Employers urged to rethink the future of work
Ever since the pandemic, workers are looking for more balance between their work and their lives. They look for it when they search for jobs and they mention it as a major reason when they switch employment.
The key to work-life balance seems to have come to the fore when employees were able to work from home. Doing so freed them up to spend time with their families and their friends.
They swapped commuting hours for leisure hours. They could work earlier or later to fit in with doctor’s appointments, important family occasions or even watching their children play soccer.
The work got done. On time. Productivity, research has shown, did not seem to suffer.
They felt happier, more relaxed and less stressed.
It was a revelation to many—not only in the United States, but around the world. They had no idea work-life balance could be this great.
Work-life balance has become entrenched
Now the big change has been confirmed in a new worldwide study by Mindspace, a global provider of flexible workspace. The big surprise, if anything, is just how entrenched work-life balance has become and how important it is for so many people.
Their survey found that:
• An astonishing nine out of 10 employees consider facilities for wellbeing to be critical when they choose where to work; and
• Eight in 10 expect support from their employers in achieving a work-life balance.
Although “quiet quitting” seems to be going away and many companies are insisting their workers return to the office, the survey shows that attitudes toward work-life balance are changing.
The result: Employee wellbeing has become a critical tool for empowering employee productivity and maintaining employee retention.
So much so, Mindspace says, companies will need to take this aspect of work into account if they are to remain competitive.
More holistic approach
With companies large and small gradually demanding their employees return to the office, now is the time for employers to rethink a future of work that incorporates flexible working options with regard to work hours and location, and that places more emphasis on benefits enhancing employee wellbeing," said Dan Zakai, Mindspace CEO and co-founder.
"This latest survey suggests that employees are taking a more holistic approach to their workplace – with growing expectations for hybrid work models, amenities that support work-life balance, or enhanced healthcare coverage. Companies that believe in returning to the office and want to retain their top talent should be forward-thinking and must recognize that built-in wellness amenities are not a luxury but a strategic necessity to promote wellbeing, to boost retention and to drive organizational success."
The survey found that the greatest benefit most employees enjoyed is flexible working hours.
Others mentioned are:
• Flexible working location
• Free healthy meals
• More vacation days
• Improved health insurance
• Physical amenities such as on-site gyms
The survey was conduced among 2,000 office workers across the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Israel.
Find out what matters for your workers' wellbeing
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