Why Work-Life Balance Matters

In today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving world, work-life balance has become increasingly important for people to maintain their mental and physical health, productivity, and overall happiness. Work-life balance refers to the balance between work and personal life, where an individual is able to prioritise both aspects of their life without compromising one for the other. 

When running a business, it’s understandable that focus can be heavily shifted to the work-related aspects of workers’ lives. Although it’s not intended, it can be easy to forget employees have a life outside of the workplace. However, it is extremely important to be able to find the perfect balance between both. This ensures your employees feel valued at the workplace and acknowledging their personal time goes hand in hand with this. At Platform81 we feel like we’ve got our work-life balance down to a T, so here are our top tips! 

Respect Your Employees Out of Office Times 

We understand the importance of respecting our employee’s working hours. It’s actually very common for employees to find it hard to step away from work when their day ends. A survey conducted by Harvard Business Review shows only 30% of men and 50% of women consciously resist working long hours which is considerably low. In other words, 70% of men and 50% of women find it hard not to work past their contracted hours. You have a duty to make sure your staff don’t feel burnt out with their workload. 

It’s important for you as employers to ensure your staff know they aren’t expected to work after hours. Ensure you aren’t expecting replies out of hours or requesting last-minute tasks to be completed within a short time frame. Consequently, this would result in overtime, which is going to make your staff feel undervalued. We have implemented early Friday finishes at Platform81 which has improved weekly productivity across all departments. While it may seem counterintuitive, taking time off from work and focusing on personal life can actually increase productivity. When individuals are well-rested and mentally and physically healthy, they are more productive at work. This has given all employees more personal time to enjoy the things that matter to them. And who doesn’t love starting the weekend early? 

“Working hours don’t take over social hours.” 

“I rarely work over mandated hours and usually when I do it is through choice rather than force.” 

Hybrid Working 

We are huge fans of hybrid working at Platform81. Initially, hybrid working started due to the lockdown. However, as soon as the world reopened again, we found employees were happier and more productive when hybrid working. Our team have more flexibility which helps those who commute via public transport and have childcare responsibilities. Having a flexible work scheme has significantly eased the stress of commuting 5 days a week to work. 

A survey shows, 78% of employees said hybrid working leads to a better work/life balance. The same survey shows that working from home improved the well-being of 47% of workers. While 52% stated that they could do their work quicker and more efficiently at home rather than in the office. We are currently working two days in the office and three days from home which is working really well for the whole team and for the business as a whole. 

“Changes such as the early finish on office days and Fridays help our work-life balance.” 

“Working hours are good and the hybrid working. I think we are well looked after!” 

Team Social Days 

As many companies are embracing hybrid working, including ourselves, team social days are more important than ever to help keep your people connected where ever they’re based. Whilst some people see social days out as a ‘nice break’ from your normal working routine, they do have a purpose and they help strengthen the community feel at work. Platform81 has two office, one based in Stockport and one in Bromsgrove, our social days bring together our teams from both offices and having good working relationships inside and outside the office is really important to us. 

We have just implemented a new quarterly day/night out incentive which allows alternating departments to be responsible for arranging each event. Not only does this promote collaboration amongst our teams but it also shows we acknowledge the hard work each team member puts in, and our quarterly team events have proven to increase communication and motivation in the workplace. 

“I feel valued as I am thanked for the work I’m doing.” 

“Work culture is very positive and relaxed.” 

Each Employee Has Individual Needs 

A one-size-fits-all approach to balance is likely not going to work for everyone in your business. The same answer won’t help someone juggling work, daycare, and caring for elderly parents as it would for the millennial who wants to combine work and travel. You must customise your approach for each employee if you want to support your entire staff in leading better balanced lives. This might be done by having one-on-one sessions with each individual to determine how you as a business can be beneficial and flexible for their particular circumstance. 

In conclusion, work-life balance is critical to ensure employees are keeping good mental and physical health, increased productivity, and overall happiness. It is essential to set clear boundaries, prioritise and acknowledge that their personal time isn’t for answering out-of-office calls or emails and avoid overworking. Implementing just one of the things we mentioned above can help your business improve your employee’s work-life balance. It’s not easy but it is achievable with the right management and an open mind. Want to work for a flexible company like Platform81? We are looking to expand our team across a variety of departments! Please send your CV to [email protected] and we can see if we have the perfect position for you.