Why HR Departments Should be Promoting a Better Work/Life Balance

When employees work too many hours, their mental health is at risk. It's that simple. Burnout, anxiety, and depression can all come about or be made worse by too much time spent at work. HR departments have a duty of care to look after employee wellbeing, and that means promoting a better work/life balance and encouraging employees to take some time out.

There are all sorts of things you could do to build a culture where a good work/life balance is the norm. For starters, you could offer more flexible working arrangements. When people have other commitments outside of work, worrying about those responsibilities can affect their performance. If you offer them flexible working, they can work around commitments and be more focused.

You could also implement time management training, to see that employees are working better as opposed to working more. Encouraging digital downtime is also helpful. When people feel obliged to answer work emails at weekends or late at night, they need to be assured that their personal time should be their own.

Finally, ensure people are taking all the holidays they are entitled to. Some people are too afraid to take time out of the office for fear of missing something or being out the loop when they return. Holidays are vital for their family and social lives, so they need to know they won't be judged for taking a week off here and there.

When you promote a better work/life balance among your employees, you lower the risk of them burning out. It's simple enough to do and everyone wins as a result.