Balance is essential in every part of life. Whether you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a low-level employee, you need to balance your responsibilities in your professional and personal lives. Not only does it guarantee peace of mind, but it can also improve your relationships with friends, family, and coworkers.
Work-life balance encourages candidates to join the company employee roster. With technology advancing, many recruitment platforms revolutionize HR processes. But without policies supporting work-life balance, no applicant will favor your company.
So, if you plan to expand your team with fresh talent, then read on to understand what is work-life balance and how it impacts recruitment:
What is Work-Life Balance?
Work-life balance implies fulfilling your work and filial responsibilities without compromising one or the other. It means leaving your office to-dos at your desk physically and mentally when you clock out in the evening and enjoying the rest of the day, relaxing with your loved ones.
Being able to separate the two areas of your life is vital to bring peace to mind. In an ideal world, with 24 hours in a day, minus the 8 hours for sleep, we have 16 hours left. With 8 productive working hours, you get 8 hours to spend leisurely, pursuing other hobbies.
However, our reality is not so simple. Not only do we not get a complete 8 hours rest, but considering commute time, checking emails, and planning for the day ahead, we spend more time working. As a result, we have fewer hours to spend on social activities.
An unbalanced lifestyle can lead to increased irritability, an unhealthy diet, missing out on important life moments, and struggling to prioritize work and non-work-related things. So, maintaining a work-life balance is essential to a physically and mentally healthy life. With your mind clear of stress, you are more likely to enjoy the little moments and increase your productivity.
How Work-Life Balance Impacts Recruitment
Here are some of the effects of work-life balance you can see in the recruitment sector:
Attract Talent Beyond the Ocean
Candidates with the skillset that you require may be separated by geographical boundaries. If your company does not support remote work and flexible timings, then there is an exceptional talent pool that you have yet to access beyond the ocean.
Allowing flexible working hours and remote work will encourage candidates to apply to your organization. It will improve the appeal of your company, raising your worth in the eyes of applicants.
Improve Employer Brand
A company that fosters work-life balance encourages flexible working, and stress-free workplace culture will inevitably have candidates lining up for open positions. Applicants will not only find the organization better for their professional growth but also their physical and mental well-being.
Additionally, marketing your flexibility and company culture will put you in competition with leading organizations worldwide. It is because millennials prefer a hassle-free, comfortable work environment rather than a higher income. With more talented individuals joining the team and increased productivity, your company is sure to progress beyond limits.
Employee Referrals for New Additions to the Team
More than recruitment platforms like Apply Up or hunting for talented individuals on social media, employee referrals are the most efficient hiring technique. They guarantee a higher retention rate and are a cost-effective alternative to traditional hiring methods. Additionally, the team understands the company needs to screen potential applicants and refer only the suitable candidates to higher-ups.
How does work-life balance plays a role here? A flexible and supportive workplace will have its employees spreading the word. Your HR team will benefit from the involvement of other employees in the recruitment processes. Candidates will be eager to apply for open positions if they share the company’s favorable working hours and rich work culture with their connections.
Diverse Talent Pool on the Team
Flexibility also encourages the hiring of different talents on the team. An organization that supports work-life balance attracts top talents in the industry, including working parents, working students, and other professionals who favor flexible working hours.
If the candidate pool recognizes you as an organization with a supportive work culture that boosts work-life balance, then it will immensely benefit your recruiting and branding processes.
Improves Productivity
The crucial impact of work-life balance for a company is seen in the increased productivity of almost every employee. It’s a fact, if you are stress-free emotionally, mentally, and physically, you’ll have more energy to focus on essential aspects of life.
To boost company growth and employee retention rate, encourage the well-being of every individual on the team by altering your policies to support work-life balance. It will create a relaxed, peaceful environment, offer improved retention, and appeal to new candidates who prefer these values.
How Employees Can Improve Work-Life Balance
We’ve discussed how work-life balance impact the recruitment sector for employees and organizations. Let’s look at the tips to bring balance into our lives:
Set Boundaries
When you join the working class, you’ll almost always have one thing or other to keep you busy. The key to gaining work-life balance is defining boundaries between your work and home life and respecting those boundaries. For example, avoid checking emails outside the office or schedule short breaks throughout the day.
Manage Schedule
Manage your time inside and outside the office. Assign yourself a deadline for each task and prioritize those that are most important.
Take Breaks
It can be pretty tempting to work during lunch or a break when you have too much on your plate. But it’s counterproductive! It will influence the quality of your work and affect your health in the long run. So, schedule time for yourself, do a little reading, take a walk, then resume work refreshed.
Go on Vacations
Take extended time off from work. You don’t have to leave the city or country to relax. Instead, you can avail your annual leaves to sleep in at home and de-stress, so you don’t burn out.
Make Personal Growth a Priority
Work and family are not the only part of life where you need to focus. Devote a little time to your personal development. Learn a new language, pick up cooking as a hobby or master new skills. It’s vital to maintain a work-life balance so that you have interests beyond your company.
Learn to Say No
Sometimes we accept assignments and invitations out of guilt or obligation. Say no when you don’t have the energy to work or go out, and you’ll find your schedule free for activities that are meaningful for you.
Be an Advocate for Change
Raise your voice and suggest changes in the company policies that support work-life balance. From flexible working hours to wellness programs, recreational activities, or reasonable deadlines are some ways you can implement work-life balance.
How Can Employers Promote Work-Life Balance to Their Employees?
Improving company policies to support work-life balance will have a significant impact on your recruitment and employee retention. Sometimes the situation may be out of your hands, but there are some ways you can ensure the job remains stress-free for you and your employees:
- Regular workload evaluations.
- Realistic and reasonable deadlines
- Be a leader and set an example for your employees. Avoid checking emails outside of working hours, take breaks away from the work station, and more.
- Dedicate an hour for lunch with a separate area for employees to eat away from their desks.
- Conduct training programs to improve management skills.
- Encourage your employees to leave after their shift.
- If there is a need to be on-call after hours, then provide your employee with a separate work phone from their personal one. It will ensure they can leave their work responsibilities at home when on vacation or on weekends.
- Conduct surveys to gather employee opinions on company policies.
- If your employee requires a couple of hours for time-sensitive work, then respect their needs. Do not disturb them with tasks that can be handled by anyone else.
- Encourage continuous improvement. Recognize areas where your employees are lacking and help them improve their productivity.
- Consider hiring temporary staff, interns, and part-time students during busy times so employees have the space to work on priority tasks.
Wrap Up
Maintaining stability in all areas of life helps improve mental health, prevents irritability, anxiousness, and stress. I hope this article helps you understand how vital work-life balance is, not just for an organization’s recruitment but also for an employee’s health.
If you alter your company policies to encourage a work-life balance, your employee recruitment and retention will skyrocket.
