Have we lost the work-life balance?
Carl Hinett
Director at re:find: successfully helping business leaders to find the talent to deliver change.
Work-life balance. We talk about it all the time. It’s so important to make sure you have a balance between your work and home life – we’re big advocates of it here. But how good are we all at keeping the balance and should it still be a ‘thing’?
There are many factors to be considered when addressing the work-life balance argument – for me, they all center around technology. Technology has allowed us to change the once rigid working environment – with a set place of work and working hours – to be much more fluid and relaxed. Which, although positive in many ways, doesn’t help to keep the structure in place between your work life and your social life.
Remote working
Remote working allows us to work from anywhere, not just in the office. At home, on a train, in another office, even abroad. All you need is your laptop and phone and Wi-Fi connection and you’re away.
Flexitime
Flexitime gives employees the freedom to choose their hours to fit around their other commitments outside of work and can sometimes mean starting late but finishing late or, starting early to get an early finish.
Technology
Mobile phones and laptops are great because you can take them easily wherever you go, to work remotely. But this often comes with its own problems – if you use the same laptop or phone for both personal use and for work, it can be difficult to switch off. Many phones have emails and Slack and other forms of communication for work connected to them, which allows totally switching off from work almost impossible! Then, of course, there is the work WhatsApp groups, which can go off at any time, day or night.
All these technological factors blur the lines between your work life and your home life. But is it necessarily a bad thing? In my opinion, the freedom and flexibility businesses and employees now have, to work where and when they want, is brilliant. And, although the factors blur the lines so work can creep into your home life, it also means your home life can merge into work life too – you are able to juggle other responsibilities around work, rather than following a strict 9-5 Monday – Friday in the office. Having said that, it is still important to make sure you keep a balance and sometimes – press the off button!
To have a chat about your executive search, contact me at [email protected].
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Passionate about people and technology, making our time at work better.
5 年Agreed! I wonder if people are really aware of how many hours they are actually working and it doesn’t really matter as long as they are happy doing it!
COO & Director of People Science at The People Experience Hub | Transforming employee surveys into actionable insights for better engagement and wellbeing.
5 年I’m all for flexibility and the potential benefits of technology, but it’s easy to let technology control you rather than the other way around. Most of the time I don’t mind picking up an email or text, and didn’t when I was employed, but if not - switch off motivations, put an out of office on, etc..