What is work-life balance

Work-life balance describes the relationship between an employee’s professional responsibilities and personal life. An optimal work-life balance will have a healthy focus on both aspects.

A positive work-life balance reduces stress, improves productivity, and increases employee retention.

How do you measure work-life balance?

The definition of ideal work-life balance may differ from one employee to another, depending on their preferences. 

Three fundamental components of work-life balance include:

• Purpose - life should have purpose and meaning
• Peace - employees should be free from stress and anxiety
• Prosperity - energetic passion is a byproduct of healthy work-life balance

To measure work-life balance, employees should measure their satisfaction in the following categories:

• Individual aspects - such as wellbeing, personality, emotional intelligence
• Organizational aspects - such as work arrangements, job stress, and burnout
• Societal aspects - family support, child care activities, spouse support
• Other aspects - age, parental status, employee level, income

The satisfaction in each category should balance and lead to a healthy work-life balance. 

Signs of a positive work-life balance include employee satisfaction, lack of stress, improved productivity, and strong mental health. 

What are the consequences of poor work-life balance?

Failure to achieve a healthy work-life balance leads to a poor work-life balance which has consequences on both the individual and the organization. 

When an employee works too hard or doesn’t work enough, the following consequences emerge.

• Employee burnout as they are too drained to complete their tasks
• High employee turnover as employee satisfaction drops 
• A strain on personal and professional relationships can lead to resentment
• Poor health as a result of mental health struggles and high anxiety

How does remote work improve work-life balance?

Encouraging a flexible work schedule and remote work policy is an effective strategy to improve work-life balance in a company. 

Improved flexibility

A flexible arrangement allows employees to choose when to work by prioritizing output over the hours worked. Employees work during their most productive hours and free up time for self-care and further development.

Setting boundaries with clients and customers is essential when encouraging remote work and introducing a work-from-home policy. Establish strict office hours and keep communication lines strong.  

Save time and money

Working from home reduces stress by saving time and money. Instead of spending hours on the road each month, employees can work from home and invest their free time in other activities. 

Telecommuting also saves employees money by cutting gas prices and preparing meals at home. Companies also save money by reducing overheads such as property rental and office furniture.

More opportunities for working parents

Employees working from home have more time to spend with their family and take care of personal errands. Picking up a remote job improves flexibility so parents can adapt to their children’s schedules.

At Deel, we offer tools and resources for global companies to run remote teams and help employees achieve an optimal work-life balance. Find out more about our robust and comprehensive platform today!