Work – Life balance: Benefits, factors and initiatives

Work –life balance (WLB) is a common challenge throughout the industrialised world. During the second half of 20th century, with work demands increasingly influencing on family and personal time at a faster pace, employers acknowledged the need of work-life balance programmes to facilitate employees maintain a healthy balance between the conflicting demands of their work and personal life. Work-life balance is a concept that supports the efforts of employees to split their time and energy between work and the other important aspects of their lives. Because many employees experience a personal, professional, and monetary need to achieve, work-life balance is challenging. Employers can assist employees to experience work-life balance by offering such opportunities as flexible work schedules, paid time off (PTO) policies, responsible time and communication expectations, and company-sponsored family events and activities. Organisations should undertake work-life balance programmes, as in their absence both men and women will be exposed to stress, depression and anxiety whereas their presence will make employees happier, more productive and loyal. There is a definite challenge for employees in India in handling work-life balance.