Modeling the Elusive Work-Life Balance
By now, most of us have heard about the Great Resignation. The average turnover rate in 2021 across industries was 57.3%. Although roughly half of that was involuntary, voluntary turnover rates are on the rise too. In fact, the voluntary turnover rate has increased 88% since 2010. (source) Beyond that, the cost of employee turnover is estimated to be 1.5-2 times the employee’s annual salary. (source) Ouch. Because of that employers everywhere are doing what they can to keep employees happy.
In today’s market, employee expectations are shifting. One of the most repeated requests is a work-life balance. Work-life balance is hard to define when many employees are working from home. Because of that, we have outlined some ways that company leaders can model the elusive work-life balance because an official policy isn’t enough. They need to see the leaders doing it too.
Modeling Work-life Balance
- Unplug and Encourage Others to Do the Same – You might not encourage employees to work late. But do you discourage them from doing so? If employees see their leaders or their coworkers working late, they’ll feel pressured to join them—regardless of the official policy.
- Prioritize Your Health – Prioritizing health first and foremost will make your employees happier and more productive. As a leader, you should set the presidence. Consider letting employees know when you are taking time off to attend medical appoinments. Also, leave work early once in a while to go to a spin class or take a lunchtime walk. If employees see you do it, they will feel more comfortable following suit.
- Take a Vacation – Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting work completely off while away. Whether your vacation consists of a one-day staycation or a two-week trip to Bali, it’s important to take time off to physically and mentally recharge. Again, if you do it, your employees will feel more comfortable doing the same.
How do you model work-life balance? Is there room for improvement or is this an area you are thriving in? Let us know. If you need assistance revamping your policy and following through with actionable behaviors, contact the experts at HRinDemand, your total people solution.
Check out: Why Employee Retention Matters and How to Get On the Right Side of the Predicted Post Pandemic Labor Shuffle
Melissa Marsh, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is a human resources consultant and founder of HRinDemand, a human resources company in Reno, NV, offering expert guidance and easy-to-use tools to help small businesses with employment regulations, compliance, employee relations, and company growth.