Achieving Work-Life Balance #3: Not Just for Those with Families
Work-life balance was first brought into the workplace when employers realized that their employees needed a balance between their work and their life outside of it. Many employers adopted this concept with families in mind, but work-life balance is not just for individuals with a family. It is true that the employees who benefit the most from a work-life balance policy are those with families; however, others do as well.
It is unfair for an employer to offer a policy to certain employees. This is why a healthy balance between work and life is obtainable for all individuals in the workplace. When work-life balance is incorporated into a business structure it applies to all employees. This means that everyone, including unmarried individuals or those without children, can reap the benefits of work-life balance.
To create a positive work environment for their employees, many employers offer work alternatives. These work alternatives often involve flexible hours, working from home, or job sharing. All of these alternatives are likely to decrease the amount of time that an employee has to spend in the workplace when they already have prior engagements.
When associating single or childless workers with work-life balance there are many individuals who wonder exactly what these employees are doing with their free time. Just because an individual is not married or does not have any children does not mean that they do not have a family. An employee who is taking advantage of their work-free time is likely to visit their mother, father, brother, sister, or other close relatives.
Every individual, no matter what their status, has a hobby. There are many individuals who have multiple hobbies. A hobby is known as an activity that you love to participate in during your free time. Popular hobbies include, but are not limited to, stamp collecting, photography, writing, playing sports, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Because work-life balance often reduces the amount of hours an employee works there are more individuals who are able to find time for their hobbies.
Volunteering could be labeled as a hobby, but it also known a service. There are many individuals who, when not working, volunteer in or around their local community. Volunteering is most commonly done at non-profit charities, schools, play groups, and homeless shelters. Volunteering can occur at all hours of the day; however, most volunteers are needed during traditional work hours. Having a healthy balance between work and life is what enables many employees to volunteer during their traditional work hours. It also helps that employers who allow their employees to volunteer during work are highly recognized and appreciated throughout the community.
One of the most common myths associated with a work-life balance is that only those with families benefit from it. As you can see, that myth couldn be farther from the truth. Employees of all ages, social standing, and martial status can benefit and appreciate a healthy work-life balance in the workplace.
– Jennifer Foote.
We will continue to discuss work & life balance in the series of Achieving Work-Life Balance. Stay tuned.
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Comments
Dawn says on April 12th, 2006 at 4:48 am
Everyone benefits from flex time policies because everyone has a life! Having to explain what you do with your free time is really not the point, and it’s not for others to judge whether one person’s activities are more ‘important’ than someone else’s, regardless of your marital status.
Eric says on April 12th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
You can’t see the difference between making accomodations for *RESPONSIBILTIES* to family and accomodations for a hobby?
If I were, ever, asked to choose between my job and my wife I would leave my job in an instant, would you leave you job for your hobbies?
While I applaud employers that can offer perks to all of their employees, to lump families and hobbies into the same class your argument falls to pieces. When you have a family the employer can either loose a valuable employee or make reasonable and customary accomidations, maybe once you have a family you will be able to understand that.
Phil says on April 12th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
Eric, give me a break. You work to live not live to work. If you don’t have a family, you’re supposed to just be a 24 hour slave to a company and not pursue other interests? How are you supposed to keep up in trends or improve your career or find a famliy.
I think it’s amazing how many people are sucked into this employee mindset. Corporations are the new government and land owners. Employees are the new slaves.
Eric says on April 12th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
I said nothing of the sort. I was just aggravated at another person whining about how evil employers are for giving a break to the family rather than everyone.
If you are living to work it’s your own fault, not the company you work for. If you can’t go a week without a paycheck it’s your own damn fault. You allow yourself to become a slave willingly through your own actions and no incentive plan from your employer will change that *EVER*. Take responsibility for your own life, save money, change jobs, demand a raise, demand more flex time but don’t be surprised if the latter is not well received by your employer family or not. To you don’t have a choice is part of the mindset that allows you to be a willing slave.
I merely stated that conflating accomidations for familiies and accomidations for hobbies is silly. To confuse the issue undermines the argument the author was trying to make.
Jeremy says on April 13th, 2006 at 12:06 am
I recently attempted to take advantage of my company’s flex time policy. When i started with the company 2 years ago the HR people made a big deal about how accomidating the company is to a work life balance. I am a single person with no family of my own but i live at home with my parents. I asked to adjust my schedule from what it is currently (830 to 5pm) to a schedule that would work better for me (9 to 5:30pm). I do not think this is an unreasonable request. i am a salaried employee and i feel that if i ask to go on flex time that i should not have to give a reason for this schedule change. “It works better for me” is not a valid reason. I was told that not only would HR need a reason but my management team from my direct supervisor up the the VP would need to approve my flex time. I believe that my company should trust my reasoning for this change and accept it. If i had children my simple reason would be “having to put the kids on the bus in the morning” and the entire thing would be no problem. I am being penalized for not having children. This really hurts my morale and i find it harder and harder to tolerate working here.