Harmony of Life: Work and personal life should be in harmony rather than conflict with each other.

The term "work-life balance initiatives" refers to a group of HRM (Human Resource Management) practices, policies, and programs that are intended to assist employees in juggling their personal and professional obligations.

Work-life balance is defined as ''A state of equilibrium in which the demands of both a personal job and personal life are equal''(The Word Spy, 2002).

People crave work-life balance today, just as they did then. The only difference is in the needs of today's society, which has changed from what it was yesterday.

Why Is Work-Life Balance Important?

Your business gains when you assist your workers in striking a better work-life balance. As a result, your staff members may become less stressed and more effective.

Health and well-being:

 

Keeping a healthy work-life balance will help you avoid health issues like stress, depression,    and others. It can enhance physical and mental wellness.

Productivity:

Those who linked list their personal and professional lives are more likely to be productive and concentrated at work.

Relationships: 

Spending time with your loved ones, friends, and family is essential for sustaining healthy connections. These relationships may become strained if employment consumes more of one's time.

Fulfillment: 

Individuals require time for personal growth, interests, and hobbies. A healthy work-life balance makes these things possible.

Retention: 

Employers who encourage work-life balance are more likely to retain employees because they tend to be happier and happier with their jobs.

What Causes Poor Work-Life Balance?

A poor work-life balance can be caused by a number of conditions. Some of the more common ones are listed below:

Overwork :

A lack of balance between work and personal life may result in working long hours or regularly having to work outside business hours.

Lack of flexibility :

When employers aren't flexible with work schedules or don't offer work-from-home options, employees can find it difficult to balance work and personal responsibilities.

Poor Time Management: 

It can be challenging to successfully balance work and personal responsibilities when someone has trouble prioritizing their time.

Too much stress: 

It can make it difficult to leave the office, which can lead to an unbalanced lifestyle and burnout.

Unsupportive work culture: 

In an environment where work-life balance is not prioritized or if there is a culture that celebrates overwork, it can be difficult for employees to have a healthy balance.

Personal Obligations: 

It can be challenging to manage work with personal commitments, such as taking care of young children or elderly relatives, particularly if employers are unaccommodating.

Poor work-life balance can be brought on by a variety of personal and professional circumstances. To create a healthy balance, it is critical for both employees and employers to be aware of these issues and take action to solve them.

Are there other terms for Work-Life Balance?

Certainly, there are a number of additional phrases that are used to convey the idea of work-life balance. Some examples of these words are:

Work-life integration:

It is a concept that stresses how a person's personal and professional lives are linked and integral components of their total well-being.

Work-life harmony: 

The idea behind this phrase is that business and personal life should complement one another rather than oppose.

Work-life fit:

This phrase emphasizes that the right amount of work-life balance should be determined by the individual's own demands and preferences.

Although these phrases may have somewhat varied connotations, they all essentially allude to the notion of striking a good balance between one's obligations at work and those in one's personal life, such as family, hobbies, and other pursuits outside of work.

Finally, work-life balance is a concept that refers to achieving a healthy and satisfying balance between work responsibilities and personal life. A healthy work-life balance can lead to increased job satisfaction, better physical and mental health outcomes, and increased productivity at work. Achieving a work-life balance takes effort and prioritization, but it can lead to a more fulfilling and fulfilling life overall.

References :

23, J.E.J. et al. (2021) 12 examples of work-life balance initiatives, Criteria For Success. Available at: https://criteriaforsuccess.com/12-examples-of-work-life-balance-initiative [Accessed date 01 April 2023]

M, S. (2019) Work-life balance in HRM: Meaning, need, importance and techniques, Essays, Research Papers and Articles on Business Management. Available at: https://www.businessmanagementideas.com/human-resources-management/work-life-balance-in-hrm/20853 [Accessed date 03 April 2023]

What is work-life balance? (online)BambooHR. Available at: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/hr-glossary/work-life-balance [Accessed date 01 April 2023]

Why work-life balance is important (and how HR teams can improve it) (2022) Lattice. Available at: https://lattice.com/library/why-work-life-balance-is-important-and-how-hr-teams-can-improve-it [Accessed date 02 April 2023]