Embracing a Culture Which Supports Work/Life Balance

After delving into the topic of work-life balance, we have concluded that a company must walk the walk instead of talking the talk.? It's not enough to include a phrase about your company embracing work-life balance in your job post; your policies and especially your culture must support it 100%!? As the leader of your team or company, you?must prove?the well-being of your employees matters. Here are a couple of strategies to consider to put work-life balance at the forefront of your culture.

Work With an Expert:?

A strategic leader knows it pays to hire the best person for the job.? Make sure to consult and/or hire an HR/Payroll company or HR Policy consultant to understand the federal and local laws pertaining to leave and PTO.? They will also know the latest trends regarding what employees value in a time off policy.

Get it Straight From the Horse's Mouth (yes - an old school saying - lol)?

Don't pretend to know what matters to your employees.? Ask them directly through one-on-ones or conduct a survey.? You can create anonymous surveys through a Google Form, or you can use a professional survey tool like Tiny Pulse to hear what truly matters.

Walk the Walk: As the Leader, Lead by Example.?

Make sure you are taking time off for family events, volunteering, personal health, and fun.? If your employees see you focusing on your mental health and wellness, relationships, and taking the time to enjoy and experience life, they will too.? As a leader, you have the responsibility to ensure you embrace work-life balance and prioritize yourself responsibly while considering the needs of the business.

Include Discussions About PTO in Monthly/Quarterly Employee Check-Ins:

Productivity and performance are dependent on the attitude and well-being of your employees.? Include PTO metrics in your evaluation process to make sure employees realize that time off benefits everyone in the long run.? Get to know what your employees value and encourage them to pursue outside activities that rejuvenate their souls and inspire them to do more (Yes, Boomers and Xers, you need to build relationships with your employees to recruit and retain the best talent for your company).

Be Creative with Your PTO Policies:

PTO policies can come in all sizes, shapes, and lengths of time. Consider providing a "lump sum" PTO as part of a sign-on bonus to recruit talent. Encourage employees to take a specific amount of consecutive days off by offering a vacation bonus. Offer ways employees can earn additional PTO by adhering to policies and procedures, such as productivity/performance bonuses, innovation bonuses, good citizen bonuses, etc.? ?

These are only a handful of suggestions and ideas to assist you in embracing a culture that supports work-life balance.? For a great guideline on the mechanics of a solid PTO and leave policy, please reference the following article (which I contributed to) by Paycom.

Lastly, if you would like more information on what motivates each generation, please reach out for some important and humorous takes on how to attract and retain the best Baby Boomers, X, Y and Z Gen employees.?

Resources:

Visit our website: Generational Business Strategies (genbizstrategies.com)

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/gen-biz-strategies/

Works Cited:

Anders, G. (2023, August 13). Why vacation is boomers’ joy, but a real struggle for Gen Z. https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/why-vacation-boomers-joy-real-struggle-gen-z-george-anders#:~:text=Some%2035%25%20of%20Gen%20Zers,with%20hardly%20any%20such%20worries.%20(Aug%202023)

How to make the most of unlimited paid time off | MetLife. (n.d.). https://www.metlife.com/stories/work-family/how-to-make-the-most-of-unlimited-paid-time-off/

The time off report - CalendarLabs. (n.d.). https://www.calendarlabs.com/time-off-report

Watts, S., & Watts, S. (2024, March 19). PTO vs Vacation Time vs Sick Time: What’s the Difference? Homebase. https://joinhomebase.com/blog/sick-vs-vacation-time/

What is average PTO in 2022? (n.d.). https://www.trinet.com/insights/average-pto-in-2022