Balance is one of those things in life that always seems to be out of reach. Just when you think you have everything under control, something happens and throws your life out of whack again.
Two competing forces that always seem to be present are work and our personal lives. With the rise of mobile devices, high-speed Internet, and home offices, finding the right work-life balance is even harder.
As a private business owner or a manager in a middle-market company, you should take some responsibility for helping your workers achieve and sustain their balance between work and home life. Why? Productivity and efficiency will improve because employees will be healthier and happier.
Here are small things you can do to improve the work-life balance of your employees.
- Reward employees with time off. After a big project or a long stretch of overtime, graciously give your employees some paid time off. If the overtime was lengthy, a week off might even be an appropriate amount. Your workers will come back recharged and grateful—and also more likely to work overtime again.
- Be flexible and understanding. We all have families and we all have unexpected predicaments pop up because there is a life outside of the office for everyone. Whether it’s a plumbing problem or taking a kid to the emergency room, be flexible and understanding. You wouldn’t like it if your boss gave you a hard time because something out of your control forced you to leave the office. Let employees work from home or put in extra hours the next week to make up for the lost time. Your workers will reward you with loyalty and will probably cover for you when your next emergency happens.
- Set a good example. If you show that you value taking time to recharge and understand its benefits, your staff will be much more likely to follow suit. If you work nonstop, they’ll think they have to as well.
What are some ways that you help employees achieve a work-life balance?
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