Today, most French workers consider that their well-being in business depends on their ability to balancing work and personal life. Indeed, behind each collaborator, there is a parent, a friend, a lover... People with varied individual situations, sometimes in contradiction with The constraints of the world of work.
The development, mental health and commitment of your teams are key factors that directly impact their ability to contribute to the success of your business. Finding a balance between their well-being and their performance is a complex challenge that many businesses face. Defender of human management, J2BD Partners knows this type of challenge. Discover their applicable solutions for reconciling private and professional life of your employees in favor of your global development.
#1 Effective internal communication: the basis for well-being at work
Establishing a transparent and open dialogue with teams is essential to define the direction to follow and understand everyone's expectations.
By fostering a climate of trust, employees are more likely to share their needs, ideas, and concerns. The opportunity for the manager to identify expectations and to understand the behaviors and actions of his employees.
This feedback can be initiated:
- In maintenance, upon hiring or during individual feedback sessions.
- Through instant communication tools, emails and project management software are effective channels for encouraging employees to express their needs and explain their situation.
- With the implementation of a personalized satisfaction questionnaire, addressing aspects such as working hours, flexibility, support for young parents and suggestions for improving well-being and the quality of team cohesion.
In return, and to maintain their motivation, the manager must remain accessible and value the successes of his employees.
In addition to strengthening healthy exchanges, this approach creates a work environment where employees feel heard and valued.
#2 Train your employees in work-life balance
Between family obligations, civic and associative commitments and leisure activities, employees must organize themselves and anticipate their multiple responsibilities.
While this skill is not innate, it is acquired through in-house training. Use business coaches, install tools and offer online training... All provide practical and psychological advice to:
- better manage your time,
- integrate personal activities into their daily routine,
- delegate and optimize the workload,
- establish a healthy balance between professional and personal life.
These lessons are also extremely beneficial for business managers and managers, offering them solutions that are applicable to their own situation.
#3 Ensuring employee well-being: signs to look out for
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in ten French workers suffer from stress at work. This problem affects 54% of managers and 47% of senior categories.
For fear of being misinterpreted and being seen as signs of weakness, few employees dare to report their exhaustion or their Unhappiness at work. However, it is up to managers to detect the early signs of physical and emotional fatigue before burn-out occurs or sick leave is placed on the desk. Insure the employee well-being is also an integral part of management responsibilities.
Here are the warning signs of burn-out:
- A significant increase in the absenteeism rate.
- An increasing recurrence of mistakes made at work.
- Obvious physical manifestations of fatigue.
If any of these situations occur, it is recommended to give the employee a day of rest or to reduce their workload or hours in the office. This prevents exhaustion from getting worse and promotes the employee's recovery.
#4 Give flexibility to schedules
Obligations related to working hours are often at the heart of the difficulties for reconciling professional and personal life. Depending on family circumstances and constraints related to transport, nursery and school schedules, administrative or medical appointments... Here are some solutions to consider:
- Establish a weekly hourly quota, while allowing the employee the flexibility to allocate their time according to their personal commitments.
- Offer remote working opportunities. It is often surprising to see the increase in productivity when working from home.
- Offer flexible leave for parents, family caregivers or in case of emergency.
This approach allows your employees to manage their professional and personal schedules while respecting work requirements. It also shows that you see them not only as members of the company, but also as individuals with lives outside the office.
#5 Create moments of relaxation at work
Personal life is the decompression valve that is essential to a good person's psyche. Thus, when it is impossible to rearrange schedules to take care of yourself, offering an hour of extra-professional activity within the company can be a valuable solution. This allows employees to recharge their batteries, rest, recharge, and free themselves from work-related stress.
For example, some businesses have a game room, a gym, a massage room, a library, or a cafeteria with comforting treats. Google, for example, has established a “20% program” that allows their teams to devote 20% of their time to activities with high creative potential, such as drawing, acting, or writing.
These recreational breaks promote personal development beyond the professional framework. This renewed energy is becoming a driver of innovation for the company. Employees reduce their stress, become more productive and dynamic, and above all prevent the risk of burn-out. This attention is particularly appreciated for Retain Generation Z, very concerned about her well-being.
Recognizing and respecting the personal needs of your employees is an essential component of corporate well-being. When employees feel supported in managing their balance between professional and personal life, they are happier, less stressed and more invested in their work. In addition, a company that values this balance strengthens its reputation as an employer who cares about its employees, which can attract top talent.
Finally, the best way to create and promote this balance is to lead by example as a leader. By adopting practices such as managing your own work schedules, taking time off, and delegating, you inspire your employees to follow your path guilt-free.
