Working full time and still being able to do the things you love isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be very draining at times. People often point to a lack of work-life balance as the root cause of employee burnout. Rather than look at work and home life as a constant tug-of-war, it’s better to look for ways to align your work with your goals and lifestyle. Work-life alignment is about using your work to build a more meaningful life.
As the manager, it’s your duty to ensure your employees are productive and happy at work. Here, the idea is to make work duties integrate seamlessly into your employees’ lives. Don’t know where to start? Here are three strategies you can implement to foster better work-life alignment in your employees.
Offer Family Leave
Although you may see them every day, you may not know much about your employees’ personal lives. They could have a family that they hardly get to see due to work. Rather than encouraging employees to leave their home life at home, make it possible for employees to prioritize family and still succeed at work.
In this way, employees don’t have to keep these two parts of their lives separate. Rather, work can facilitate family interactions and quality time with loved ones. Offering family leave can not only promote better work-life alignment, but it can also take a massive amount of stress off of employees.
Be More Flexible
Over the last 20 years, employment models have changed dramatically. More companies allow flexibility when it comes to scheduling. Take remote work, for example. A lot of office jobs are now hiring remote workers and are letting existing employees work from home. This flexibility works to blur the lines between your employees’ work and home lives. They can make their work schedule integrate into their current lifestyle.
Working from home allows employees to feel less pressured and gives them more freedom. According to InsideOut Development, Gen Z employees value this type of flexibility and freedom above other considerations, including compensation, benefits, and career opportunities. That said, every generation will appreciate the ability to integrate their work into their everyday lives. Flexibility is what helps employees achieve this.
Encourage Short Breaks
Whether your employees work from home or at an office, it’s important that they take short breaks. Working without taking time to breathe won’t do your business any favors. Overworked employees usually result in less productivity and decreased quality of performance.
Since some employees may be afraid of taking a break, ZeroCater says it’s important to implement a break schedule that suits your company. Breaks allow employees time during their workday to focus on themselves, take care of other responsibilities, and freedom to use their time in a way they see fit. Let employees know that they are free to get up and stretch their legs, to grab some coffee, and to recharge before resuming work.
The Bottom Line
No matter the job, employees need to feel valued and praised for a job well done. Employees are not robots that can have their batteries recharged. They are people with lives outside of work, and they should always be treated with proper respect and care.
Encouraging employees to integrate and align their work and home lives allows them to find greater resolve and meaning in the work they do. Unfortunately, some managers and owners tend to disregard the importance of work-life alignment, which is why they inevitably fail. Try some of these tips, and you’ll see your employees’ performance improve.
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