Work-life balance has become a buzzword, but it’s based on simple principles that are good for not only your employees but also your bottom line. The core concept is that employees are individuals with unique needs, both in and out of the office. Helping them find ways to balance their conflicting priorities will maximize their productivity as well as their morale. This creates a happier and healthier team that gets more done in less time.
Here are 5 top tips to help promote work-life balance for your employees.
1. Set Client Expectations
Whether your company is a small startup or a large public corporation, it can be tempting to always say yes to clients. Unfortunately, always saying yes without considering the consequences can quickly lead to an overworked, overtired, demoralized staff.
To guard against this tendency, set expectations with new clients from the beginning. Let them know your operating hours, your production timelines, and how changes are handled. When existing clients make new requests, always refer to your initial boundaries before answering. If you want to take on a big new project, or do something extra for a major client, consider hiring temporary staff to help with the increased workload.
2. Set an Example
If you want your team members to prioritize their work-life balance, make sure you are prioritizing your own. Try not to be the first one in the door in the morning and the last one out at night, or your employees will notice and may be tempted to emulate you. If you have a flex-time policy, let your employees see you take an afternoon off or come in after rush hour. Make sure they know they’re free to do the same. Those whose schedules are set may want to occasionally close an hour early for an optional team event such as dinner or a trip to an escape room.
3. Keep It Flexible
Overtime is extremely important to some employees, so if you’ve been allowing it, don’t suddenly shut down the option altogether. Instead, consider implementing core hours with a more limited overtime policy.
Likewise, add flexibility to employee schedules wherever possible. If there are tasks that can be done remotely, offer that option for partial or full workdays. Implement mandatory vacation time, but let employees decide when and how to take it, such as a series of two-day getaways or a full two-week vacation.
4. Trust and Empower Your Employees
To the extent that it’s possible, change your performance metrics to focus on milestones and timelines rather than clock hours. Give your employees the tools they need to perform their jobs without a manager looking over the shoulder, and then trust them to complete their projects. Though you may occasionally need to discipline an employee who takes advantage of your trust, the majority of people will rise to the occasion.
5. Include Family When Possible
Don’t wait for Take Your Daughter to Work Day to include your employees’ families. It’s not safe to have kids running around on a manufacturing floor, but there’s no reason not to open work-related events such as picnics to family members. Welcoming family to the workplace can help employees find a better balance.
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