In an employee lunch and learn, a department head told a story that went this this; “my siblings don’t want to help. I moved in with my parents so I can care for my dad who suffers from Parkinson’s. I work here full time and then I go home and work as the family caregiver until it is time to come back here. I don’t have time to do anything and may not be able to keep my job because I can’t keep up with the stress at home and at work.”
A very large percentage of today’s work force is involved in family caregiving and can relate to this story. Because of caregiving, many suffer from low productivity, absenteeism, poor health, and poor work life balance. Poor employee health drives up health care costs. Over the last two decades, an industry has been created for work life balance and many organizations have entire departments but today, people feel more stressed and overwhelmed and work life balance seems like only a FANTASY while employer cost rises.
The good news is that work life balance is achievable.
There are two reasons why work life balance seems to be only a fantasy.
#1. It is poorly defined: Many people expect work-life balance to be a level of attainment. Work life balance is NOT a level of attainment. It is a process and a dynamic relationship between achievement, fulfillment and the factors that influence our choices and decisions. Achievement is primarily about “doing” such as getting things done and meeting goals and obligations. Fulfilment is about “being” such as feeling satisfied about your relationships and contributions.
#2. It is poorly measured: It needs the 3-pronged approach of awareness, values and choices. The trick is to look beyond what you want to achieve and how you want to feel. It works well when you look at the factors that influence the choices you make to achieve that everchanging balance. It could look like this; first you gain an awareness of what is causing your work life imbalance, then you look at your personal values, and then you select choices that will minimize your stressors and maximize your fulfillment.
In the next 5 article, I will discuss the five-step process that employers can take to help their caregiving employees to achieve work life balance, reduce absenteeism, increase self-care and personal wellness all of which will reduce employer cost and increase productivity and employee engagement. For more information about caring for your employees, please email to Stella@StellaNsong.com.
