The term work-life balance is now familiar to many people. It has been discussed internationally since the 1990s.
The term combines three key words: work, life, balance. In an analysis of its economic effects, the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth defined the term as follows:
“Work-life balance means a new, intelligent integration of working and private life against the backdrop of a changed and dynamically changing world of work and life.”
What sounds good in theory often proves very complicated in practice. 73% of employees said that stress at work results from difficulties reconciling their job and their private life. In an era of constant availability through remote work and smartphones, the boundaries between the once separate spheres of work and private life are increasingly blurred. Stress breeds dissatisfaction and reduces both motivation and productivity.
Both factors naturally take a toll on personal well-being and on work performance. That is why it is essential for employers to enable a healthy work-life balance for their employees.
Career: A must. Health: Absolutely. Kids: We’ll see.
Family remains as important as ever. According to a 2014 study by the Stiftung für Zukunftsfragen (Foundation for Future Studies), 88 percent of Germans considered family the most important thing in life. That sounds very positive at first. The bad news, however, is that two out of three Germans also said their career is more important to them than having children.
It is therefore hardly surprising that Germany’s fertility rate, at 1.36 children per woman, remains very low compared with other countries. 54 percent of couples without children believe that a career is hard to reconcile with a family. Many working women assume that having children means the end of their career. Yet privately, more and more working women strongly wish to have children, while also longing for financial independence.
Companies, however, often still stand in the way. Asking about family planning in job interviews is not allowed – and yet it happens all the time. Yet it is not that difficult, as a manager, to ensure a healthy work-life balance for your employees. Below is a brief overview of the profitable measures we recommend for your company.
Job-Life Fit: Everything Has to Fit Together
As the Stepstone Trend Study 2016 shows, Germans’ career plans have remained a high priority in recent years. Looking ahead, however, 87 percent of respondents now consider health and personal development the most important things. For 81 percent of skilled professionals and managers, a balanced interplay of family, relationship, job and career is equally crucial to a happy life.
If skilled professionals had to choose between a highly interesting, well-paid job with colleagues they don’t get along with personally and an uninteresting job in a close-knit, friendly team, a full 71 percent would choose the harmonious team.
Men are more likely to tolerate a poor working climate as long as the tasks are interesting enough. For women, relationships with colleagues play an even more central role. For young professionals just starting out in particular, a good working atmosphere is highly important. Among the so-called soft factors, it even ranks as one of the most important criteria when choosing an employer.
It almost seems as if today’s workforce wants to have “it all” – career, health, family. Employers should not ignore these expectations and should give their employees the opportunity to develop different areas of life side by side, on equal footing. Ideally, the job even has a positive effect on other areas of life. A satisfied employee is less susceptible to stress and avoids illnesses such as depression or burnout.
Work-Life Integration
Work-life balance is frequently criticized. The reason is that work and private life are often no longer separated. The word integration therefore fits the context better than balance.
Work-life integration does not assume two separate spheres; instead, it aims to connect them or create an integrative link between them. The fact is that the boundaries between work and private life are increasingly merging into one. The driving forces behind the structural change in Germany’s working society are:
- Technological and demographic change
- Economic structural change
- Globalization
- New technologies and communication channels
How are you supposed to relax and enjoy your free time when, in an age of “permanent availability,” you are in constant contact with colleagues and business partners? New communication and information channels transcend boundaries of space and time.
Working comfortably from home via the cloud, checking a few more emails before going to bed, or asking a business partner via smartphone whether they have prepared tomorrow’s meeting. None of this is a problem anymore. But it is not necessarily beneficial. The work stress remains. Switching off and enjoying your evening becomes impossible. More and more, with less and less time.
What is demanded: flexibility in time, mobility in place and a constant willingness to adapt. Stress and overwork pile up, and health suffers significantly as a result. Constant strain comes at a high price.
The Negative Consequences of Chronic Stress
Everyone experiences stress now and then. It only becomes dangerous when the situation turns into a constant burden and the body can no longer break down the stress hormones it releases. The body then remains in a chronic state of tension and activation that can become dangerous to health.
According to Statista, mental illnesses such as depression and burnout are currently the second most important cause of incapacity to work in Germany.
The symptoms vary widely. The most common physical signs of stress include headaches, neck and back pain, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue and exhaustion. Many people even experience skin irritations or muscle twitches as soon as they are under pressure. The hormones released during stress become dangerous when they are released too often. Stress hormones such as cortisol weaken the immune system, and stress symptoms such as exhaustion and depression set in.
Over time, depression can lead to complete physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. Also known as burnout!
A 2018 survey by pronova BKK found that every second German feels threatened by burnout. Six out of ten respondents complained of at least occasional symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide live with depression. Experts even predicted that burnout would be the second most common widespread disease by 2020.
Alarming results, don’t you agree? In our view, it is time to stop treating work-life balance as a mere theory and start putting it into practice.
Profitable Measures for Your Company
When your employees are in an unbalanced life situation, it also affects their performance at work. For employees and employers alike, persistently poor work results have a negative impact on collaboration. The key is to act preventively!
- Self-management: Offer your employees courses and coaching that help them optimize how they use their time and effort. Organization and planning provide a good first foundation for avoiding stressful situations and time pressure.
- Company sports: For many people, physical activity is a way to unwind that they would not want to miss. Whether fitness, endurance training or relaxing exercise such as yoga – sport is good for everyone and, among other things, reduces stress hormones. Very few companies offer their employees sports opportunities on site, even though it could help at work: company sports not only keep people fit but also strengthen social connections within the team.
- Changes to the daily work routine: Offer your employees a range of benefits. Small things such as fresh fruit and free drinks, or even a shared lunch, not only take care of your employees but also provide a great opportunity to switch off and talk about topics other than work.
- Team events: From action-packed activities like climbing parks to playful evenings of bowling or laser tag – team events are important for team building. Togetherness must not fall by the wayside in the daily work routine. Having fun together boosts employee motivation and team cohesion. Treat yourself and your employees to a short shared break from the daily routine.
Conclusion
Over time, constant strain, stress and increased pressure lead to physical limitations and health problems such as depression and burnout.
For more and more people, however, health, personal development and family planning have become more important again and even take priority over their career. At the same time, professional success should not fall by the wayside. Achieving a healthy balance between work and private life is difficult in practice, but it is possible.
Use our tips to make work-life balance a reality for your employees, and try implementing modern stress management methods. They have a lasting impact on recruiting, employee motivation and employee retention. Always remember that we spend more time at work than at home.
So stay true to the motto Feel good at work!