Work-Life Harmony: Why It Matters

We’ve all heard the phrase “work-life balance,” but how many of us truly feel we’ve achieved it? As a Talent Acquisition Director for L’Oréal, and a passionate advocate for well-being in the workplace, I believe it’s time to shift the conversation from “balance” to “harmony".

Why harmony? Because “balance” implies a rigid, 50/50 split, a constant juggling act. Life, however, is fluid. Sometimes work requires more attention, and sometimes our personal lives demand center stage.

For me, work-life harmony is about embracing the synergy between my professional and personal life, where each enriches the other and leads to a great personal fulfilment. Every journey is unique - by understanding your values and finding what matters to you – you can create a happier, more resilient, and healthier life.

At L’Oréal, we're actively fostering a culture of work-life harmony, we even have a saying “make time for what matters most”. Our innovative “Share and Care” program is just that.

What does this look like in action?

Flexibility: Embracing flexible work models and self-managed schedules allow our employees to tailor their workdays to their lives, not the other way around. We provide empowerment and trust to our employees in their ability to accomplish at work and balance with personal commitments. Whether it's attending a child's school event or taking care of a family member, we empower our people to prioritize what matters most.

Wellness Programs: From fitness challenges (some of you know I'm an active lifestyle enthusiast!) to mental health resources, we invest in our employees' holistic well-being. We offer generous parental leave policies, access to childcare support, and programs designed to promote physical and mental wellness.

Open Dialogue: Regular check-ins and Connect sessions between employees and managers encourage open conversations about mental health and work-life integration, creating a supportive environment where employees are accountable to their work while seeking support when they need it.

Giving Back to Community: Create opportunities and engaging employees in volunteering local community services and sustainability projects strengthen one’s sense of purpose, create a more inclusive and supportive community.

While there's no magic formula, I believe true work-life harmony comes down to:

Knowing Yourself: Making conscious choices by first understanding your priorities, values, and what truly brings you joy.

Setting Boundaries: Communicating your needs clearly, both at work and in your personal life.

Seeking Support: Don't be afraid to ask for help, whether it's from your manager, HR, peers, or a trusted mentor.

I’m proud to be part of L’Oréal's commitment to employee well-being, and I'm constantly inspired by the leaders in Malaysia (especially thought leaders in the Well-being@Work? Movement ) who are championing this crucial conversation.

Well-being serves not as a destination where you have "achieved" success in all aspects of your life, rather is a process for self-reflection and your personal commitment in taking actions to improve.

Let’s continue the dialogue. What does work-life harmony mean to you, and how can we collectively build more supportive workplaces?

Feel inspired? Join us: https://careers.loreal.com/en_US/content/PoweredByTech.

No role for you now – no problem – stay up to date with us here: https://loa.avature.net/SAPMENATalentCommunities

P/S: For those who don’t know me – I am Talent Acquisition Director for SEA and I am a part of the SAPMENA Zone (South Asia Pacific – Middle East – North Africa). I'm here to connect top talents in the market with L'Oréal. If you’d like to know more about L'Oréal SEA or SAPMENA and our opportunities, please feel free to connect with me??