Work-Life Balance: Improved Health

It is common knowledge that stress is directly linked to different diseases. Numerous surveys have discovered that work is a leading cause of stress related illness and injury, such as stroke, heart disease, and mental breakdowns. A balanced life will improve both physical and mental health.

How to Improve Health:

• Awareness: A balanced lifestyle increases personal awareness, allow individuals to identify potential health problems early.

• Lifestyle: A balanced lifestyle automatically improves health. It encourages healthy choices and helps develop the body and the mind. 

INCREASED MORALE

Work-life balance is an effective tool to increase morale and improve company culture. Employees seek out companies that support healthy work life balance. The only factor more important than balance to job seekers is compensation. According to several surveys, work-life balance improves happiness and overall job satisfaction. Additionally, employees are more invested in companies that support their work-life balance. Work-life balance typically translates to employees who work harder and are more productive.

SIGNS OF AN IMBALANCE

The signs of imbalance are unmistakable. We see people suffering from poor health, burnout, and stress every day. For companies, this increases costs in the form of absenteeism, health costs, and turnover. If you recognize these signs in your life or your organization, take action immediately and focus on work- life balance.

Health Risks

Imbalance promotes poor health. Over time, this can lead to devastating, and possibly life changing consequences. More companies are taking an interest in the health and fitness of their employees. It is now in an organization’s best interest to do so. Healthy employees are productive, absent less, and their health care costs less. 

ABSENTEEISM

Poor health increases employee absenteeism and thus is a costly problem for employers. There are hidden and direct costs that must be paid when an employee is absent from work. 

Cost of Absenteeism:

• Sick pay: Employees with sick days are still paid, which is a direct cost.

• Loss of productivity:: Even with someone to work the position of the sick employee, the employee familiar with the job will be more productive. This is an indirect cost of sick days.

While most people who take time off are legitimately sick, stressed employees will take days off to catch up with personal obligations, and they usually feel justified doing so. 

BURNOUT

Most people know that overworked employees eventually burnout. Burnout is the physical and psychological response to long-term stress. 

Until next time... 

 

Sheryl Tuchman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP