Topics

Work-Life Balance

Editor's Note: Encourage employees to lead well-balanced lives to promote wellness and morale.

Ashley ShawOverview: Creating a proper work-life balance is an important component in ensuring happy, loyal, productive employees. When an employee's job fits into their life, they are more likely to stay with the job. Alternatively, when work obligations take up so much of the employee's life that there is no time for family, friends and hobbies, it can lead to job burnout and stress.

Creating an environment that encourages an appropriate work-life balance consists of many elements. Employers can offer competitive paid time off programs, adoption assistance, telecommuting options, on-site or off-site daycare or elder care, health and wellness programs and volunteer opportunities, just to name a few.

Trends: In an effort to lower healthcare costs and better establish a work-life balance, many employers are opting to offer on-site gyms or exercise classes and/or reduced price gym memberships to employees as part of their employee benefit program. This trend helps employees fit health and wellness into their busy schedules, oftentimes during the work day.

Ashley Shaw, JD, Legal Editor

New and Updated

  • Managing Employees in Special Situations: Federal

    Type:
    Employment Law Manual

    Updated to reflect the expiration of proposed New York scheduling regulations.

  • Personal Leave of Absence Policy

    Type:
    Policies and Documents

    An employer may use this policy to communicate when an employee may take a personal leave of absence and what types of documentation and notice the employee needs to provide the employer.

  • Floating Holidays Handbook Statement

    Type:
    Employee Handbooks

    Employers seeking to advise employees that they provide floating holidays and the circumstances under which those holidays will accrue, carry over and/or be forfeited or paid upon termination of employment should consider including this model policy statement in their handbook.

  • Personal Leave Handbook Statement

    Type:
    Employee Handbooks

    Employers seeking to provide personal leave to employees, establish the terms of the policy and preserve the employer's discretion to approve or deny the request should consider including this model policy statement in their handbook.

  • Washington to Allow Five Weeks of Paid Family Leave to Employees After the Birth or Adoption of a Child

    Type:
    Legal Timetable

  • Total Rewards Summary Form

    Type:
    Policies and Documents

    An employer may use this form to communicate the financial value of the Total Rewards initiatives it provides to its employees, such as compensation, benefits, training and development and various perquisites in support of work-life balance. A Total Rewards Summary helps an employer enhance employee commitment and engagement.

  • How to Implement and Manage an Employee Wellness Program

    Type:
    How To

    This How To details the steps a prudent employer should take when implementing and managing an employee wellness program.

  • Total Rewards: Federal

    Type:
    Employment Law Manual

    Attracting, motivating and retaining talent is critical to an employer's short- and long- term success. This section assists HR professionals in implementing a comprehensive, integrated total rewards strategy that can help achieve those important objectives.

  • Work-Life Balance

    Type:
    Employment Glossary

    Employment glossary definition of Work-Life Balance.

  • Work-Life Benefits

    Type:
    Employment Glossary

    Employment glossary definition of Work-Life Benefits.

About This Topic

HR guidance on promoting a work-life balance for employees.

© 2019 Reed Business Information Inc.