I don’t know about you, but I always look forward to the Fourth of July. Especially the fireworks.
This year they were exceptional. The weather was wonderful. Not too hot, not too cold. The mosquitoes were down. People were joyful. Families were together. And the display was particularly spectacular.
I like to think of the Fourth of July and all its festivities as the beginning of summer and yet it’s more like summer’s pinnacle.
In fact, and please don’t think I’m a Debbie Downer, there’s a feeling in the air that summer is on the way out despite the hot sultry weather we’re experiencing as I write this.
Mostly, I think, this is because after the Fourth attention turns to the State Fair and the start of school. Yes, newscasters the other evening already reported “back-to-school” sales.
All this — I mean families together on the Fourth and how fleeting our Minnesota summers are — got me to thinking about work-life balance and what you do or could do to ensure that your employees can take advantage of summer before it’s over.
More to the point: what you do or can do year-round to fight the tendency for work to dominate your employees’ lives.
It’s probably not news to you that studies have shown too much work can lead to a variety of illnesses due to stress. It can sap an employee’s energy, make him or her more prone to errors, burnout, absenteeism and turnover.
On the other hand, you might be among the many employers who wrestle with work-life balance and what to do about it.
You’re not unusual, although that’s not good, either.
So here are eight helpful questions — and many bonus questions — you can start with in looking for work-life balance for your organization:
Making the changes these questions suggest won’t be easy. Change is never easy. But most companies need to take steps beyond promoting work-life balance policies during interviews, employee orientations and in handbooks. They need to promote them year round.
What better time to start than summer.
So try this:
Start out the second half of the year with a summer picnic.
Or, take your employees to a ballgame. (What about a trip to Target Field to watch the Twins? Woo-hoo! As of this writing, they’re in second place in the American League east with a 49-40 win-loss record. Or maybe take in a Saints game at their new CHS Field in St. Paul. The Saints are up 16.5 games in their league.)
Or you might go on a fishing trip.
Or to an amusement park.
Can you think of another way to demonstrate to your employees that it’s OK for all of you to live a little?
See you at the ballpark!
Your Solution Toolbox: Identifying Employees with a Knack for Finding a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Of course, an organization isn’t fully responsible for an employee’s work-life balance. Much if not most of this responsibility falls to employees as well.
So in hiring a candidate for your organization, what competencies strike you as critical for success to finding and managing a healthy work-life balance?
These immediately come to my mind:
Adaptability
Stress tolerance
Ability to delegate
Positive outlook
But, you ask, how can I determine whether a candidate or employee possesses these qualities and abilities?
With assessments.
Pardon me as I shamelessly promote Profiles International products: With Profiles International you’ll find a variety of products to fit a variety of needs. Further, you can tailor some specifically for you. Beyond this, they fit just about anyone's budget.
Now here are two that can help you find employees who are adaptable, who tolerate stress, who are able to delegate and who come to work daily thinking positively:
If you would like more information about the ProfileXT™, the Performance Indicator™, or any of Profiles International’s assessments, call me today at 952-322-3330 or send an email to mgorski@mgassessments.com.
HR Consulting
Call me, too, if you are looking for professional assistance with your personnel questions. We’ll help you learn how to:
Let's Talk! We offer a no-obligation consultation to informally assess your current policies, procedures and practices. This may help determine what's missing in your current programs. Again, call 952-322-3330 or send an email to mgorski@mgassessments.com.