Are you living to work or working to live?

Many people in the modern workforce are asking themselves this question.

Some employees consider their workday to be over when it ends. However, for a great deal of others, it can extend into the evening and weekend.

Managers can help employees find and maintain a work-life balance that works for them, even though they cannot guarantee a 100% work-life balance for their staff members. Employees must also take some responsibility for changing their attitudes toward work and home life.

Thus, the following are some workplace policies that employers can implement to make sure they're helping their employees strike the right balance.

1. Offer flexible and remote working

Employees like having autonomy over their schedules from their employers. When they can finish earlier, get their boiler fixed, or see a doctor when necessary, knowing that their manager will still trust them to finish the job, employees feel valued at their jobs.

2. Prioritize output over hours worked

Encourage employees to concentrate on completing a specific task rather than tracking the number of hours worked.

On some days, employees might need to work long hours to finish a task, but these are balanced out by the days when they don't have to work an eight-hour shift.

3. Lead by example

Set a good example for your team as a manager. Here are a few strategies to help your team members maintain a good work-life balance:

 Stating unequivocally that you do not return calls or send emails about work after-hours

When on vacation, you completely disconnect.

You eat lunch to motivate staff members to follow suit.

Your staff will prioritize their time without feeling guilty if they see that you value it.

4. Regularly review workloads

Examine how you assign tasks to make sure everyone has a manageable workload.

You must become acquainted with the procedures involved in assigning work. A person might need a day to complete a task that appears minor to management.

Regular communication between managers and their teams allows them to understand who is capable and who is overworked.

Ask employees regularly to let managers know if they feel that their workload is appropriate, excessive, or lacking.

5. Encourage employees to volunteer

Studies indicate that millennials are less driven to work for pay and more driven by social responsibility. Millennials are not the only generation that has the chance to do good, though.

 Additionally, employees will typically feel positive about their jobs and themselves if they are given the opportunity to give back while working.

6. Reconsider time-off

Could you afford to provide more time off to your employees?

Requiring employees to take time off during the holiday season by limiting the number of days they can carry over or not allowing them to do so is another strategy to avoid burnout.

To avoid losing them, the majority of team members would prefer to schedule the time off.

7. Increase support for parents and caregivers

Due to caregiving obligations, some employees have found it difficult to strike a work-life balance since the pandemic and the advent of remote work. Make sure, at the very least, that parents and caregivers have the option of flexible working hours or job sharing, or both, so they can balance work and family obligations.

It is recommended that your organization provide additional benefits to assist parents and caregivers. These benefits should include shared parental leave, equal maternity and paternity leave, and assistance with school fees, medical coverage, and on-site daycare costs. 

Increased job satisfaction, a decrease in burnout, and assistance in retaining top talent will all result from this increased support for parents and caregivers.

8. Offer health cash plans

Provide health cash plans providing reassurance to employees knowing that they have insurance if they or their family become unwell.

It also encourages a more pro-active approach to health check-ups and inoculations leading to fewer staff absences.

9. Ask your employees for views

According to studies, nearly half of employees (47%) have never been asked by their employer what will make their experiences better. Merely 12% are frequently questioned.

Do you want to give your staff members a better work-life balance? Ask them if you can.

.     10. Acknowledge every employee is different

It's possible that a large number of your employees are in dire need of a better work-life balance. Others, though, might be content with the amount of time they spend working.

While some people are content to work later, others might prefer to start later. Some people might not mind putting in longer hours at work if it allows them to unplug when they get home.

Some people might be willing to work part-time, but they might not know how to bring up the issue with their manager.

Businesses that draw in and retain top talent understand that each employee is unique, so they create individualized work environments.

It won't be possible to find a solution that works for everyone if your business is serious about helping its employees have a better work-life balance.

You must customize your strategy for every employee.