4 Ways HR Can Improve Work-Life Balance for Employees

One of the most important elements of strong productivity at work is having a good work-life balance. Millennials demand a good work-life balance more than any previous generation, and since they now make up the largest part of the workforce according to U.S. Census Bureau data, offering that balance is more important than ever for companies.

Though management has a lot of influence in establishing work-life balance programs, human resource professionals should be at the forefront of developing, implementing, and maintaining those programs.

Here are four ways HR can improve work-life balance to increase job satisfaction and worker productivity, engagement, and retention.

1. Survey Employees

Anonymous surveys are the best way to discover employee needs. Employees may be hesitant to openly say what they don’t like about their jobs, but an anonymous survey allows them to be truthful without the risk of negative repercussions.

Surveys can also be a great opportunity to ask employees what they think of specific initiatives that management is currently working on. The results can then be analyzed to make changes that will make employees more satisfied.

2. Organize Workshops

Another thing HR pros can do to create better work-life balance is to set up workshops with useful information on how to achieve better balance. This could be as simple as presenting exercises employees can do at their desks or showing them ways they can reduce stress at work. Workshops can also open up the lines of communication so HR can better discover what employees value and set up initiatives to cater to those needs.

3. Offer Flexible Work Hours

According to CareerArc and Workplace Trends, nearly 9 out of 10 HR leaders say that flex-time policies boost morale so much that the majority of managers are now using it as a recruiting tool. Whether it’s allowing the employee to set their own hours, occasionally work from home, or a combination of both, a flexible work hours policy can give employees a sense of freedom from being tied to their office chair from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

4. Organize Fun Events

Getting out of the office now and then for a fun organized event can do a lot for employee morale and foster better work-life balance. Some examples would be having a company amusement park day or bowling day. Events like this have the added benefit of improving cohesiveness as people get to know their co-workers outside of an office setting.

Sources:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3041908/the-future-of-work/the-surprising-gap-between-work-life-balance-beliefs-and-reality

http://beekeeper.ch/3-ways-hr-can-improve-employee-worklife-balance/

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide professional or legal advice regarding actions to take in any situation.