Striking the right work/life balance
Striking the right work/life balance
Striking a good work/life balance is becoming an increasingly significant issue for jobseekers. Indeed, most now prioritise flexible working hours above other benefits such as a company car or a higher salary.
Because many more women are choosing (or are financially obliged) to re-enter the job market after childbirth, the need for people to adjust working patterns to fit around for family life has never been stronger.
Technology paves the way
Fortunately, the recent strides made in technology should make finding this balance easier to find as the ‘work anytime, anyplace’ dream becomes a reality.
The Internet, intranets, laptops, phone-conferencing, email, etc., all make working from home an increasingly viable option within a wide variety of careers. Many employees cite the daily commute to and from work as the worst element of their daily lives. Eliminating travel time from the working day leaves an employee fresher and more able (and willing) to work hard.
The technology to support a mobile workforce is now in place so the ball is really in the employers' court. Fortunately, increasing numbers of employers are realising the advantages of offering more balanced work/life packages.
Employers’ efforts
On average, employees in Britain work more hours than any of their European counterparts, according to a survey conducted by recruitment group Manpower. The figure in Britain is 43.6 hours for an average working week compared to 39.6 for the French and 38.5 hours for the Italians.
But in spite of our longer hours, evidence suggests that we don’t actually get any more work done. Because other European nations have a higher productivity rate, the general consensus is that our long working hours prove counter-productive; i.e. fresher workers are more efficient.
It is not only technology, therefore, that is impacting on working life; many large employers, anticipating a trend, have already implemented strategies to promote a better work/life balance. HSBC, for example, have introduced crèche facilities for their staff at many of their branches in the UK. Companies are also beginning to learn that it is more cost-effective to allow staff a little more flexibility in their careers rather than constantly having to train up new, inexperienced staff at great expense.
Work/life balance features to look out for
No job, no matter how much you love it, or how rewarding it is, should take over your life. Thus, when contemplating a new job be sure to establish the prospective company’s policy regarding flexible working arrangements. These might include some of the following; flexi-time, staggered hours, time off in lieu, compressed working hours, shift swapping, self-rostering, annualised hours, job-sharing, term-time working, working from home, tele-working, breaks from work.
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