| Is having a balance between "work" and
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| | employers. I know it's a cliché, but
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| "life" a fantasy? At a time when many
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| | it's true: it's win-win.
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| people feel fortunate to still have a
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| | What Types of Practices Do Employers Put
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| job, are we asking for too much when we
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| | in Place?
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| want a balanced life?
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| | There are a variety of things that
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| When was the last time you:
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| | companies do to help their employees
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| - took a vacation?
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| | balance their work/life. Some of these
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| - went away for a weekend?
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| | include:
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| - got away from work early to do
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| | Flex time: Employees choose their start
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| something fun?
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| | times, lunch hour, and finish times,
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| - worked out?
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| | and can vary this from day to day.
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| - spent some time on a favorite hobby or
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| | Typically, the times are within certain
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| sport?
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| | parameters (i.e. 6 a.m. = the earliest
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| Achieving balance in your life when your
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| | start time; 7 p.m. = latest finish of an
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| work or business is exhilarating,
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| | 8-hour slot).
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| enjoyable, or demanding can be a
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| | Comp time: When employees work overtime,
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| challenge. When you have a family, they
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| | they can take an equal amount of time
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| can be your reminders. When you don't,
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| | off on another day, or spread the time to
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| then you need other factors to remind you
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| | more than one day.
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| to re-align your life.
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| | Job Sharing: Instead of one full time
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| Sarah had been working from 8 a.m. to 5
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| | employee, a particular job is shared by
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| p.m. for many years at her employer.
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| | two part time employees.
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| After getting married and having
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| | Telecommuting: The employee works at
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| children, various relatives helped with
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| | home, using a computer and phone to
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| childcare when she returned to work.
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| | stay connected. Technology has enabled
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| When their two kids started school,
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| | telecommuting to be easily accomplished
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| however, both sets of grandparents
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| | for many jobs.
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| moved away to other states. Her husband
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| | Compressed Working Hours: This concept
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| started work at 6:30 a.m., so he left the
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| | allows employees to work their total
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| house by 5:45. Sarah had to leave by
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| | number of weekly hours over fewer days.
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| 7:30 to get to work by 8:00, leaving
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| | For example, one person may work a
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| the kids alone for an hour. Since the
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| | 4-day week, while another may work 9 days
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| children were still so young, being
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| | over a 2-week period.
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| home alone didn't work, and going to a
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| | Annualized Hours: An employee's total
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| neighbor's house wasn't an option.
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| | working hours are calculated over a
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| Even though all of Sarah's co-workers
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| | year instead of a week. They work
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| worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sarah
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| | according to the peaks and valleys of
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| decided to ask if she could start at 9
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| | activity over a year's time.
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| a.m., take a half hour for lunch, and
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| | What Else Have Some Employers Done?
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| leave at 5:30. Her employer agreed to
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| | Some large employers have conveniences
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| accommodate her request. That way, she
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| | available for employees right in the
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| could leave the house when the kids
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| | building. Many have workout facilities.
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| left to catch the school bus, and her
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| | I've heard that SBC in Chicago has a
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| husband got home in the afternoon just
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| | hair salon/barber shop. Some have a dry
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| before the kids arrived. This worked
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| | cleaning pick up & delivery service.
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| out very well for their family, and soon
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| | Others have a concierge service that
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| her employer began to pursue other
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| | helps with running errands, making
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| avenues to help make employees' lives
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| | doctor's appointments, or finding an
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| easier.
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| | electrician or plumber. I've also seen
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| Achieving a work/life balance is a
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| | (and used!) a chair massage service
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| possibility, and I think it's
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| | that was brought into a company weekly.
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| reasonable to request it.
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| | How Do I Know if I Need More Balance in
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| Having a work/life balance is often about
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| | My Life?
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| adjusting your work patterns.
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| | Rob Parsons, author of "The Heart of
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| If your place of employment has not yet
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| | Success", says that if any of the
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| adopted changes to their policies to
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| | following "danger signs" appear in your
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| help employees achieve a balanced life
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| | life, then it's time to readjust your
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| (and you notice that co-workers seem to
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| | work/life balance:
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| be stressed out), it may be time to
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| | - You work longer hours than anyone else
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| start discussions with human resources
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| | - You resent colleagues who work fewer
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| and other management about which types of
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| | hours than you do
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| changes would be do-able.
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| | - You are often irritable, exhausted, and
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| Why Help People Achieve Work/Life
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| | or have a headache
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| Balance?
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| | - You feel ill when you're on vacation
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| More and more companies are realizing
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| | - You go out for dinner wearing business
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| that by making it easier for employees
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| | clothes
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| to live a balanced life, the employees:
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| | - You feel tense when the car in front of
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| - have less stress (they stay focused on
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| | you doesn't move immediately when the
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| work when they're at work)
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| | light turns green
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| - stay healthy (they get sick less often,
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| | Have you recognized yourself or your
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| and call in sick less often)
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| | business anywhere in this article? What
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| - stay with the company (there is a
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| | are you going to do to make a change?
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| higher retention rate)
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| | © 2006 Borgeson Consulting, Inc.
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| All of these things are great for
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|
