How to improve employee work/life balance

We all want our employees to be as productive as possible, and finding the right work/life balance can be key to keeping employees happy – and happy employees are generally more productive.

The trouble is, finding the right work/life balance can be tricky – while having the option of working from home will be enough for some, remote working doesn’t agree with everyone, even though advances in mobile technology mean that working from anywhere is easier than ever before.

So, how can you improve the work/life balance of your employees?

 

How to create a healthy work-life balance for your employees

One of the best ways to improve the work/life balance of your employees is to create a more flexible working environment, which could be anything from offering remote working to more flexible hours.

If you want a happier and healthier workforce, consider the following:

• Make sure no-one is overworked – Some employees find it almost impossible to say no, and it’s up to you as their boss to spot when you’re piling too much work on them. Help your employees control over workload with regular prioritisation meetings and reviews.
• Make sure breaks are taken –  Although it can be tempting to work through lunch breaks, particularly during busy periods, it’s important to make sure employees take time away from their desk. It could be worth putting on wellness or yoga sessions at lunchtime, or getting discounted gym membership for employees.
• Offer more flexible working – Flexible working can help reduce stress, as employees have more control over their working day, so it might be worth offering employees the chance to work from home and/or more flexible working hours. If any of your employees have children, just offering them the chance to be able to do the school run and start work later will be a massive weight off their shoulders.
• Don’t be so focused on time – If your workplace has a culture whereby employees think they need to be seen to be starting early and staying late, it’s time to make a change. So instead of getting hung up on the amount of time people spend at their desk, focus on results and goal completion.
• Offer more holidays – It may sound counterproductive, but you may actually get more from your employees if you give them more time off. If possible, this is a great way to reward employees for great work or long service and extra time off can help to re-focus them.

Why should you help improve the work-life balance of your employees?

You may not think it’s your job to help improve the work/life balance of your staff, but making sure employees are healthy and happy can have enormous benefits for both you and your business.

Here are some of the benefits of ensuring employees have a good work/life balance:

• Greater productivity
• Fewer sick days
• Greater loyalty

And if your business becomes known for treating its staff well, you’ll find that it can both attract and retain the best talent.

What employees perks should you consider?

The type of perks that resonate with staff will vary from business to business, and will very much depend upon the industry you’re in, and the demographic of your employees.

A Independent study of 2,000 employees, carried out by OnePoll , has revealed the top 10 perks that are preferred in each age group:

What perks do employees want most?

Employees aged 18-24

1. Unlimited holiday days
2. Flexible working hours
3. Dental care
4. Free breakfast supplies
5. One free holiday a year
6. Access to mental healthcare
7. Private healthcare
8. Retailer and restaurant discounts
9. Free coffee and tea
10. Help with housing

Employees aged 25-34

1. Flexible working hours
2. Enhanced pension contribution
3. Unlimited holiday days
4. Free coffee and tea
5. One free holiday a year
6. Additional holiday days for long service
7. Private healthcare
8. Dental care
9. Free eye tests
10. Free breakfast supplies

Employees aged 35-44

1. Flexible working hours
2. Enhanced pension contribution
3. Additional holiday days for long service
4. Private healthcare
5. Unlimited holiday days
6. Free coffee and tea
7. Dental care
8. One free holiday a year
9. Free eye tests
10. Access to mental healthcare

Employees aged 45-54

1. Flexible working hours
2. Additional holiday days for long service
3. Private healthcare
4. Enhanced pension contribution
5. Free coffee and tea
6. Free eye tests
7. Dental care
8. One free holiday a year
9. Unlimited holiday days
10. Clothing allowance

Employees aged 55+

1. Flexible working hours
2. Enhanced pension contribution
3. Private healthcare
4. Additional holiday days for long service
5. Free coffee and tea
6. Dental care
7. Free eye tests
8. Unlimited holiday days
9. One free holiday a year
10. Retailer and restaurant discounts

If you are to offer employees the chance to work from home, keep everyone in the loop by holding meetings via conference call.