WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Presentation by Outer Limits
Work/Life Balance – Presentation Outline
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Introduction: scope and definition Questionnaire & Discussion of Results Involvement of Work/Life Balance (Individuals & Managers) Company Involvement & Programs of Work/Life Balance Global Perspective: Differences between USA and EU Conclusions References
Introduction - Background
Work-Life balance is important to Generation X (1965-74) 79% of Xers are not willing to sacrifice personal goals for careers Xers committed to work but want to decide how, where and when they get the job done.
Work-Life balance – Creating Definition
Daily achievement and enjoyment in four
quadrants of life:
Work Family Friends Self
Work-Life balance – Creating Definition
Achievement
Enjoyment
Successful career Better income Newer house Funding children’s education
Pride Satisfaction Happiness Self-realization
WORK/LIFE BALANCE Definition
Work/Life Balance is the synergism of a
variety of life areas that is unique for each individual
Are You Slipping Off the Edge?
SCORING: How many Trues did you circle? 9-11 Danger zone—need rescuing
5-8
1-4
Losing your grip
Good balance—keep it up
What happens when we are imbalanced?
What will it do for you?
A solid work/life balance will give you…
Energy Accuracy Innovation Patience Motivation
Julie Morgenstern, Never Check Email in the Morning, p. 21-22
Myths & Misconceptions
Myth #1: The ideal life is worry-free
Recognize that everyone has problems or
challenges in their lives
―Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. . .Once we know that life is difficult – then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.‖ – Dr. M. Scott Peck
The grass is NOT always greener
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Myths & Misconceptions
Myth #2: Balance means equalizing the
scale Do not think of work/life/balance in terms of spending equal amounts of time on any given priority. The challenge is not to ―Balance‖ work/life, it is in ―Balancing‖ work/life. Keeping your life in balance is a fluid, ongoing process.
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Myths & Misconceptions
Myth #3: Faster is Better
Getting things done
faster each day does not mean that you are taking any steps closer to work/life balance
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Myths & Misconceptions
Myth #4: Work and Family are natural
enemies Work and personal life are not competing priorities but complementary ones.
vs
FAMILY
WORK
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
We all want to know . . . HOW?
How do I do a good job at work and still have
time for my family? How do I make time for myself or other priorities? How do I achieve life/work/balance with today’s family issues, work stress, and economic challenges? How do I manage to do everything that needs to get done?
3 Gotta Do’s
Validate Expectations 2. Optimize Efforts 3. Develop ―Navigational Intelligence‖
1.
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Validate Expectations
Align your expectations with reality – with the
way things really are – and with the timeless and universal principles that create the positive results you want to achieve ―Confront the Brutal Facts‖
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Take a good look at
your own expectations. Do they take into honest consideration of your own situation?
Example – ―Stockdale Paradox‖
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Optimize Efforts
With validated expectations, your efforts
toward work/life balance must be leveraged for maximum results to get the greatest return.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Begin to think in terms of
alignment and leverage. Make sure you’re not wasting time or money on activities that don’t encompass what is truly important to you
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Develop “Navigational Intelligence”
Develop your ability to effectively recognize
and respond to what matters most to you. Realize that success in work/life balance is more than simply planning and executing – it’s also developing the wisdom to make good choices in ―decision moments‖
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW Nurture your discernment capacity with meditation and wisdom literature; Strengthen your discernment with practice.
Roger & Rebecca Merrill, Life Matters
Add some PEP to your life!
Physical Health Making the commitment to your physical health will have a visible effect on your productivity. Escape Think about the activities that instantly transport you to a place of sheer joy. People There are people in your life who give you a sense of value, love, and connection. Spending time with them is essential to your being.
Julie Morgenstern, Never Check Email in the Morning, p. 25-32
The Role of Managers
1. Clarify what is important
Clearly inform employees about business priorities Encourage employees to be clear about where work falls in the spectrum of their overall priorities in life
Stewart D. Friedman, Perry Christensen, and Jessica DeGroot. ―Work and Life: The End of the Zero-Sum Game. Harvard Business Review on Work and Life Balance, p. 3-4
The Role of Managers
2. Recognize and support employees as ―whole people‖
Open-mindedly acknowledge and celebrate the fact that employees have roles outside of the office Understand that skills and knowledge can be transferred from one role to another and that boundaries need to be established
Friedman, et al., ―Work and Life,‖ p. 4
The Role of Managers
3. Continually experiment with the way work is done
Seek approaches that enhance the organization’s performance while creating time and energy for employees’ personal pursuits
Friedman, et al., ―Work and Life,‖ p. 4
Virtuous Cycle
Manager helps employees balance work lives with rest of their lives Employees’ performance improves; the organization benefits— kudos to the manager! Employees feel stronger commitment to the organization
Employees’ trust redoubles, as does their loyalty and the energy they invest in work
Friedman, et al., ―Work and Life,‖ p. 4
What do Companies Have to Offer?
Employers are increasingly beginning to offer work life programs to boost employee productivity and moral.
Small Company Programs
Analytical Graphic, Inc.,
Software Industry, Exton PA,
Corporate soccer & softball teams Outings coordinated for basketball, foosball, bowling, or flag football Fresh flowers are delivered weekly for special occasions or just because
Small Company Programs
Professional Placement Resources Health Care Staffing, Florida
Tuition reimbursement, work on volunteer initiative such as working in soup kitchens, food/clothing/blood drives Fundraising events to support farming communities around the world
Small Company Programs
VML, Marketing, Kansas City, MO 100% of health cares for employees & dependents During summer agency closes at Noon on Fridays 2 paid days off to do volunteer work On-site workout center and lounges with pool, foosball, darts and TVs Trinity Transport Transportation Services, Bridgeville, Del Points are given to employees for meeting individual or team goals or for getting annual physical or teeth cleaning. Points can be redeemed for gift certificates, merchandise or vacations. A company cookbook lets everyone share favorite recipes
Small Company Programs
Synapse Group Inc.
Direct Marketing, Stanford, Conn
Free catered lunches On-site car washes Free AOL and magazine subscription service at home 17 days off paid + employees can receive Get Out of Work Free Cards
Small Company Programs
Graniterock
Building materials, Watsonville, CA
Unlimited tuition assistance Pays living expenses for team members pursuing full-time degrees 100% paid health care coverage ESL courses Top-performers get balloon rides, weekend getaways, chauffeured limo trips to Hard Rock Café in San Francisco
Small Company Programs
Cxtec Computer Networking, Syracuse, NY Sponsor women’s softball team, employee golf league, bowling league, & basketball league Company choir & band Free home internet, DVD and TV Company holiday party &encourage volunteer work Vanasse Hagen Brustlin Engineering Scientific Services, Watertown Mass Work stops early on summer days Have a parking lot party Parents are given full freedom to exit a meeting early to attend a child’s event
Small Company Programs
Triage Consulting Group
Health Care Consulting, San Francisco, CA
One of the 5 guiding principles Triage has states: “Value an appropriate balance between one's personal life and professional time.” 4 weeks off day of cooking at the California Culinary Academy, SF Giants games, Laker Games, picnics and ski trips. Participate in volunteer activities such as charity food distribution and outdoor education for kids.
Small Company Programs
Insomniac Games, Inc
Entertainment Software, Burbank, CA
Ice cream hour, campus offers basketball, volleyball, putting green & gym Others programs include…….
Small Company Programs
Northeast Delta Dental Financial/Insurance, Concord, N.H. 100% paid health care premiums, vision, mental health and dental 80% tuition cost for undergrad and graduate courses Free fruit, a book club, after-hours use of the office for personal events
Navigator Systems, Inc.
Professional Services, Addison, Tx
No limit in vacation time 100% coverage of health care premiums.
Small Company Programs
Acuity
Insurance, Sheybotgan, Wis 24hr on site gym, off-site employees receive a $500 allowance to join health club in area bucolic campus provides a fully stocked pond where employees and families can fish any time and take home their catch
Small Company Programs
Eileen Fisher, Inc. Retail/wholesale apparel, Irvington NY $1,000/yr physical & mental self-improvement, spa days On-site wellness offers yoga, reflexology, massage, movement and self-healing employee’s celebrating 10yr anniv receive $5,000 for a trip + 1 extra vacation week BMW Financial Services Woodcliff Lake, NJ Free or discounted BMW 100% paid health (including dental & mental health) for employee & dependents Lifetime benefit of $30,000 for infertility treatment Subsidized company car and heath insurance for retirees & spouses
Health and Nutrition – Large Companies
REDUCED FITNESS MEMBERSHIPSMicrosoft
ONSITE FITNESS FACILITIES- Cisco Systems,
Medtronic, Microsoft, Principal Financial Group
MULTICULTURAL CAFETERIAS
ONSITE- Cisco Systems WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CLASSESGoldman Sachs, Wells Fargo
LUNCHTIME SEMINARSCisco Systems Wegman’s Groceries, Medtronic
The Vanguard Group,
COMPANY SPONSORED TEAMS MASSAGE THERAPY- Medtronic
Family – Large Companies
BACKUP CHILDCARE CENTERS TRANSITION PROGRAM ADOPTION ASSISTANCE MATERNITY/PATERNITYGoldman Sachs Goldman Sachs, American Express Goldman Sachs, Microsoft Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs, Eli Lilly, Medtronic
LAMAZE CLASSES ONSITE LACTATION CENTERS-
Principal financial group, Eli Lilly, Medtronic
Family – Large Companies
FLEX HOURS- Goldman Sachs, Medtronic, The Vanguard Group FAMILY LEAVEEli Lilly Medtronic
SICK CHILDCARE OPTIONS COLLEGE PLANNING-
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS- The Vanguard Group, Eli Lilly
The Vanguard Group The Vanguard Group
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN-
Stress Management – Large Companies
CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELING SERVICESThe Vanguard Group, Wells Fargo,
LEGAL COUNSELING-
American Express
Every Company
PROMOTIONAL STRESS BALLS-
Time Savers – Large Companies
DRY CLEANING- Eli Lilly CONVENIENCE MARKET- Eli Lilly BANKING- Eli Lilly, Wells Fargo, Bank of America,
Washington Mutual (most public banking institutions)
POSTAL SERVICES- Eli Lilly AUTOMOTIVE SERVICESGrocery Stores
Wegman’s
ON-SITE DENTISTRY-
Station Casinos
Possible Future Benefits for Small/Large Companies
HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES GROCERY DELIVERY DEPENDENT TUTORING TRANSPORTATION SHORT TERM ON-SITE RESIDENCE TELECOMMUTING HOURS PET SERVICES YOGA
Global Perspective
Do people in other countries have a different
perspective on Work-Life balance?
What are the differences between USA and
EU?
Allotted vacation time in developed countries
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Italy France Germany Canada etherlandsGreat Poland N Britain China USA
Amount of Vacation Days Received Average Amount of Vacation Days Each Employed Person Gives Back
Organizations
European Union European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working conditions Formal EU body –more impact Stronger social pressures to improve working conditions USA Some privately held or educational institutions Informal trends More of selfimprovement attitude than recognition of issue
EU and USA trend comparison
The Foundation is a European Union body established to work in specialised areas of EU policy (..) set up by the European Council contribute to the planning and design of better living and working conditions in Europe
Helping America’s Working Parents - What Can We Learn from Europe and Canada?
What’s next for the U.S.?
What are the differences driven by?
Social and personal values
Aren’t Americans concerned with their quality of
life?
Xers emphasize the balance
Can the U.S. maintain its economic superiority
while becoming more socially oriented?
Today’s and future leaders from generation X can change the status quo
Conclusion
Work/Life Balance is the synergism of specific life
areas that must be worked together in order to achieve optimal results. Work/Life Balance is an important aspect of life for Generation X. It takes individual and management involvement to attain work/life balance. Employers are increasingly beginning to offer work life programs to boost employee productivity and moral. There are clear differences between U.S. and other countries. What is the right ―Balance‖?
References
Morgenstern, Julie. "Never Check E-mail in the Morning." 2002: Glantz, Barbara, ―Balancing Acts.” 2004:
Merrill, Roger. "Life Matters." 2003: . www.GreatPlacetoWork.Com www.SHRM.org http://www.awlp.org/ http://www.worklifebalance.com http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/research/QuestionOfTheMonth/ archive/vacationtime.html http://www.eurofound.eu.int http://press.expedia.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=21 Keller, William L., Timothy J. Darby, and American Bar Association. International Labor Law Committee. International Labor and Employment Laws. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of National Affairs, 1997, 2002 Supplements
Questions?