ML Coaching
Our modern working world often doesn't allow for a relaxed balance between work and personal life. Free time and family often have to take a back seat due to extensive overtime and unrealistic performance targets. Working from home blurs the lines between personal and professional life.
These circumstances inevitably lead to stress and dissatisfaction, which in turn shows up as lower productivity, illness, and a growing disconnect from the company.
A functioning work-life balance - meaning the balance between the two areas of work and personal life - isn't solely the employee's own responsibility. A healthy work-life balance is also hugely important for the employer.
What responsibility a company bears toward its employees, and how a functioning work-life balance can actually be achieved, is what you'll learn in this post.
Work-life balance? Wishful thinking in reality
Many companies already actively support their employees in strengthening their health and wellbeing. But sadly, at many other companies, work-life balance is still just wishful thinking. Especially at large companies, employees' quality of life isn't treated as a priority. Employees are often seen as numbers rather than individuals.
Working from home makes it even harder these days to create a healthy balance between work and personal life. But employees aren't machines that have to keep running non-stop just so the company stays competitive.
Overtime, workplace pressure, overload, and blurred lines between work and personal life can result in depression, burnout and other illnesses, which in turn affects performance at work. So the company is affected by its employees' problems too.
The pandemic is calling for change
In many cases, the pandemic made the situation even more acute. Because especially during this time, more and more companies are relying on remote work. But when your own four walls become your workplace, the kitchen serves as the cafeteria, and exchanges with colleagues happen only online instead of face-to-face meetings, it's not just your work-life balance that gets shaky.
Lack of exercise and poor nutrition can weaken your immune system, lead to weight gain, and reduced social contact can bring on mental health issues. So especially when working from home, there's a real risk that companies end up facing costs from sick leave and absences.
Companies need to recognize the urgent need for action
I personally hope that the pandemic changes the working world for the better and helps companies recognize the urgent need for action. In challenging times, it's more important than ever that appropriate measures are taken and that employees are offered programs in mindset, nutrition and fitness that have a positive effect on work-life balance and health, and enrich working from home.
Employees are a company's most important asset. Companies that don't make an effort to ensure their employees feel good and stay motivated are giving away their most valuable asset. It's time for executives to recognize their responsibility, act preventively, and make work-life balance an important priority.
Executives are in a key position
Executives in particular are in a key position when it comes to optimizing employees' work-life balance. Partly because executives themselves belong to the at-risk group, and partly because their leadership style has a major influence on the work-life balance of the employees who report to them.
Of course, employees also bear responsibility for their own health. But it's important that both sides pull in the same direction. Companies should create an environment employees actually enjoy working in. When ideal conditions are in place at work and preventive measures are taken, this can support employees' mental and physical health and motivate them to pay more attention to their health. Both employees and employers benefit from this.
If employees' health improves, health risks are reduced and wellbeing is strengthened, the company can boost motivation and willingness to perform, increase productivity and quality, and cut costs from sick leave and lost output.
Actively supporting employees with virtual corporate coaching
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, alternatives to traditional gym memberships, health days, outings, etc. are in demand. To support employees working from home in both their physical and mental health, options include preventive training in nutrition and mindset, as well as online sports programs, health talks and workshops.
As part of my virtual corporate coaching, which is run online in groups of 20 to 40 employees from my 360-degree studio, I get employees into shape in mindset, fitness and nutrition, and show smart methods for achieving strong performance while working from home, even in difficult situations.
Want to support your employees' work-life balance? Sign up right away for a free 30-minute consultation if you'd like to learn more about virtual corporate coaching.