How To Make ‘Work Life Balance’, Work For Your Business?

“Harmony makes small things grow; lack of it makes great things decay.” ~Sallust

You will always have that one more email that needs to be replied to. That one phone call that will always get prioritized over dinner with the family. That one Sunday client meet for which you just rescheduled your family outing. More and more people today, struggle to achieve an acceptable balance between work and family life.

Let’s face it it’s not always easy to make a living doing something you love.

The first challenge is to figure out what that is, and it’s often complicated by what we think we should do based on what other people think and what we’ve done up until now.

A disharmonised employee is as such of a threat as an unacquainted one. With the recent German wings plane crash in the French Alps on March 24, 2015 brought the reality of mental illness in the workplace to the attention of employers all over the world. Over the last 20 years, workplace health initiatives around the world have been growing as employers have started understanding that better employee health leads to reduced absenteeism and better employee productivity. These initiatives mainly address physical health of employees but initiatives to address mental health and work stress are still in budding stages.

It’s shocking that despite all this, only 38% of Indian employers identified stress management at workplace as a top priority of their health and productivity programmes. Research proves that the main cause of suicide in working class in stress at the workplace. It’s high time that you as an establishment take responsibility for work your employees’ life. Helping employees achieve balance and harmony in their lives is equally beneficial both for you!

We steer you through simple steps you can incorporate towards a happier and hence more productive work life.

1. Prioritize

Help your employees prioritize. Deadlines are good but they are often taken with a pinch of salt. You must have faith in their decisions. Allow them flexi hours, work from homes, webinars. All to make sure the family isn’t left behind.

After all a happy family is the backbone to a happy employee.

2. Spread the word!

Share experiences, ideas, stories…talk. It has proven to not only relive stress but also enhance creativity and productivity. As employers to hundreds its important to systematize regular informal cluster meeting into your standard operating procedure. Let people discuss and vent out!

3. Help them look forward

Organisations are increasing giving “An Hour Off Work” to let employees do what they love the most. It could be a small chit-chat hour or an hour toindulge themselves into s shopping or simply finish off that last chapter of the book. It doesn't necessarily need to be time consuming or tiring!

4. Respect Private Time

An email or two after working hours won’t hurt but there is a reason why its called “working hours”, If there is something extremely urgent, it’s always a good idea to simply add “I am sorry to bother you at this hour.” Your employee will only feel all the more preferential and appreciated by this gesture.

5. Freedom to Express

Tell your boss, family, friends, colleagues, and anyone. Tell them what your plan is, and ask them to respect it.

6. Exercise

It may feel counter intuitive to add another activity to your life, but exercise relieves stress, clears your mind, and ultimately makes you more productive. Don't skip it. You'll find that you greet work, family, and personal commitments with renewed liveliness.

Contributed by Shreya Krishnan 
PGDM-Batch 2014-2016