In an earlier post I talked about how entrepreneurs need to make work life balance as high a priority as shipping their product. And it should come as no surprise to anyone that work life balance is just as important for the entire team as it is for its leader.
How does work life balance affect employee performance?
It is obvious that increasing a team’s wellness lowers health costs for the business and increases productivity because of fewer sick days. An even more impactful benefit can also come from increased employee engagement.
The term employee engagement refers to the emotional commitment an employee has to the organization and its goals. The Gallup company regularly publishes results of their global survey that measure employee engagement and recent results are just 13% of workers are actively engaged. And that is a big problem for business.
Low employee engagement leads to high turnover, poor customer service and, as Gallup has found, overall lower revenues, profitability and growth. So smart companies are not sitting still.
How are companies driving employee engagement with work life balance programs?
Many have begun employee wellness programs specifically with the goal of improving engagement. A recent HBR post talks about TURCK, whose CEO Dave Lagerstrom, wanted to create a work culture that supported all aspects of employee well being — including physical health and work life fit. His program included walking paths and exercise breaks led by peers. These acts, plus others, contributed to engagement rates over 90%.
And even companies like Google, Target and General Mills are offering courses to help employees practice mindfulness as a means to reduce stress. As many of us know, yoga practice is an incredibly effective way to improve your mindfulness and find your center.
At Grokker, we strive to live our values. And thus, when we’re not filming, anyone can take advantage of the yoga mats and balls in the studio. And it’s not uncommon to see Morgan in a handstand.
How can employees improve work life balance and work engagement?
In today's business environment, it's important build work/life balance into your culture. Here are a few ideas that can improve work life balance and work engagement:
- Offer flexible work hours and remote work opportunities for employees
- Focus on productivity and project completion, not hours
- Provide fitness stipends for virtual or in-person fitness
- Offer nutrition support, coaching, and meal stipends
- Encourage mental health breaks throughout the day
- Offer wellbeing and mindfulness coaching
- Evaluate your PTO policy
- Support diverse families
Final Thoughts: Employee Engagement and Work Life Balance
If you are an executive looking to improve your team’s wellness and engagement through better work life balance, we always suggest starting off small. Try a mid-day exercise break that you and your team can do together. One of the low-impact options here could be one way to start. Or maybe your team is on deadline and feeling stressed out? Why not take an empty office or other quiet area and furnish it with a yoga ball and mat. Nearby, have an iPad with this collection of stress-relieving yoga videos for people to practice alone or as a team.
If you need a more holistic approach and want to take make bigger strides in improving employee engagement, then consider Grokker. Grokker is the award-winning wellbeing engagement solution that empowers employees to take control of their physical and emotional health with personalized programs and a caring community of experts to encourage them all along the way. Grokker’s proprietary whole person approach integrates and inspires with its proven method of connecting employees to colleagues and content. No matter where they are, Grokker supports the entire workforce so they can maintain physical fitness, eat better, sleep more soundly, address their emotional health and calm financial stress.
Trusted by industry leaders, including Pinterest, Delta Air Lines, Pfizer, eBay, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Domino’s, Grokker's modern, affordable solution builds happier, healthier and more resilient workforces. Learn more at www.grokker.com.
