Work Life Balance

The question about work life balance is very causally asked in interviews these days by both interviewers and sometimes interviewees. Companies want to know how candidates feel about work life balance and the candidate also wants to know policies and how potential employers enable work life balance.  

Who is actually responsible for Work-Life-Balance? In my opinion, both employers and employees must play their part to maintain a healthy balance. There are many techniques discussed for employers like creating a supportive environment, setting realistic expectations, and promoting a healthy culture.  

I think the most important thing to do is set the right example. I have seen leaders sending emails during the weekend with urgent requests and at the same time telling team members that “we do not expect you to work during weekends, and/or respond to emails.” 

Leaders must lead by example and hold their concerns for the weekdays unless something is super urgent and must be addressed right away. If that is the case, they should be upfront and mention that even though it is the weekend, we need to address the matter at hand. If these are urgent and once in a while situations, I am sure the team members will understand and plan accordingly.  

Similar rules apply to team members. There are many undocumented rules including taking personal responsibility, establishing boundaries, communicating needs and concerns, prioritizing well-being, and seeking help when needed. I believe the biggest one is to communicate and trust. Team members often assume that leadership is responsible for creating an environment for work life balance. If they start communicating their needs and trust their leaders and expect their understanding, they can create a mutually agreed atmosphere of acceptance.  

One thing both sides need to understand is that the term “Balance” means to find personal and work time as needed and not bound to the clock. What I mean here is that as a team member, if I need to take care of some personal matters during the day, I should be able to. At the same time, if occasionally there is a work task that needs to be completed in odd hours, I should not feel overwhelmed about it. Balance cannot be found in following rigid 9 to 5 schedules.  It is more found in creating a trusting environment between team members and leaders.