Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is a term used to define the time needed for both work and other life activities, whether private or family-related. It is an essential aspect of a productive work environment. Sustaining work-life balance assists reduce stress and prevents exhaustion in the workstation. Personnel who engage in long shifts are at a high risk of developing fatigue, irritability, and reduction in performance. Work-life balance problems are caused by various reasons, including increased labor responsibilities, work hours, or home responsibilities. This essay describes the impacts of the work-life balance problem, sustainability of the trend, and enhancement of organization design to improve the balance in Baptist Health South Florida.
The work-life balance problem significantly impacts the organizational performance of Baptist Health South Florida. The institute is facing high levels of employee absenteeism and sickness since they receive less rest time. Furthermore, the quality of services provided in the facility is not as high as expected. Employees who work longer hours are usually tired and stressed; their effectiveness usually reduces with an increase in work time. The ’ ’organization’s competitiveness is also low since the employees have less morale and commitment to the hospital’s goals.
Furthermore, the work-life balance issue has affected the institution’s staff. They receive less time off and are occasionally absent for family events and occasions. Most employees have challenges in parenting and controlling their children since they spend a great deal of their period in the workplace. The staff has also developed health issues due to stress and inadequate rest. Moreover, they do not feel that the employer values their personal and family lives; therefore, they are not motivated and are less happy.
Work-life balance in an organization is essential for its growth and achievement of goals. Attaining this balance is challenged by the increase in demand for working hours and employee productivity. The establishment of new work-life practices for personnel requires gathering essential data to improve their overall work performance. Most staff members are usually concerned about dependent care. They have apprehensions about either childcare, aging parents, the disabled, or other people who depend on them.
Sustainability of the Work-Life Balance Trend in Baptist Health South Florida
The sustainability of the work-life balance trend involves various means. The formation of flexible work arrangements has enabled employees to work flexible hours. This option contributes to workforce acceptance of the work-life balance and allows time to participate in other activities. The staff also have the opportunity to select the start and finish time despite the worktime being high. Another factor is an increase in employees’ leaves of absence and vacations to improve work-life balance.
The extended working hours have long-term effects on individual health, and it sometimes leads to adverse mental health problems and increases the chances of suffering from high blood pressure. Insufficient sleep, associated with long work time, also leads to cardiovascular diseases and an increased risk of stroke and coronary heart diseases. Furthermore, long hours at work have been associated with high risks of depression and anxiety in employees. Besides affecting mental health, extended shifts may expose workers to harmful hazards such as noise, chemicals, radiations, vibrations, and extreme temperatures that cause profound health implications in the future.
Long working hours also lead to unhealthy behaviors such as physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. These conducts are mainly developed to cope with tiredness, fatigue, and stress caused by overworking. They affect job performance by causing poor decision-making, lower morale, and withdrawal effects which usually cause one to sleep while in the workplace. The relationship between the individual and other employees is also negatively impacted by these manners.
Recommendations
Many enhancements to the organizational design need to be made to support improvement in the work-life balance to facilitate a productive relationship between the managers and the employees for mutual benefits and improve corporate culture. Workers who balance the company’s demands on their time are more content and are committed to improving performance. Employers are also able to save more money and increase the quality of services they provide.
The business needs to use various ways to improve employee efficiency. It has to offer remote and flexible working for the workforce. A study conducted on professionals globally showed that institutions that allowed remote working had improved work-life balance, and the employees were satisfied and motivated (Felstead & Henseke, 2017). Instituting flexibility for employed parents will enable them to divide their shifts hence spending more time with their families. The research results using data from operational parents indicated that remote working and flexible work schedules among the individuals enrich parent-child interactions (Saxena, 2018). The employees are then able to develop a healthy work-life balance.
Moreover, the organization needs to improve efficiency by setting policies that restrict working hours for both staff and managers. These limits will allow personnel not to experience fatigue or stress and finish their work efficiently. Several research studies show that having a perfect definition of home and work time will allow employees to relax after their duties (Mendelsohn et al., 2019). There are various ways of implementing this policy in the institution. The organization should ensure that workers have no access to its services during a stated time and prohibit contact of the staff outside of specified operational hours.
Innovation plays a vital role in improving the work-life balance in an organization. The institution needs to implement conducive office environments that allow employees to feel comfortable in the workstation. Setting the offices to include quiet rooms and breakout rooms for the staff is essential since it provides quiet personal spaces. Studies show that a comfortable workplace environment affects employee performance (Mendelsohn et al., 2019). The findings from research conducted on organizations globally indicate that an improved work improvement leads to an increase in the quality of services provided.
The establishment of team-building exercises is another significant contributor to the enhancement of work-life balance. These exercises are essential for bringing the staff closer together and demonstrating how working together as teams can solve complex problems. It also offers an opportunity for the employees to break from the daily routine of sitting at a desk. Research has shown that team-building exercises can increase one’s engagement level to 50% (Saxena, 2018). These activities also encourage creativity, improve mental health, and strengthen the relationship between the staff and managers.
The organization needs to use advanced technology to develop a healthy work-life balance. The use of the right expertise improves workplace efficiency and increases productivity. Introducing the use of healthcare-related online apps can assist employees in checking and maintaining their health. Wellness applications are essential for identifying workers with health issues and helping them recover. Employees can use technology such as headspace to define work-life balance through meditation (Felstead & Henseke, 2017). The workforce can eliminate both emotional and physical health problems by using healthcare portals, hence developing a positive work-life balance. Organizations should also leverage laptops and other remote working equipment to support working from outside the office.
Conclusion
In conclusion, work-life balance is the state of equally prioritizing the demands of the workplace and those of personal life. The main reason for poor work-life balance is an increase in worktime and work-related activities. By allowing flexible shift schedules, remote working, and restricting working hours, employees can achieve work-life balance in an organization. It is essential for any business since it increases productivity and employee commitment.
References
Felstead, A., & Henseke, G. (2017). Assessing the growth of remote working and its consequences for effort, well-being and work-life balance. New Technology, Work and Employment, 32(3), 195-212.
Mendelsohn, D., Despot, I., Gooderham, P. A., Singhal, A., Redekop, G. J., & Toyota, B. D. (2019). Impact of work hours and sleep on well-being and burnout for physicians-in-training: The resident activity tracker evaluation study. Medical Education, 53(3), 306-315.
Saxena, R. (2018). Achieving work life balance through flexible work schedule: A conceptual study. Asian Journal of Management, 9(1), 307.