Here's how you can articulate your work-life balance needs to your employer or clients.

According to one study, 66 percent of full-time employees in the United States don’t believe they have a healthy work-life balance. In addition to long days at the office, the always-connected nature of modern life means that most people are answering work emails and calls on nights, weekends, and even holidays. This leaves precious few hours for quality time with family and friends, self-care, and fun. All of this can lead to work burnout, which is ultimately destructive for productivity and morale. And while work-life balance is often described as something an employee must manage themself, it is essential for savvy employers to take ownership over establishing a work culture that promotes this balance.

? Set up a meeting to talk about your needs regarding work-life balance and do so in a respectful way. ? Share what work-life balance means to you and how things, like having fixed working hours or flexibility for commitments affect your performance and happiness. ? Give some examples of how having a holistic approach can help both you and the company by boosting productivity fostering creativity and increasing job satisfaction. ? Propose some ideas, on how we can adjust your workload or schedule while still fulfilling your duties. ? Be attentive when receiving feedback and be willing to collaborate on finding a solution that works well for everyone.

When articulating my work-life balance needs to my employer or clients, I approach the conversation with transparency and professionalism. I emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between my professional responsibilities and personal life to ensure my overall well-being and productivity. I propose clear boundaries and expectations, such as designated work hours and response times, while also expressing flexibility and willingness to accommodate urgent requests when necessary.

Work-life balance is a wide topic. It isn't a joke. When your employees report you this, you have to seriously take it into consideration, and plan a meeting to discuss it!

Highlight the benefits of work-life balance. Emphasize increased productivity and creativity. Use past examples to illustrate positive impacts. Shift the conversation from personal preference to a strategic business decision.

Flexible work arrangements :- Giving employees the ability to set their own schedules and work from home means that they can better align their professional and personal responsibilities. For example, if regular work hours are 9:00 to 5:00, but an employee has a 45-minute commute and has to get a child on the bus at 8:45, giving them the ability to work 9:30 to 5:30 instead allows that employee to better manage competing responsibilities.

Employers can establish a healthy environment that supports work-life balance, but employees must also set boundaries and advocate for themselves in the work environment. The first time you respond to an email at 10:30 p.m., you’re telling your employer that you’re always available. Don’t be afraid to ask employers about work-life balance in job interviews, or if you’re already employed, have a conversation about expectations. Work-life balance benefits employees by fostering increased health, happiness, and fulfillment. And it benefits employers, too—happy workers are loyal workers.

Paid time off (PTO) :- Traditionally, employers have offered sick time, vacation time, and personal days, which doesn’t always align with an employee’s needs. More and more companies are shifting to a PTO approach, in which an employee has a set number of days they can use as they see fit. With this approach, an employee who has the flu won’t use all of their sick time for the year in one shot, and an employee who never gets sick can use that time for vacation or volunteer work.