Work-life BalanceWhat it isWhat it isn’tHow to have it

Henry Ford Health SystemEmployee Assistance Program

Work-life Balance – What is it?

• Definition of Balance– The power or ability to decide an outcome by

throwing one’s strength, influence, support, or the like, to one side or the other

– Fine Arts: composition or placement of elements of design, as figures, forms, or colors, in such a manner as to produce an aesthetically pleasing or harmoniously integrated whole

Work-life Balance – What is it?• Consider two concepts:

1.Achievement

2.Enjoyment

Work-life Balance – What is it?• Meaningful daily Achievement and Enjoyment in

all aspects of the person’s life: Work, Family, Friends, and Self

• A vital factor in achieving a balance is making sure that the work portion does not overwhelm or dominate; and also, that it does not cause damage to the individual by way of negative stress

Negative Stress• Stress affects individuals differently• Some people cope, even thrive on pressure while

others find it difficult to cope under the same conditions and suffer negative stress as a result

• Negative stress – is the point at which stress no longer promotes performance but overwhelms and distracts from performance - Where symptoms become evident

Inverted U

Work-life Balance – What is it?• Definition has changed over time:

– 60s-70s – WLB was mainly considered an issue for working mothers, trying to balance the demands of their jobs with raising children

– 80s – Structural changes took place. For example, policies and procedures, along with benefits were added/changed to support WLB. Maternity leave, EAP’s, flextime, etc. Also in the 80s, men began concerns around their own work-life

– 90s – Really solidified WLB as an issue that was vital for everyone (men, women, singles, couples, parents, non-parents, etc.) Also generational studies began to show how employees were making choices about their jobs based on cultures of companies and their own Worklife issues

– 21st Century – is finding that many companies, though they’ve adopted policies to support WLB, many were not implementing them, or implementing them well.

Work-life Balance – What it is not• Work-life balance does not mean that there must

be equal balance across all aspects of an individual’s life

• The optimum work-life balance will not remain static but will vary over time

• The best work-life balance will be different for each person. There is no one size fits all in work-life balance

Activity• Take out a piece of paper• List 1-5 along the left side• Over the past week, name five (5) things you’ve

done to care for yourself or to reduce your stress level

• Share with a partner

Barriers to Balance• Time• Feeling Guilty• Climbing the Corporate Ladder• Failure to Set Limits• Can’t Say NO

Symptoms of Being Out of Balance• Physical: – Headaches, upset stomach, sleep disturbances,

changes in appetite, muscle tension, fatigue, heart palpitations

• Emotional:– Depression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty making

decisions, angry outbursts, resentment, feelings of powerlessness

• Personal:– Lost time with friends and loved ones, job

burnout, isolation – stopping social activities, relationship loss/difficulties, self medicating

Strategies To Improve Balance1.) Identify the sources in the workplace

2.) Identify the sources in life outside of work

3.) Know what your natural response typically is

Strategies To Improve Balance• Understand some things are beyond your control

to change• Take action to reduce or remove the stressor• Break problems down into smaller more

manageable pieces• Take a time management course• Replace negative relationships with positive ones• Adopt self – care practices• Develop outside activities – hobbies, social

events, education, etc• Seek advice from others• Commit to the notion that managing stress is a

permanent and ongoing activity

Strategies To Improve Balance• Learn to say no• Leave work at work• Track your time • Identify options at work and take advantage of

them• Bolster your support system• Know when to seek professional help (Contact

EAP)

Common Myths• Suffering from stress is a weakness• Keeping stress to yourself is the best approach• Other people or situations are to blame for your

stress and imbalance• Cutting back or eliminating social, sporting, or

personal interests will restore balance• Believing that there is a single solution

The Choice is Yours…Contract:

I (place your name here) will take back control of my life. I realize I have chosen to place (fill in the blank) before my own needs. Today I will choose to care for myself in large ways and in small by: (fill in the blank). I WILL do this now.

Did You Know?• According to one study, the number of employees

calling in sick because of stress tripled from 1996 to 2000

• An estimated 1 million workers are absent every day due to stress

• Over half of the 550 million working days lost annually in the U.S. from absenteeism are stress related

• A 1997 three year study found that 60% of employee absences could be traced to psychological problems that were due to job stress

Did You Know?• Consider these statistics:

– 40% of job turnover is due to stress– 60-80% of accidents on the job are stress related– In California, the number of Workers’ Comp claims

for mental stress increased by almost 700 percent over eight years and 90% were successful with an average award of $15,000 compared to the national average of $3,420

– Another study found those individuals working 11 hours a day or more, were 67% more likely to experience a heart attack. Those who work between 10-11 hours a day had a 45% higher risk

9 Questions to Ask 1. What would Work/Life Balance in your organization look

like?2. What are the organizational strengths that support

Work/Life Balance at every level?3. What are the challenges in creating Work/Life Balance in

your organization?4. What needs to be done to over come the challenges?5. Who else needs to be involved?6. Within your work position what can you do to create

Work/Life Balance for yourself and your organization?7. What are you doing to create Work/Life Balance for

yourself?8. Are there any programs or policies at work that you are

not using that could be helpful?9. Are you taking the time to remember to breathe every

day?

2 Leg Strategy for Companies1. Organizations adopt policies, benefits, and

procedures to address work-life balance problems, however, at it’s core work-life balance is more an individual issue that affects the organization, than it is an organizational issue that affects the individual – Therefore…

2. Need to address what an individual employee and manager can do for themselves to create their own best balance

Suggestions for HRA. Leg One

1 Reinforce through better communications what you are already doing

2 Abolish internal Friday afternoon meetings3 Give a half day off on Fridays if the individual has put in the

incremental hours earlier in the week4 Endorse working from home one day per week5 Offer subsidies for off-site exercise6 Create and support athletic teams7 Provide one or two days off with pay for approved

community involvement8 Create and encourage an annual or quarterly “bring your

family to work” day9 Establish a “disconnect from work” vacation policy – no cell

phones or lap tops10 Create a more accommodating “on and off ramp” policy for

those who leave the firm, especially if it is to spend time with family.

Suggestions for HRA. Leg Two

Since work-life balance is as unique as the individual, a company cannot create it for the employee - HOWEVER

An organization can make sure that their employees and leadership have the skills and common language to positively create something for themselves• Implement a Work-life training program that is

“Dual Purpose” – meaning has application both at work and at home

• i.e. Time management skills, relationship building, project management tools, work life goal creation and attainment, etc

Questions• For any questions regarding these

services or any other EAP concerns, please contact the HFHS EAP directly at:

– (313) 874-7122 or toll free at (888)-EAP-HFHS