-time and use it as a
reference as needed.
Your well-being program should come with tools employees can utilize when they feel
stressed or need to practice mindfulness, such as easy-to-access apps and quiet
rooms. Having well-being resources on hand gives employees the support they need to
be productive and highly engaged.

Implementing a mental health program gives employees the tools to manage their
emotions at work and home. When you equip employees with well-being skills and
coping mechanisms, they can better manage their work-life balance.
References:

5 Ways HR Can Improve Work-Life Balance and Employee Engagement

https://www.pathways.com/pathways-at-work/blog/improve-work-life-balance-and-employee-
engagement
What HR Can Do to Promote Work-Life Balance and Boost Employee Morale
https://payruler.com/blog/what-hr-can-do-to-promote-work-life-balance-boost-employee-morale/
How HR Can Ensure Work-Life Balance
https://semoscloud.com/blog/how-hr-can-ensure-work-life-balance/

The Role of Employers in Promoting Work-Life Balance

https://www.managementstudyguide.com/role-of-employers-in-promoting-work-life-balance.htm