Meet the need for work-life balance

Business benefits of improved work-life balance

Introducing employment policies that encourage a healthier work-life balance for your employees can bring real benefits to your business. Research has shown that if employees are less stressed:

• the quality of their work is likely to improve
• productivity is likely to rise
• wastage levels can be cut through fewer mistakes and reduced sickness absence
• morale should improve
• recruitment and training costs can be reduced through improved staff retention

Some employees have a legal right to request flexible working arrangements. Employees with young or disabled children under the age six or 18 respectively, may request a change to their hours, times or place of work. Employers must seriously consider any requests they receive and may only refuse the request if there is a clear business reason why it cannot be met. For more information, see our guide on the  benefits of flexible working .

Drawing up a clear policy on flexible working can have a positive impact on management by making it clear the circumstances in which a request for flexible working will be considered and approved. This saves management time and means that inconsistencies in management decisions are removed. It can also help employees by explaining their rights.

Flexible and work-life balance policies will also foster a more positive perception of you as an employer. This can lead to better relations with your employees and greater staff loyalty, commitment and motivation, reducing staff turnover and recruitment costs.

However, the benefits of a work-life balance initiative are not confined to just the workforce. Work-life policies and flexible working practices can also help you:

• react to changing market conditions more effectively and meet customer demands - for example, shift work, part-time work and flexitime can help you open longer without making your employees work longer hours
• meet seasonal peaks and troughs in your business
• boost your competitiveness
• become recognised as a business that people want to work for

Many workplaces that offer flexible working practices and leave arrangements have also reported a better financial performance than that of similar workplaces in the same industry.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Business benefits of improved work-life balance
• Recognising work-life balance problems
• Work-life balance - ways of working
• Checklist: implementing policies to achieve work-life balance
• Here's how family-friendly policies have helped our business

 

 Print This Page

Source - Business Link; Crown Copyright.