I need more 'Work' in my 'Work/Life Balance' - said no-one ever

I find the phrase of ‘Work/Life balance’ unhelpful and negative. To me it serves to view 'work’ as a problem. Whilst it's been grasped as a concept, it generalises 'work' for it to be discussed in negative terms, leading to cause complaints owing to the amount of ‘work’ and it's impact on life. I’ve yet to hear anyone say ‘I need more work in my work/life balance’ – even if they do. 

The phrase assumes that 'work' is something that can get in the way of ‘life’, that needs to be specifically managed or curtailed more than any other part of life.  However working is viewed - making a living should not be confused with the 'actually living'. Work, for those who choose to do it, is a part of life, a way of facilitating the life they want or need to have.

I am pleased to see the topic of our local CIPD HR Leader's Conference tomorrow is the 'Good Work Agenda'. I'm looking forward to attending and learning more. I welcome this approach, that an aspect of our lives is being tackled, rather than being seen as aside from life itself. After all, our lives all feel the reward and benefit when the individual aspects of it are 'good' - relationships, sleep, eating habits, exercise, relaxation, parenting, social, hobbies and times etc. Work is no different.

Good Work will mean something different to everyone at different times of our lives, although there may be some common themes. It's a very personal and subjective area. But if by being an HR initiative it helps us understand where work sits in our larger picture I hope it can inform role design, talent attraction and retention and deliver rewarding work that doesn't impact negatively on the other areas of people's lives.

To be Good Work, our involvement in it should not adversely affect our...

• physical and mental health
• relationships with friends and family
• sleep
• eating habits
• exercise
• finances
• spiritual well-being
• happiness
• short and long term personal goals
• feeling of self worth and confidence

What Good Work should achieve will only be understood when we look at the full picture, from an individual employee perspective. It's once we know what 'good work' looks like for them will we actually learn how to deliver on the initiative.

The balance won’t be the same for every person all the time and that’s where true flexibility and employee engagement comes in.