The Case For a Better Work-Life Balance
by Alastair Watts, Associate Consultant MadlinHanna Consulting
A recent Monster poll showed that more than 80% of the population felt that they were not happy with their work-life balance. Quite simply, people are feeling overworked. Worryingly the UK has been named the "unpaid overtime capital of Europe" with full-time employees who worked an average of an extra 6.4 hours per week without being paid. Research has demonstrated a link between working overtime and one’s risk of subsequent major depressive episodes. People are being overworked which has given rise to higher rates of poor mental health.
Increasing productivity
The idea that working longer hours increase productivity is simply a fallacy. UK productivity is far behind that of other EU nations, with its seemingly perpetual working day thought to be the main culprit. An inadequate work-life balance not only affects the mental state of employees but also affects the work they are producing as well. The lack of productivity in a long working day can also be explained by Parkinson’s Law: 'work expands to fill the time for its completion'.
Protect your top talent
Top talent may be able to go at a million miles per hour, but eventually, these superstars will run out of steam and become less productive. A better work-life balance ensures that teams do not become burnt out. We know from countless research articles that for millennials a healthy work-life balance is a top priority, often above money. Therefore, companies may have to change their working culture in order to attract and keep their future top talent.
Mutually beneficial
Ensuring a better work-life balance does not need to be seen as beneficial for employees and anti-business, on the contrary, it enables employees to flourish for their companies, deliver better work and subsequently make more money. At one stage, sick days were shown to cost British businesses £77 billion. For a competitive economy, we need a workforce that is productive and that comes from balance.
Corporate affairs is known to be an industry where switching off is impossible but the numbers stack up and show that having true work-life balance can only be better for your team and for your work.
MadlinHanna Consulting is a recruitment consultancy specialising in corporate affairs, covering public affairs, corporate communications and financial PR. Contact us on 020 8088 4102 for more information or a confidential conversation.