In this issue,
we’re going to take a look at the subject of work-life balance and
discuss ways in which you can increase retention through strategies
revolving around this growing issue. In today’s workplace,
employers are becoming more and more imaginative in helping
employees to bridge the gap between life and work. Research shows that helping
employees achieve a work-life balance pays big dividends, including
cutting soaring health costs and energizing performance and
commitment.
It’s September, and
we just observed the Labor Day holiday. Did you know Labor Day was
started over 100 years ago as a protest for workers demanding eight
hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours for the
family? Work and life
balance is a basic need.
Today, Labor Day is observed as a celebration of the working
population, as well as the end of
summer.
So with autumn on
the horizon, I’d like to continue to recognize the working
population (and if you’re reading this, yes, you are one of us!) by
asking this question, “What would it be like if work and life were
in balance?” I’d also
like to offer some ideas about how you can help your staff. Think of the hiring
attraction and retention you’ll be able to
cultivate!
One recent survey
of employees showed that even though job satisfaction may be high,
the majority of workers rated the balance of work and family life as
more important than any
other employment factor.
Below are some ways in which helping employees strike that
balance can be beneficial:
- Attracts new
employees
- Helps to retain
staff
- Builds diversity
in skills and personnel
- Improves
morale
- Reduces sickness
and absenteeism
- Enhances working
relationships between colleagues
- Encourages
employees to show more initiative and
teamwork
- Increases levels
of production and satisfaction
- Decreases stress
and burn-out
Let’s look at where
we are:
For the first time
in American history, four generations—Veterans, Baby Boomers,
Generation Xers, and Generation Yers—are working side-by side. This new workplace diversity
can present challenges for employers in many areas. For the purposes of this
article, I’d like to address work-life balance initiatives for all
and provide a few ideas that promote the notion that maybe one size
can fit all! Simply put, work-life
balance initiatives are any benefits, policies, or programs that
help foster a better balance between the demands of the job and the
enjoyment of life outside of
work.
Let’s look at the
need:
In doing my
research for this article, I discovered that 87% of today’s working
population’s biggest challenge and cause for stress results from household
responsibilities!
Think about it: if your household responsibilities were taken
care of, or reduced, you would have more time for your
life.
Let’s look at a few
simple solutions:
Whether you work
for a large corporation or a small family business, we all have
basic responsibilities of life, and you, as the employer, can be a
hero to your employees by providing practical solutions. Most will cost you
absolutely nothing except for the time it takes to put them
together. I believe
this can be successful for day, evening, and night
shifts.
I suggest that you
use your negotiation skills to secure significant discounts for each
of the services below for your
employees:
- Delivery of
groceries (that your employees have ordered on-line), either to
their homes or the work place. People will spend four to
five hours shopping for groceries each week, and that doesn’t
include stopping on the way home for that last-minute dinner or
take out! Offer
delivery at least two times per
week.
- Housecleaning
services. Smaller
operations do a tremendous job at much better rates.
- Laundry service,
pick-up, and delivery.
- Lawn
service. I recommend
smaller operations, which would benefit from the additional
business.
- House painting or
repairs. These are projects that employees often use their
vacation or holiday time to complete. Helping in this area would
be of tremendous benefit to them.
- Auto repair or
detailing. Find a
business that will come to your location
weekly.
- Pharmacy
deliveries
- Daycare or
childcare services
- Elder care
services
- Health club
facilities
Now take a moment
and ask yourself this question: “What would it be like if my work
and life were in balance?”
By answering this question, you can envision how offering
these solutions can relieve the stress in your employees’ lives and
create more balance for them.
Now conduct an informal survey of your employees,
supervisors, and managers.
Ask about their specific needs and/or concerns, and base your
course of action on their
answers.
You can be tremendously
effective for your employees, as well as cover all shifts worked, by
offering discounted services that address the household
responsibilities issues.
The availability of these services will add hours to your
employees’ lives, which they can spend however they choose. And when it comes to job
satisfaction and how those same employees feel about the company for
which they work, you can bet they’ll choose to be more loyal and to
resist the temptation to go elsewhere.
(One of our goals with this
newsletter is to cover timely topics, and there’s no topic more
timely than the challenges presented by the current housing market
and how it’s affecting the recruiting efforts of companies. In next month’s issue, we’re
going to explore those challenges and discuss some creative ways in
which you can address them so that you don’t lose quality candidates
due to extenuating circumstances.)
