Balancing employees' work and home life

 

As the lines between work and personal life continue to blur, especially in our increasingly digital world, many HR managers and employers are seeking ways to help their employees maintain a healthy balance.  

 

At Verve Healthcare, we understand the importance of this balance for creating a healthy, happy and productive workforce. That's why we recently sat down with Katherine Walker, a former Director at Shell turned psychotherapist and leadership coach, to discuss this crucial topic. 

 

Katherine, who recently published her book "Step Up: Step Parenting and the Art of Creating a Happy, Healthy, and Blended Family", shared valuable insights on how the dynamics of home life can impact work life and vice versa. Let's explore some of her key points and how they can be applied in your workplace. 

 

Katherine emphasises that our home and work lives are deeply interconnected. "Who we are affects our environment, and our environments affect us," she explains. This means that when employees come to work, they bring a bit of their home life with them, whether consciously or unconsciously. Similarly, when they return home, they carry the impact of their work day. 

 

 

Katherine stresses the importance of workplace culture in managing the work-home balance. "HR have a huge responsibility when it comes to the formation of the culture in the workplace," she notes. A supportive culture can help employees thrive both at work and at home. 

 

 

Interestingly, Katherine points out that workplaces often replicate family dynamics. Bosses may unconsciously take on parental roles, while colleagues might remind us of our siblings. Understanding these dynamics can help you create a more nurturing work environment. 

 

Just as blended families face challenges when new members join, workplaces can experience similar dynamics with new hires or leadership changes. Be mindful of these transitions and provide support to help everyone adjust. 

 

Katherine suggests that personal development work can be beneficial for employees, especially those transitioning to new roles or departments. Consider offering resources or programmes that support self-reflection and growth. 

 

Create spaces where employees feel safe to discuss their challenges, both work-related and personal. This could be through regular check-ins, team meetings, or dedicated wellbeing sessions. 

 

One interesting concept Katherine discusses is 'masking' - where employees hide parts of themselves or their struggles to fit in at work. While some level of masking is normal and even necessary in professional settings, excessive masking can lead to stress and burnout. 

To address this: 

 

 

Based on Katherine's insights, here is what you can do: 

 

 

Katherine emphasises that a strong, positive culture is key to supporting employee wellbeing. "A really solidly embedded positive culture... is really going to be the difference between whether people feel safe or unsafe," she explains. 

 

To build this culture: 

 

 

While employees are ultimately responsible for managing their own work-life balance, HR plays a crucial role in creating an environment that supports this balance. By implementing the strategies discussed above, you can help your employees navigate the complex interplay between their work and home lives. 

 

As Katherine points out, "Teams are made up of individuals."  

 

By supporting each individual's wellbeing, you're contributing to the overall health and productivity of your organisation. 

 

At Verve Healthcare, we're committed to helping you create a healthy, happy and productive workforce. If you'd like to learn more about how we can support your organisation's wellbeing strategy, please get in touch. Together, we can build a workplace where everyone can thrive, both professionally and personally.