Despite its status as one of the most famous rambling of a psychotic killer, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” is an important mantra to live by, especially when working at a startup. Burning the midnight oil and foregoing sleep for a little extra productivity is not only ill-advised, but also ill-conceived, as it has been proven time and time again that working tired simply isn’t worth it. So what’s the best way to make sure your employees don’t burn out? Make a commitment to work-life balance.
According to an infographic from LiquidSpace, there are plenty of reasons why work-life balance has become such a valuable commodity for employees. With approximately one third of Americans claiming that they work too hard and US workers spending more time at the office than any other country, of course we want a little extra free time.
“Work life balance is a very subjective concept,” says Tim Bishop, Head of Strategy at Unify, in a study. “As technology continues to proliferate in both our work and personal lives, we expect to see knowledge workers become more and more adept at integrating these two worlds.”
Fortunately, because work-life balance has been a staple of employee demands for a few years, companies have begun to take notice and have been steadily improving their company’s perspective on work-life balance. Whether it’s providing more days off or simply allowing employees to work from home every so often, they’re setting their employees, and subsequently their companies up for success.
However, it’s important to remember that better work-life balance doesn’t just mean more time off. As a founder or manager, you need to show appreciation in the workplace to foster a sense of community. By turning your office into a warm and welcoming place, there will no longer by a strict line between work and life. If they’re happy in the office, the need for time off will seem decidedly less pressing.
Learn more about the importance of work-life balance and how your employees feel about remote work, free time, and employer appreciation by checking out the infographic from LiquidSpace below.
