Striking Balance across Diverse WorkLife Commitments
By Edlyn Mason
Stop, and smell the roses! Juggling the demands of today’s worklife commitments means there is a greater chance that instead of ‘smelling the roses’, most of us are probably chasing that caffeine fix to get an energy boost, make up for insufficient sleep, or calm our inner grouch (if you’re not a morning person). Finding that happy medium between our career and other responsibilities is not necessarily high on our agenda of priorities. But it should be. The issue of worklife balance has become an increasingly important focus for employers and their employees considering a significant amount of our waking hours is spent at work. In recent times, this awareness has gained momentum with health and wellness gurus who recognize the value in maintaining balance in our daily activities in order to live longer, healthier lives.
For each of us, achieving worklife balance has different meaning. We belong to diverse cultural structures; so our roles within our families, at work, and in social circles as well as how we manage our contributions on and off the job, differ individually. It is important for employers to acknowledge and attempt to understand these differences in their efforts to create and advance a respectful and inclusive culture around worklife balance on the job. A great example recently shared by a colleague is that of a single-parent mother working from 9 am – 5 pm then hurrying home to take care of her children and household, while her married colleague who has a stay-at-home wife starts his workday at 7 am and leaves for home at 6 pm. The perception may be that the employee who stays for longer hours at work has greater commitment to team and organizational goals. But the opposite may be true, or the level of contributions of both employees may be equal, except that they have to manage their time differently because their personal commitments and circumstances are different.
The absence of balance leads to chaos and ineffectiveness, and therein is the value in nurturing and securing good worklife balance within the workplace. The employers who take into account the transitional, complex dynamics that impact the worklife connection are positioned for greater success in meeting their internal customer needs while excelling externally as a market competitor. A healthy, productive workforce with a strong Safety and Respect for People culture are critical to a thriving business.
Scheduling flexibility enables all employees at all levels to earn a living while living their lives, and is a win-win situation. Measuring employee commitment by output and quality as appropriate rather than the amount of face time on the job promotes fairness and limits mediocrity. It is just as important for employees who benefit from good worklife balance to hold themselves accountable by maintaining professional integrity in achieving, and where possible, exceeding work-related goals and expectations. Good worklife balance raises morale which supports better health and reduces lost workdays caused by disabilities associated with stress. Motivated employees are more likely to have their eyes and mind on task, and work safely. Whatever one’s worklife situation and regardless of the type of job or professional status one has, taking time to be well or being able to relax, recharge, and renew is a reminder that cannot be overstated for any modern employee.
