Conversations on work-life balance are often focused primarily on the challenges of family responsibilities. That is, those discussions are around how the working person manages being a parent or, in a different scenario, being a caretaker of their own parents. But that’s far from the full story.
Anyone working in high-stress industries might find that long hours, tight deadlines and the pressure to deliver results can lead to mental and physical burnout. This is exacerbated in our always-on work culture, made even more acute when trying to stay up-to-date on emerging technologies or ahead of adverse economic conditions. Finding a work-life balance is essential for anyone who wishes to succeed in both work and in their lives outside of work. It’s also a matter of personal health. When a colleague suffers, everyone around them suffers.
Here, leaders at two companies share with us the nuances and drivers of achieving a work-life balance in their workplaces.
UpKeep is the leading maintenance and asset management software developed to simplify work orders and facility management.
How do you encourage your team members to maintain a good work-life balance?
We have policies in place to ensure our team has the resources they need to achieve work-life harmony. We know that our employees work their best when they can also take time away from work, which is why we have unlimited PTO! We encourage all of our teams to utilize this by fostering clear communication between team members and managers to ensure everyone is taking the time off needed to recharge and feel their best at work. Our managers lead by example by taking time off themselves.
We have lots of UpKeepers who are caregivers, and we encourage our employees to prioritize their families. This includes offering 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave so UpKeep parents have time to bond with new family members. We also emphasize the importance of mental health and offer Modern Health for all of our team, which provides up to eight coaching sessions and eight therapy sessions per year – and other great virtual tools – to help prioritize mental health.
Notably, we share tips and tricks on setting boundaries and working in this remote/hybrid world. For example, when employees are taking PTO, we encourage them to set “out of office” messages on Slack so teammates know not to reach out during PTO.
What do you do to gauge team members’ work-life balance? If it appears to be imbalanced, what do you do to help right the ship?
We like to say “work-life harmony” rather than “work-life balance,” the idea being that we can all achieve both our professional and personal goals. Having a management team that genuinely cares about their people is a huge component of this. Our managers strive to lead by example to show our team how mastering this harmony has a positive impact on our mental and physical health.
Open communication is key, especially in a remote environment. As a company, UpKeep conducts a bi-annual engagement survey where each department can gauge their teams’ morale, work-life harmony, and overall happiness working at UpKeep. Each department lead then reviews their team’s answers and, in collaboration with their team leaders, comes up with a course of action for any notable themes that arise.
Personally, I check in with my team weekly during one-on-ones, and I know the rest of our leaders are diligent in doing the same. I ask questions to gauge not only how things are going at work but also spend time checking on how they are feeling in general. If anyone on my team expresses any concerns, we get together to understand what the root cause may be and discuss what I can do to help adjust and assess their workload.
What benefits have you seen when your teams have good work-life balance?
We believe having a hybrid-remote culture gives our team the flexibility they need to achieve work-life harmony by building a work life and a personal life that suits them best.
We believe having a hybrid-remote culture gives our team the flexibility they need to achieve work-life harmony by building a work life and a personal life that suits them best.”
We value every single employee and want to contribute to their health and happiness. Having a flexible work culture allows our team to connect more, collaborate with one another, be creative, and perform to their fullest potential.
Our organization also places a heavy emphasis on transparency. We have a monthly meeting with all members of our team to discuss our company goals and what each department is doing to help reach them. Our leaders also embody these values and have honest and open dialogue with their teams. This plays a big role in building trust and empowering each individual on the team to feel like they can confidently have open communication with leadership.
Beyond Limits’ hybrid approach to AI, combining numeric AI techniques delivers intuitive cognitive reasoning and information to aid human-like decision making.
How do you encourage your team members to maintain a good work-life balance?
In today's fast-paced work environment, prioritizing the well-being of our employees is crucial for both team productivity and individual health. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance within organizations can be achieved through encouragement from team leaders. Our attitudes and behaviors directly impact the work-life balance of our team members. I proactively encourage and support my team in achieving a healthy equilibrium. By fostering open and active conversations, we not only cultivate trust among team members, but also empower other managers to consistently evaluate and support the work-life balance of each employee.
What do you do to gauge team members’ work-life balance? If it appears to be imbalanced, what do you do to help right the ship?
Effective communication serves as the cornerstone for addressing burnout and ensuring optimal employee performance. It is through open dialogue that we uncover the first key signs of work-life balance issues and prioritize communication over performance. My goal is to create a safe space for all team members to share their challenges, whether work-related or personal, through an open-door policy. This enables me to identify the root of the problem and provide the necessary support needed. By having a reliable backup system in place for critical tasks and projects, I'm able to alleviate certain stressors that can burden team members. This may include: re-tasking, shifting priorities, providing additional support, and facilitating time away from work when needed.
What benefits have you seen when your teams have good work-life balance?
Ensuring a healthy work-life balance for our employees yields numerous benefits that are essential for the success and well-being of our organization.
Ensuring a healthy work-life balance for our employees yields numerous benefits that are essential for the success and well-being of our organization.”
By prioritizing work-life balance, we foster improved collaboration among team members, leading to enhanced team velocity and efficiency in handling tasks and tickets. Furthermore, a balanced work-life equation promotes greater team cohesion, creating a supportive and harmonious work environment.
The positive impact extends to the quality of work produced, as folks experience reduced burnout and are able to consistently deliver high-quality results. Moreover, by promoting work-life balance, we enhance employee retention, as individuals are more likely to feel valued and satisfied in their roles. This, in turn, translates into better overall performance, increased motivation, and a willingness to take on additional responsibilities. Ultimately, the investment in work-life balance is a win-win situation, benefiting both our employees and the organization as a whole.
