The past few years have shined a spotlight on the prolonged fatigue and burnout employees experience on a global level. Nearly every workplace has people in states of physical and emotional exhaustion.
Once reserved for high-powered professionals and the military elite, work-related stress and anxiety are now commonplace and are only getting worse (a recent American Psychological Association survey found that 77% of workers experienced work related stress in the last month).1
Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent societal unrest deserve some of the blame, the truth is that modern-day work-life balance has been out of whack for quite some time due to increased occupational pressures, poor scheduling practices, and overworked employees.
But with 60% of employees saying they are willing to leave their place of work in the next six months2 (predominantly in hourly, shift-based roles), many organizations find themselves in a unique (and costly) situation and must find ways to improve employees’ work-life balance or risk losing talent.
Thankfully, employers can improve the work-life balances of employees and increase employee engagement and retention by providing more flexibility and power over their schedules, planning shifts adequately (and in advance), and recognizing when employees need a break.
Here are three ways employers can provide employees with a better work-life balance:
