Worklife Balance

Work-life balance is the term used to describe working practices that support the needs of staff in achieving a balance between their home and working lives.

Stress costs UK businesses £3.7 billion per year and the loss of around 80 million working days. Stress can be caused by both home and work factors.

Companies investing in a work-life balance strategy are reaping these rewards:

• Motivated and loyal workforce
• Increased productivity
• Reduced turnover
• Improved staff relations
• Good PR

A work-life balance strategy can consist of:

• flexible working arrangements
• Leave provision for emergencies
• staff benefits such as amployee counselling or childcare vouchers

A work-life balance strategy is wider than family friendly policies.  It is important to also consider employees without young children, for example:

• Employees nearing the end of their careers balancing work with leisure opportunities
• Employees with dependent relatives
• Employees balancing work with further education

Factors influencing work-life balance:

• Increased number of women in employment
• Women returning to work sooner after childbirth
• Increase in one parent families
• Increased life expectancy
• Increased responsibility for elderly relatives
• Difficulty recruiting staff
• Employees wanting non-monetary benefits