Work-Life Balance
01/29/2013
The Importance of Work-Life Balance in a Diverse Workforce
The use of diversity programs has become the rising standard among professional businesses. Through the use of these programs, employers not only abide by legal requirements of local, state, and federal laws, but also help to increase their consumer base, workforce efficiency and effectiveness, and reduce employee turnover. One of the major components of successfully leveraging diversity is through the right work-life balance. This requires the ability of employers to provide measures for both male and female employees to conceive and raise a child without losing their jobs, aid in the future retirement plans of older employees and returning retirees, and provide programs to other employees who do not fit into these groups but also have family obligations. The right work-life balance can determine the success of diversity programs and the business itself, and thus employers need to constantly assess the needs and wants of their employees in order to have a better functioning business.
The term work-life balance is a term that almost explicitly explains itself but requires a little more information to understand its full extent. The word balance itself does not simply imply equal amount of time spent working and equal amount of time spent performing other non-work related activities. The term “work-life balance is defined here as an individual 's ability to meet both their work and family commitments, as well as other non-work responsibilities and activities” (Louise P. Parkes and H. Langford Peter). A person’s work responsibilities should not impede that person from getting regular sleep or having at least some time to spend with their family. On the other hand, it does not mean that a person should spend too much time relaxing at home and failing to complete work assignments. The actual balance can fluctuate depending on what tasks are due or what family or life obligations have suddenly
The Importance of Work-Life Balance in a Diverse Workforce
The use of diversity programs has become the rising standard among professional businesses. Through the use of these programs, employers not only abide by legal requirements of local, state, and federal laws, but also help to increase their consumer base, workforce efficiency and effectiveness, and reduce employee turnover. One of the major components of successfully leveraging diversity is through the right work-life balance. This requires the ability of employers to provide measures for both male and female employees to conceive and raise a child without losing their jobs, aid in the future retirement plans of older employees and returning retirees, and provide programs to other employees who do not fit into these groups but also have family obligations. The right work-life balance can determine the success of diversity programs and the business itself, and thus employers need to constantly assess the needs and wants of their employees in order to have a better functioning business.
The term work-life balance is a term that almost explicitly explains itself but requires a little more information to understand its full extent. The word balance itself does not simply imply equal amount of time spent working and equal amount of time spent performing other non-work related activities. The term “work-life balance is defined here as an individual 's ability to meet both their work and family commitments, as well as other non-work responsibilities and activities” (Louise P. Parkes and H. Langford Peter). A person’s work responsibilities should not impede that person from getting regular sleep or having at least some time to spend with their family. On the other hand, it does not mean that a person should spend too much time relaxing at home and failing to complete work assignments. The actual balance can fluctuate depending on what tasks are due or what family or life obligations have suddenly
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