Work life balance
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Managing work life balance in the whatever the Industry is a challenge as balancing responsibilities at work and home can seem insurmountable for many tech employees as we noticed and experienced. When work and life are out of sync and not balancing it will impact to the Productivity to physical illness and also higher rates of attritions.
What is Work life balance ?
Work life Balance is term that commonly use in the companies, specially in large companies. However, when consider the Work Life Balance Concept, academic knowledge around this term is not as solid and extensive.
Researchers argued related to the Work Life Balance concept as theoretical development has not kept pace with the popularity of the concept. As per the reason critical reviews, currently studies focusses on the heterogeneity of the contemporary labor force in the Work Life Balance literature with the limited consideration.
As reviewed the conceptualizations of the WLB in the literature, Kalliath and Brough, proposed a definition of the Work Life Balance as, “Work–life balance is the individual perception that work and nonwork activities are compatible and promote growth in accordance with an individual’s current life priorities” (Kalliath T., Brough P. Work-life balance).
As per the recent reviews of the Work Life Balance, it is not relevant the job satisfaction, Job performance and Job commitment and also, it includes life and family satisfaction. According to the research if someone can make efforts to Work Life Balance, it will help to psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depression like stress related negative impact will be reduced.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Work Life Balance
Advantages
Increased Productivity
When we take a break from work and recharge, you will be surprised when you see the productive you can be when you return to your tasks. As per the Studies employees who have a better work-life balance are more productive, creative, and motivated.
Ex: one study found that employees who have a great balance of work and personal time are more productive by as much as 30%.
If someone is able to disconnect from work and focus on other things such as Family, do a hobby and having a relaxing time will help improve the productivity as person will come to back to work with renewed energy.
Improved Health
Maintain a good work life balance will help to improve the good physical and mental health. A study by the American Psychological Association found that people who maintain a good balance of work, as well as personal time are more likely to report good health, and less likely to report poor health.
When we disconnect from work, we are able to focus on exercises, getting enough sleep and healthy eating. It will help to improve the good health condition and reduce the stress on the same.
Improve better relationship
When working long hours such as more than the specific duration, it can be easy to neglect our relationships. When maintaining a good work-life balance will have a positive impact on personal relationships.
When person disconnect from work they can focus on things like spending time with friends and family, pursuing hobbies, building new relationships or improve the bond with exiting relationship.
Further, it will reduce stress, which can lead to better communication and understanding in the relationships.
When you’re in a good situation in your personal relationships, it is easy to handle the demands of the job, it will lead to better performance and more job satisfaction.
And also, a good work-life balance can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life overall.
Better Career Opportunities
When just focus on getting things done, it can be easy to neglect the overall career development. But if you maintain a healthy work-life balance, it can have a positive impact on your career opportunities.
Employees who have a good balance of work time and personal time are more likely to be promoted and have better job satisfaction.
By disconnecting from work, you’ll be able to focus on other things, like learning new skills, networking, and exploring new career opportunities.
Additionally, when we can disconnect from work, person able to enjoy the personal life and recharge their batteries. Which in turn, helps them stay engaged and motivated at work.
Disadvantage:
Difficulty in Meeting Work Demands
It’s not always easy to find a balance between work and personal time, especially people who are working on demanding job or tight deadlines. Maintaining a good work-life balance can be difficult. And also, it feel like you’re not doing enough in either area and that feeling is common.
In fact, employees who are struggling to balance work and personal life are more likely to experience stress and burnout.
It’s also important to be realistic and set boundaries for yourself and to communicate them with your employer and loved ones to ensure you’re able to meet your work demands without sacrificing your personal life.
Potential for Financial Loss
Most of the time when focus on maintaining a good work-life balance, we may end up sacrificing financial opportunities.
For an example, we may turn down a promotion or a raise because it would require more time away from our personal life. Or you may take a leave of absence from our job, which can lead to a loss of income.
Employees who take time off for personal or family reasons often experience a loss of income. They also may have difficulty getting back into the workforce, which can lead to long-term financial consequences.
Furthermore, employees who are constantly working overtime or taking on additional responsibilities may be eligible for extra pay or bonuses, but if you’re trying to maintain a good balance, you may end up missing out on those opportunities.
Conclusion:
As evidence related to the above, Work Life Balance is a very important concept for all the employees in an organization. It will help to improve the relationship with family and the health. With this there are couple of advantages are able to see along with the disadvantages. But however, when focusing the better productivity at the organization, Work Life Balance is a important factor. It need to be managed without impacting to the company operations.
References:
Kalliath T., Brough P. Work-life balance: A review of the meaning of the balance construct. J. Manag. Organ. 2008;14:323–327.
Kelliher C., Richardson J., Boiarintseva G. All of work? All of life? Reconceptualising work-life balance for the 21st century. Hum. Resour. Manag. J. 2019;29:97–112. doi: 10.1111/1748-8583.12215. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Autogrill Work Life Balance and Corporate Welfare. [(accessed on 18 July 2019)]; Available online: http://autogrillcsr2012.message-asp.com/en/people/employees/work-life-balance-and-corporate-welfare
ENEL WOrk-Life Balance, People Care and Corporate Welfare. [(accessed on 18 July 2019)]; Available online: http://sustainabilityreport2017.enel.com/en/our-commitment/our-people-and-their-value/work-life-balance-people-care-and-corporate-welfare
SNAM Corporate Welfare and a Healthy Work/life Balance. [(accessed on 18 July 2019)]; Available online: http://reports.snam.it/2016/sustainability-report/part-two-csr-and-performance/our-responsibility/people/corporate-welfare-and-a-healthy-work-life-balance.html
Valcour M. Work-based resources as moderators of the relationship between work hours and satisfaction with work-family balance. J. Appl. Psychol. 2007;92:1512–1523. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.92.6.1512. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
https://www.mavenclinic.com/post/work-life-balance-in-tech#:~:text=The%20tech%20industry%20often%20struggles,once%20their%20workday%20is%20over
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.906876/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7037206/#B1-ijerph-17-00907
https://melbado.com/work-life-balance-advantages-and-disadvantages-for-employees/
Yes .. people have different needs, passions, and interests to understand the situations and job roles. This is a wonderful Blog! You have given so much innovative info.. mainly about career development.
ReplyDeleteAchieving a suitable work-life balance can have a significant impact on an organization's success. The article provides a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages that organizations should consider when adopting such practices. Do you believe that organizations in developing countries currently implement these strategies?
ReplyDeleteSome of them are trying to implement this concept as it is important for organizations in developing countries as well. Some of IT companies also as I have noticed that, they are trying to implement this in Sri Lanka as well. Due to the high work pressure in IT industry specially, most of the Software Engineers, Project Managers are getting physical and mental illness and this is getting increased daily. Therefore, most of them are trying to implement this concept as much as possible.
DeleteTimely article. Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium or harmony between one's professional responsibilities and personal life. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is essential for overall well-being, productivity, and satisfaction in both professional and personal domains.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Otherwise, only thing we get is physical and mental illness. High work pressure sometimes lead people to kill their selves.
DeleteAchieving a healthy work-life balance is essential for overall well-being and productivity. In today's fast-paced world, where work demands often spill over into personal time, finding the right balance between professional responsibilities and personal life can be challenging.
ReplyDeleteGood analysis, what about our own Work life balance ? Sri Lanka is complicated. A strong emphasis on family and community and a casual approach to time contribute to a good work-life balance. The high expense of living, lengthy working hours, and lack of flexibility are other issues.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to our own work life, we cannot balance it with our professional work life, as always we need to stick to the tight deadlines. If I simply say, we do not have time to love our selves. But it is better if we can at least give a try to balance it, as sometimes I feel like we are living to do a job. Not only Sri Lanka, as learnt from friends and research, even Japan kind of countries also suicide rate has gone high due to the work pressure. So i believe balancing the work life with personal life is important.
DeleteValuable article on work-life balance! It provides a comprehensive understanding of the concept and its importance in today's fast-paced world.
ReplyDeleteWork-life balance is about finding harmony between work and personal life. It's important for better health, relationships, and organizational productivity. Thanks you for sharing
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation Salindri. Work-life balance can be a constant struggle for many employees. One of the significant challenges that associated with this issue is company policies. Most companies practicing rigid work schedules, limited or discouraged use of paid time off, and a lack of support for flexible work arrangements. All these create barriers to work-life balance. By recognizing these kind of challenges, both employers and employees can take steps to create a healthier work environment.
ReplyDeleteYes, Otherwise, specially in IT industry people getting lot of illness due to work pressure. I believe this concept need to be implement for each and every company even it is difficult.
DeleteYes, you are right. By prioritizing work-life balance, organizations can create a win-win situation for both employees and the company. It fosters a healthier, happier, and more productive work environment, ultimately leading to sustainable success. I don't think achieving work life balance could bring you any disadvantage. Yes, it would be bit challenging, but achievable for the better good. Don't you think?
ReplyDeleteThis is a really insightful article Salindri. Work-life balance refers to effectively managing professional and personal commitments to achieve satisfaction in both aspects of one's life.
ReplyDelete