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