Work-life balance is a challenge for many, especially those in high-pressure jobs where they may be expected to work long hours. When it comes to hybrid work cultures, even leaders who are committed to having an inclusive organization struggle to put the right policies and procedures in place.
But what exactly is work-life balance? ⚖️
Work-life balance is about finding the right mix of your work-based activities and those in your personal life. The latter could include spending time with family, pursuing hobbies and sports, or simply finding «me» time to relax and do nothing. The perfect remote working-life balance will mean different things to different people, and before looking at HOW to achieve it, look at WHAT you want to achieve. Happiness is a relative term. It is not the same for everyone. It is partly due to the enforced level of remote working due to the COVID pandemic, but mainly due to the advances in technology that have made remote working so much easier to do.
In interviews people mentioned:
“If you’re not being transparent about your work, you’re going to be seen as a person who’s not working.”
or
“If you’re not upfront about what your needs are, you’re probably going to end up in a bad relationship”.
We learn: Bridging the inherent distance of remote work entails speaking up about personal needs and boundaries as well as!
Many people struggle to get away from work when they need to, which makes it harder to create and maintain a healthy work-life balance. People who feel that they can balance their work and life (not a surprise) are usually happier, more relaxed, more productive.
There are many factors that influence how well we manage to unplug. 🔌
Although removing the commute barrier that separates work from everything else is a sustainable business, it can become more difficult for workers to create and maintain a healthy work-life balance for employees.
Let’s identify the barriers to overcome, then look at what strategies for hybrid work will help us attain our goals:
🟠 Facing reality. To achieve a work-life balance, we need to understand the challenges we face in our own hybrid work-life balance. Naming these tensions will offer leaders a place from which they can start strategizing. A leader who understands the dimensions of diversity and inclusion will be one step ahead in building an inclusive hybrid culture that works for their organization and their people . But if you are not one of these lucky ones, here are a few other challenges to keep in mind. The ability to work from home has its benefits, but there are also drawbacks. While a few have been suffering a long way commuting, others stop moving at all. The lack of support and the demand of too many virtual meetings can make you tired as well as ruining your schedule
🟠 Divided workforce & miscommunication.
Depending on how much of your workforce you are moving to the hybrid model, there is a chance that there will be some division. This may be especially true if your management team is spending more time at the office than other employees. It can result in there being a decrease in information shared, including important decisions or on a deeper level , people stop talking about their workload and needs
Ensure that there are regular video conference calls with all members of a particular team. And regular contact by management, even on a semi-formal basis, can help bridge any divide.
🟠 Disbalance of power. If you are working in an organization where the majority of people are in the office, you may find that you are perceived as being «closer to the action» than those who work from home. There may also be a feeling that office-based workers will be more likely to be assigned new tasks than those working remotely. Ensure that all tasks are delegated fairly. Avoid the temptation to cross the office and give a new task to someone working in situ. Share all work evenly across your team or workforce.
🟠 Productivity.
Productivity challenges can occur on several levels. There may be a belief by management or office-based staff that those working remotely will not be as productive. There may even be a belief by remote staff that they do not have to be as productive or find it difficult to be.
Again, ensure task allocation is fair and even. Set goals and deadlines to make sure that work is done promptly. Monitor as closely as possible without micromanaging or making the remote staff feel they are constantly watched. You will find that most people will maintain a good workflow during any work time.
🟠 Career development and promotions. It is possible that a situation develops where career development opportunities and advancement become skewed in favor of those working in the office, as opposed to remotely. It is possible that the managers «notice» The efforts of office-based staff more than those working at home. To avoid this, assess all staff equally. Base decisions on what they do, not where they do it. And also ensure that any training opportunities are available to all. Hopp team, for example, has made it possible to develop through perks like team-building exercises, HR support & more.
As the world enters a new era of uncertainty, many people are wondering how they can continue to balance work and life. A third of workers say they are missing out on important life events because of work commitments. Working from home can be hard when you have young children and a husband who is also working from home. To make sure you are not missing out on anything, it is important to consider the following:
- Try to balance your schedule out – manage your time and energy so that you feel fulfilled and engaged as a whole human being. From time to time count how much time you spend with work projects versus time spent with family, friends, and personal interests.
- Does not matter if you are in a coworking space, company office or at home. It is always about making the workplace a better place to work. Employers achieve this with building a better company culture, which is more than just having a happy hour every Friday. Companies must look beyond their employees’ performance and give them a sense of belonging. This can be done by providing a supportive work environment, mentoring and fostering a sense of community.
- Mentoring or a wellbeing-program can provide guidance, support and resources to help employees succeed. Especially in a hybrid working context hiring wellbeing officers can be an effective way to address these issues. If you are out there on your own:
- Breathing in deeply, filling your lungs, will help lower your heart rate and blood pressure. According to the American Institute of Stress, by increasing the supply of oxygen you send to your brain, you can stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system.
Holding work-life balance while hybrid working is a journey
Many people try to find the ideal work-life balance that will reduce the likelihood of physical or mental health issues and improve their quality of life. To have a successful remote working-life balance, you need to understand what you want to achieve, and what it means for your employees. Did you already try our service? And last but not least, whatever you do, do it with purpose!
