How Can Work-Life Balance Impact Performance?
Offering your employees a workplace that allows them to work in a more relaxed and positive state benefits your company, greatly. Let’s discuss how.
Oftentimes, we may forget that sending an email to our employees on a Saturday may cause them stress. But, for many, it does. Everyone needs time to unplug, relax, and recharge. Spending time with friends and family gives a refreshed perspective to returning to work on a Monday.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, work-life balance can be defined as the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy. Providing your employees with the tools and resources to achieve a well-balanced work and personal life results in happier employees who are more productive and loyal to your organization.
Why is Work-Life Balance Important?
Employees that feel stressed out and overwhelmed in the workplace may see their productivity levels decrease, which can lead to feelings of insecurity about the work they are producing. This can quickly result in a stressed and unmotivated workforce.
If employees are coming to work with feelings of exhaustion and resentment, it's not likely they are going to want to stick around. You want your team to feel like they can be honest with you if their workload is beginning to get unmanageable - before they burn out. Show your employees that you value a healthy work-life balance by being proactive in your approach, and checking in with them on a regular basis.
Oftentimes, people are spending more time in the office, or working, than they may be with their own families. So making the workplace a comfortable environment that they enjoy coming to, and having it feel like a home away from home can have immense benefits on productivity levels, creativity, workplace successes, and overall office enjoyability.
5 Ways a Balanced Life Improves Workplace Success
Increased Job Performance
Decreased Training Costs
Improved Work Environment
Increased Workplace Connections
Social Exchange Theory
Increased Job Performance
While it may seem counterintuitive, working many hours of overtime can actually result in lessened job performance by employees. While their output may be at a high level, their quality of work can begin to suffer. Feeling tired and overwhelmed, employees are less likely to be able to focus on their tasks at hand, and may even take longer to complete them. Focused employees are not only more motivated to reach their goals, but they also are more likely to know when it’s time to give themselves a break. In a study conducted by Frontiers in Psychology, they concluded that job stress was shown to have a significant negative impact on employee performance. This should not be something that employers take lightly. Having employees that are performing well will directly affect your organization's success.
Decreased Training Costs
According to a survey conducted by Statista, 47% of Canadian employees stated that the biggest workplace challenge they were experiencing since COVID-19 was a healthy work-life balance. Employees that begin to struggle in fulfilling both their personal and work commitments can start to look for organizations that are able to offer them a better balance. Employers that are able to be proactive in addressing this concern are going to have lower training and recruitment costs due to less turnover.
Overall Improved Work Environment
Working in an environment that prioritizes an individual's needs and time for themself directly increases levels of job satisfaction. As employees become more satisfied with their levels of work-life balance, the organization will see positive changes in the workplace overall. Allowing employees to have flexibility in their schedules gives them the space to be able to think more freely, and offer new ideas to help your organization stand out against your competitors. These increased feelings of positivity lead to more collaboration and teamwork, and less workplace conflict.
Increased Workplace Connections
Connection to others is one of the most fundamental human needs. Oftentimes, employees spend more time with their colleagues than they do with their friends and family. When teams are able to connect with each other in other areas of their lives, not just work-related tasks, they start to look forward to coming to work. Allowing employees time to build on these connections will in turn create a more cohesive and overall connected workforce.
Social Exchange Theory (SET)
When employees feel that a company is making an effort to benefit their personal needs, they are more likely to reciprocate the gesture by working harder to achieve organizational goals. The SET can be described as when one person provides a benefit to another, the recipient tends to reciprocate the favor by offering benefits and a favorable treatment to the first party. The theory goes on to explain work-life balance further, by expressing that people will often take the time to consider whether the costs of a relationship outweigh the benefits. If the cost of working with an organization means that an employee is overly stressed with minimal personal time, they may start to look for other options. Providing your team with a culture of work-life balance will show them that you care for their needs, and in turn, they will work to care for the needs of your business.
How You Can Improve Your Employee's Work-Life Balance
Helping your employees see the benefits of adjusting their schedules and relinquishing their workload may make them feel more at ease in speaking up when things are getting to a place of being unmanageable. It’s important to understand that there isn’t one singular change you can make to improve your employee's work-life balance. Every person is different, and as an organization, you need to be willing to try new things, and constantly evolve your practices. What worked five years ago, simply may not be as effective today. However, there are a few things that you can try that often see the best results.
Allowing Flexibility
Creating a Positive Work Environment
Encouraging Employee Interactions
Making Mental Health a Priority
Allowing flexibility
Offering your employees flexibility may be one of the most important things you can do to provide a better work-life balance. This can mean the ability to choose whether to work from home, come to the office, or have flexible start times that better fit their schedules. But, you should be mindful that flexibility can look different from person to person. Talk to your employees and ask for their input on how you can better meet their needs. Allowing your employees the space to share their personal needs will build on the trust you are working to create.
2. Creating a positive work environment
Making the office a positive environment that people enjoy coming to will help them feel less stressed. In turn, this will give them the space to complete their work to their full potential. Find ways to make the workplace more enjoyable. Offer employees a comfortable space where they can take the necessary breaks needed to recharge. Keep in mind, a positive work environment doesn’t just mean physical space. Develop a culture based on a better understanding of yourself and those you work with. Workplace wellness training can give you the tools to manage employee stressors and navigate workplace challenges. Work with a professional through one-on-one coaching and team workshops to find ways to enhance team harmony, improve workplace culture and relationships, and promote positive and meaningful employee experiences.
3. Encouraging employee interactions
Fostering a workplace that values connections can greatly improve your employee's work-life balance. Building these relationships is an important part of helping your employees feel less stressed and more satisfied in their workplace. For smaller organizations, you can start each morning with a team meeting where employees can share something about their life - a recent success, a difficult challenge, or even an upcoming vacation or event they are looking forward to. You can also book a team-building workshop to bring your team together to learn how to better support each other in a safe space.
4. Making mental health a priority
Understand that many employees may not feel comfortable expressing that they are overwhelmed, or overworked. Make it a priority in your office to check in with employees and show them that their mental health and well-being are important. This will build your trust, and give them the opportunity to share when they are having these feelings of overwhelm, stress, or burnout. Encourage employees to take short breaks, exercise, and utilize their PTO. These simple strategies can make a big difference in your employee's mental health, and their willingness and energy to strive for the best results for your business.
Summary
Taking the time to find areas in your organization that you can improve for your employees, results in numerous benefits. You will find an organization with higher productivity levels, higher retention, and a more connected workforce. These workplace connections are a necessary part of your organization's commitment to creating a healthier overall workplace culture and fostering a place that people look forward to walking into each day.
Lastly, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Identify your own limits, and show your employees that you respect them by setting boundaries. As a leader, it is important you take time for yourself, so you can show up for your employees and your business.