How do you promote a healthy work-life balance for your team?
A healthy work-life balance is essential for your team's wellbeing, productivity, and engagement. But how do you promote it in a way that respects their individual needs, preferences, and circumstances? Here are some tips to help you foster a culture of balance and support among your employees.
One of the main causes of work-related stress and burnout is unclear or unrealistic expectations. As a leader, you need to communicate clearly what you expect from your team, how you measure their performance, and how you reward their achievements. You also need to respect their boundaries and avoid micromanaging, overloading, or interrupting them during their off-hours. By setting clear expectations, you can help your team plan their work, prioritize their tasks, and manage their time effectively.
-
Neha Yadav
Learning/People & Culture/Well-Being
> Fostering a balanced workplace culture involves setting clear expectations, leading by example, and encouraging flexibility. > Empowering well-being includes providing resources, promoting breaks, and fostering open communication. > Measurement and adaptation are key, involving regular feedback, monitoring indicators, and being open to change. In essence, promoting work-life balance requires clear communication, well-being support, and continuous adaptation to meet evolving workforce needs.
-
Bryce Milton
We Started In Retirement Planning For Teachers... Now We Help Employees & Employers At No Net Out Of Pocket Cost Through Our Employee Wellness Program
You need to let people know from the jump exactly what you expect from then, and when. Outside of that honestly, if they're getting their job done on time, and people enjoy working with them then encourage as much as possible for any balance outside of that.
-
Stevi Kontos, MA-IOP
Industrial/Organizational Psychologist
#1: It is a good idea to let your employees plan and develop their work-life balance while you implement organizational policies. #2: Offer flexible hours, promote time management, and ensure a realistic workload. #3: Respect employees' time, space, and boundaries. #4: Encourage conversations and be open to discussing work-life balance. #5: Give regular breaks and vacation time so your employees can recharge.
-
Bhawna Nihalani
Corporate Wellness I Holistic Health Coach | Transformative Wellness Specialist | Integrating Nutrition, Mindfulness & Lifestyle for Vibrant Living 🌱✨
Promoting a healthy work-life balance for your team is essential for maintaining employee well-being, reducing burnout, and increasing productivity. Senior management should demonstrate healthy work-life balance behavior by setting boundaries, taking breaks, and prioritizing personal time. Encourage employees to use their vacation days. Avoid glorifying overwork or sending emails outside of work hours to respect employees' personal time. Communicate clear expectations regarding work, deadlines, and availability to prevent employees from feeling pressured to work long hours. Encourage open communication about work concerns. Provide training to help employees improve their time management skills and prioritize tasks.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Establishing clear expectations about work hours, availability, and deliverables is the foundation of promoting a healthy work-life balance. Ensure that your team understands when they are expected to be available and when it is acceptable to disconnect from work. Clearly communicate deadlines, priorities, and the scope of tasks to avoid overburdening employees. By providing this structure, you help your team manage their time more effectively and reduce the ambiguity that can lead to unnecessary stress. Encourage open communication about workloads and deadlines to adjust expectations as needed.
Flexibility is another key factor for a healthy work-life balance. It allows your team to adjust their work schedules, locations, and methods according to their personal and professional needs. For example, you can offer them the option to work remotely, choose their own hours, or take breaks when they need them. Flexibility can also help your team cope with unexpected challenges, such as health issues, family emergencies, or personal crises. By encouraging flexibility, you can show your team that you trust them, value their input, and care about their wellbeing.
-
Julie Jones, B.A., PSHRA
Lead HR Analyst - Photographer - Retired US Army
My team knows their families come first. If you are worried about the health or well-being of your family members you will be less productive at work! If they need to clock out to take their kids to a doctor appointment, tend to a loved one who is having a medical issue, or even just take a little time for themselves to clear their heads and focus... then that is what needs to happen. As long as they are getting their work done, flexibility isn't an issue! Respect and take care of your employees and they will respect and take care of you and the company!
-
Neha Yadav
Learning/People & Culture/Well-Being
> Encourage clear lines between work and personal time. > Discourage after-hours emails and offer flexible work options. > Promote taking breaks throughout the day, including full use of vacation time. A well-rested team is a productive team. > Shift the focus from hours worked to achieved goals. > Trust your team to complete tasks efficiently within a reasonable timeframe.
-
Sançar Sahin
Co-founder @ Oliva | Helping businesses keep their teams above the line through the world's best on-demand therapy, coaching, and workshops 🧠
Flexibility involves work styles, location, time frames, when breaks are made, and communication changes. It's not about working from a beach in Bali; it's about working productively and valuing a work-life balance.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Flexibility in work arrangements is a key component of work-life balance. Offer options such as flexible working hours, remote work, or compressed workweeks to accommodate the diverse needs and preferences of your team members. This flexibility allows employees to manage their personal responsibilities more effectively, such as childcare, eldercare, or pursuing personal interests. By providing this autonomy, you empower employees to create a work schedule that suits their lifestyle, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and productivity.
-
Mónica Prato
Mentora de Finanzas para Médicos Líderes de Opinión | Conferencista en Finanzas para el Sector Salud | Coach Financiero | Bienestar Financiero para Equipos de Empresas | Más de 500 profesionales formados en 4 países
Al ser flexibles con los colaboradores como líder demostramos que ellos son importantes para nosotros y la empresa, así mismo está flexibilidad conlleva a que sean más productivos, mayor concentración al realizar las actividades ya que el estrés que supone el traslado a la oficina y la coordinación con su vida familiar se reduce.
As a leader, you have a significant influence on your team's behavior and attitude. If you want to promote a healthy work-life balance, you need to model it yourself. That means you need to practice what you preach and follow the same guidelines and policies that you expect from your team. For example, you can avoid sending or replying to emails after work hours, take regular breaks, exercise, eat well, and sleep enough. By modeling healthy habits, you can demonstrate your commitment to balance and inspire your team to do the same.
-
Fabien Pinel
2x HR Top voice - Helping companies provide the best working experience to their employees /// Co-founder at BuddiesHR.com (HR toolkit for Slack) - 5x SaaS startup founder - YC alumni (S21)
"Lead by example" is one of the most powerful thing that leaders of a company can do to promote a healthy work-life balance. Set clear barriers and limits (regular breaks, office hours etc.) and, as a leader, respect them scrupulously. Eventually your colleagues will follow the way.
-
Aileen Axtmayer
Workplace Wellbeing Speaker | Career Coach | I help exhausted professionals thrive at work through keynotes, workshops, and coaching. Link to book a conversation 👇
This is one of the most important factors for creating a culture of wellbeing at an organization. When leaders "walk the talk" it makes it much more likely that employees trust and believe in their own ability to make time for breaks and other healthy habits. Conversely, if managers and leaders encourage PTO but are emailing/presenting when they take theirs, it can create pressure for others to do the same and an inability to truly disconnect.
-
Rhea Ray
Wellbeing Manager @ Concentrix || Trust & Safety || Certified MHFA
How a team functions depends entirely upon how their leader functions. Being able to set healthy boundaries yourself encourages your team to do the same. Developing positive work habits creates and supportive culture for your team as well.
-
Sançar Sahin
Co-founder @ Oliva | Helping businesses keep their teams above the line through the world's best on-demand therapy, coaching, and workshops 🧠
If you don't want your team working past 5 and on weekends - don't showcase that behaviour! Encourage hobbies, breaks, and lunchtime movement.
-
Bryce Milton
We Started In Retirement Planning For Teachers... Now We Help Employees & Employers At No Net Out Of Pocket Cost Through Our Employee Wellness Program
You are the example. It's like being a "line leader" back in the school days. Everyone follows you, you are the one who sets the pace and designs the course. Have people follow you the right way.
Sometimes, your team may need more than just flexibility and clarity to achieve a healthy work-life balance. They may also need access to resources and support that can help them cope with stress, anxiety, or other mental or physical health issues. For example, you can provide them with wellness programs, counseling services, coaching sessions, or online courses. You can also create a supportive environment where your team can share their concerns, feedback, or ideas without fear of judgment or retaliation. By providing resources and support, you can help your team overcome challenges, learn new skills, and grow as professionals and individuals.
-
Aileen Axtmayer
Workplace Wellbeing Speaker | Career Coach | I help exhausted professionals thrive at work through keynotes, workshops, and coaching. Link to book a conversation 👇
One of the beautiful benefits of wellbeing workshops isn't just the education and concrete actionable tools and strategies shared - it's the validation that comes from seeing your colleagues struggling with the same things that you are, There is power in a community coming together to create behavior change. Many times the chat is rich with support and employees sharing how they navigate a topic, which has a ripple effect on encouraging others to do the same.
-
Dele K.
Helping Businesses Show Appreciation with Artisan, Sustainable & Soulful Gifts | Unlocking Employee Engagement & Client Retention | Featured in VOGUE Gift Guide.
Speak to your team about what they do outside of work, what they love, what are their hobbies, encourage them to keep pursuing them and to make sure they don't overwork so they can keep up with their hobbies. Show an interest and show that you actually care that they do stuff that makes them happy and passionate outside of work. You can even gift employees with specific gifts that are tailored to their hobbies, likes and passions to really go the extra mile.
-
Gabriela De Sousa Parisi
Dietitian with experience in digital marketing, personal branding, and communication in the healthcare sector. Specialized in nutritional education and training for groups and professionals.
Crear un ambiente donde el líder y los compañeros sean un verdadero círculo de apoyo es insustituible. Fomenta confianza y camaradería, sentido de pertenencia y seguridad. Además de recursos enfocados en bienestar, es crucial ofrecer herramientas que faciliten el día a día. Muchas veces ni requieren una gran inversión, pero tienen un impacto enorme. Cuando los colaboradores se sienten escuchados y apoyados en sus necesidades diarias, su bienestar y rendimiento aumentan. Además, cubrir estas necesidades puede resolver problemas del departamento y generar una sensación de logro más allá de las responsabilidades diarias. Sentirse valorado y de valor es un transformador poderoso y un generador de bienestar increíblemente efectivo.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
"Empower your team with the resources they need to thrive." Offer tools and programs that support mental and physical health, such as wellness programs, counseling services, and fitness memberships. When we introduced a comprehensive wellness program at my company, employee satisfaction and engagement improved significantly. According to a study, 77% of employees believe that wellness programs positively impact company culture. Providing resources demonstrates your commitment to your team's well-being.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Equip your team with the resources and support they need to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This can include offering wellness programs, mental health resources, and access to professional development opportunities that can help them manage stress and improve their skills. Providing ergonomic office equipment, whether they work from home or in the office, can also enhance their comfort and productivity. Additionally, consider offering support services such as employee assistance programs (EAPs) that provide counseling and other resources for personal and professional challenges.
Another way to promote a healthy work-life balance is to celebrate your team's achievements and milestones. This can help your team feel appreciated, motivated, and connected. You can recognize their efforts, contributions, and results in various ways, such as giving them feedback, praise, rewards, or recognition. You can also celebrate their personal milestones, such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or promotions. By celebrating achievements and milestones, you can boost your team's morale, loyalty, and satisfaction.
-
Bryce Milton
We Started In Retirement Planning For Teachers... Now We Help Employees & Employers At No Net Out Of Pocket Cost Through Our Employee Wellness Program
People need/crave public praise, everyone loves to be recognized. So the more you show you're proud of your team the more they will want to do and inspire others to step up and do better as well.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
"Recognition fuels motivation and work-life balance." Regularly acknowledge and celebrate your team's achievements and personal milestones. We implemented a monthly recognition program to highlight outstanding contributions and personal events like birthdays and work anniversaries. Celebrating achievements boosts morale and fosters a positive work environment. Statistics show that employees who feel appreciated are 50% more likely to stay at their company. Recognizing successes encourages a balanced, supportive workplace.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Recognizing and celebrating your team’s achievements and milestones fosters a positive work environment and reinforces the importance of work-life balance. Acknowledge their hard work and successes regularly, whether through formal recognition programs, shout-outs during team meetings, or personalized notes of appreciation. Celebrations do not have to be extravagant; even small gestures can have a significant impact on morale. By celebrating achievements, you show your team that their efforts are valued and that their contributions are essential to the organization’s success.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Celebrating achievements and milestones not only boosts morale but also reinforces the importance of work-life balance. Recognizing employees' hard work and accomplishments can foster a positive work environment and enhance motivation. According to a Gallup survey, employees who feel appreciated are 2.7 times more likely to be highly engaged. Celebrations can be as simple as a shout-out during team meetings, an email highlighting accomplishments, or organized team events. Acknowledging both professional and personal milestones helps employees feel valued and appreciated, contributing to a more supportive and balanced workplace culture.
Finally, you can promote a healthy work-life balance by soliciting feedback and suggestions from your team. This can help you understand their needs, preferences, and challenges better and tailor your strategies accordingly. You can ask your team for feedback and suggestions in various ways, such as surveys, polls, meetings, or informal conversations. You can also act on their feedback and suggestions and implement changes or improvements that can benefit their balance and wellbeing. By soliciting feedback and suggestions, you can show your team that you respect their opinions, value their insights, and involve them in decision-making.
-
Sançar Sahin
Co-founder @ Oliva | Helping businesses keep their teams above the line through the world's best on-demand therapy, coaching, and workshops 🧠
Keep the dialogue open about what's working and what isn't. How are their workloads? What are their blockers? What are their personal goals? How can you support them?
-
Bryce Milton
We Started In Retirement Planning For Teachers... Now We Help Employees & Employers At No Net Out Of Pocket Cost Through Our Employee Wellness Program
Always be open to hearing about improvements. At some times it can seem overwhelming based on the amount of contacts but it can be profound on how they perceive you and how much buy in you receive.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
"Open dialogue fosters a culture of continuous improvement." Regularly seek feedback from your team on how to enhance work-life balance. After implementing a new work-from-home policy, we conducted surveys to understand its impact and gather suggestions for improvement. Involving employees in decision-making processes ensures their needs and preferences are considered. A survey revealed that 42% of employees want more input on workplace policies. Soliciting feedback helps create a more inclusive and responsive work environment.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Regularly seek feedback from your team about their work-life balance and how it can be improved. Use surveys, one-on-one meetings, or team discussions to gather their insights and suggestions. Actively listen to their concerns and be willing to make adjustments based on their feedback. This inclusive approach not only helps you understand the unique needs of your team but also demonstrates that you value their well-being and are committed to making positive changes. Implementing their suggestions where feasible can lead to more effective and sustainable work-life balance strategies.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Soliciting feedback and suggestions from employees is crucial for continuously improving work-life balance initiatives. Regular surveys, one-on-one meetings, and open forums can provide valuable insights into employees' needs and preferences. According to a study by PwC, 60% of employees want to provide feedback more frequently. Actively listening to employees and implementing their suggestions can lead to more effective and tailored work-life balance policies. This inclusive approach demonstrates that leadership values employee input and is committed to creating a supportive work environment. Regularly reviewing and adjusting policies based on feedback ensures that the initiatives remain relevant and effective.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Consider implementing regular team-building activities that promote relaxation and connection outside of work tasks. Organize events such as virtual coffee breaks, team outings, or wellness challenges to strengthen team bonds and provide a break from work-related stress. Additionally, ensure that workloads are evenly distributed and regularly review workload balance to prevent burnout. Providing opportunities for professional development and growth can also enhance job satisfaction and contribute to a healthier work-life balance, as employees feel more valued and motivated.
-
Rogle López
Nutritionist - Health Coach
❌Evitar promover y celebrar la productividad tóxica es crucial para fomentar un equilibrio saludable entre el trabajo y la vida personal. Una cultura corporativa que glorifica el exceso de trabajo, las largas jornadas y el sacrificio personal en favor de la productividad a corto plazo, conduce inevitablemente al agotamiento, el estrés crónico y el desgaste emocional. 😟 En cambio, debemos alentar a nuestros colaboradores a establecer límites, tomar descansos regularmente y dedicar tiempo a sus intereses y responsabilidades fuera del trabajo.👨🏻🍳 Esto no solo mejora la satisfacción laboral y la retención de talento, sino que también fomenta la creatividad, la toma de decisiones más sólida y un mayor compromiso con la organización.🤝🏻
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
In addition to the strategies outlined above, it’s important to foster a culture of trust and autonomy. Allow employees the freedom to manage their own time and tasks, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and productivity. Ensure that workload distribution is fair and manageable to prevent burnout. Regularly check in with employees to gauge their well-being and provide opportunities for professional development that align with their career goals. By creating an environment that supports both personal and professional growth, organizations can cultivate a more engaged, loyal, and high-performing workforce.
-
Tyler Rice
Co-Founder, CEO, Author | Supporting the Nation's Largest Employers and Universities with Digital Wellbeing
Promoting work-life balance is an ongoing effort that requires continuous evaluation and adaptation. Stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in work-life balance to keep your strategies relevant and effective. Consider the individual circumstances of each team member and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Be mindful of cultural differences and ensure that your policies are inclusive and equitable. Encourage a supportive team culture where members look out for each other and share tips on maintaining balance. Lastly, remember that promoting work-life balance is not just about preventing burnout but also about enhancing overall quality of life, job satisfaction, and long-term employee retention.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
Social MediaYour team is struggling to maintain a work-life balance. What can you do to help?
-
Workplace SafetyHere's how you can achieve a healthy work-life balance in the workplace.
-
Customer ServiceWhat are the best ways to promote a positive work-life balance among your peers?
-
Administrative ManagementHow can you create a work environment that supports work-life balance?