11-26-2014, 11:43 PM
- Reduces absenteeism
Increases productivity
Improves morale and working relationships
Decreases stress
Attracts new employees
Helps retain current employees
That makes sense. In today's hectic pace of life, employees are drawn to - and stay with - organizations that help them find balance and personal satisfaction. Nonprofits are no exception. While people may be drawn by a passion for the mission, they will burnout or be turned off if their work-life balance is off kilter for too long.
How to implement work-life balance initiatives
In practical terms, setting up work-life balance initiatives involves the following considerations:
Lots of consultation:Work-life balance initiatives need to be based on your employees' needs, so find out what initiatives would enhance their sense of work-life balance. In smaller organizations, this could be a deliberate one-on-one discussion while in larger organizations this could involve a formal survey.
Buy-in and change management support:Consulting with your staff also provides the chance to talk through any concerns and resistance (see "Dispelling myths") to understand potential resistance and how you can respond. In order for any work-life balance initiatives to be successful, they must not only support employees but also must fit with the needs of the organization. Educate your staff, senior management and the board of directors about the rationale for work-life balance initiatives and how they will benefit employees and the organization. Address concerns and talk openly about challenges and how you will deal with them. Success requires commitment from all staff and the board of directors so this step cannot be underestimated. Depending on your organization's culture, change may be easier (or more difficult) to handle.
Develop a plan:Think through and talk through the logistics of your proposed work-life balance initiatives. For instance:
How will you handle office coverage?
What internet security measures do you need for tele-working employees?
How will you deal with inter-office communication so that everyone is "in the loop"?
How will you monitor hours, productivity or deadlines?
Set yourself up for success and avoid an overly ambitious plan. Start slowly and modestly.
Policies and procedures:To support your work-life balance initiatives it is imperative to have clearly written policies and procedures so that they are consistently administered and followed.
Trial period :Set a trial period to see how work-life balance initiatives will work for your organization and how employees handle alternate situations. Make sure your trial covers a representative time period to make sure that your work-life balance initiatives are truly realistic. Another benefit to a trial period is that it often helps people accept change because it is not (at least initially) a permanent change.
Adjust:At the end of the trial period, ask for recommendations and adjust your initiatives to make them work better for everyone. This is another opportunity to deal with challenges or resistance.
Promote:As part of your staff evaluation process, promote your organization's work-life balance initiatives so that all staff is aware of the options.
Ongoing evaluation:Staff needs and organizational needs will change. Set a review period for evaluating your initiatives.