Transcript Work-Life Balance

Work-Life Balance
Developed by
Mara J. Briere, MA CFLE
[email protected]
pending
Opening Activity
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Worksheet
Please put your name and address on the
envelope inside the self-addressed and
stamped envelope with my name and
address! Pick a date for next week and
write it where the stamp should go…
Objectives
Define terms
Identify issues related to balancing roles
Explore options for improving role
effectiveness
Select one strategy to experiment with
Implement and evaluate
Work-Life balance is…
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The Association for Work/Life Progress
(AWLP) defines work/life in the following
way: “The term ‘work-life,’ in the broader
sense, defines ‘policies, programs,
services, and attitudes within a company
that are specific to fostering the wellbeing of its employees through the
effective management of work, family,
and personal life.”
What is Work-Life Balance?
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The Work & Family Connection has developed this
definition. “Work-life is the practice of providing
initiatives designed to create a more flexible, supportive
work environment, enabling employees to focus on work
tasks while at work.
It includes making the culture more supportive, adding
programs to meet life event needs, ensuring that policies
give employees as much control as possible over their
lives, and using flexible work practices as a strategy to
meet the dual agenda – the needs of both business and
employees.”
Benefits to Employers
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reduced staff turnover rates
becoming a good employer or an employer of
choice
increased return on investment in training as
employees stay longer
reduced absenteeism and sick leave
improved morale or satisfaction
greater staff loyalty and commitment
improved productivity
Spillover…
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Work-family spillover is defined as the
extent to which participation in work
impacts participation in family
(DeGenova, 2008, p.223).
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Strengths from your family provides you
with strengths in your work and vice versa
(Steward & Olson cited in Appel & Kim-Appel, 2008, p.222).
How do you define your own
work life balance?
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What are your Values?
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What’s important to you?
What makes you happy ?
What did you write down earlier?
What are the Barriers?
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time, stress, dual career family, lack of support from
family, supervisor, peers
Work
Relationships
Self-Care
Work Life Triangle
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Work ( what we do, careers, housework,
chores, etc)
Relationships (personal, friendships,
partners, spouses, children
Self-Care (spiritual, physical, intellectual,
emotional, health, wellness, exercise)
Pros and Cons of Work & Family
DeGenova (2008)
Work fulfillment & the family
Work, stress & the family
Multiple roles can be beneficial for the
overall health and well-being of
families
Job stress affects family relationships,
i.e. role strain otherwise called “role
overload”
Parent has a sense of well-being &
success
Difficult to attain family or work goals
Added income
Employee well-being declines,
including physical health
Social support
Separation from family due to travel,
long hours
Satisfying work yields positive
outcomes for the family
Less cohesive marital & family
relationships
Coping Strategies
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Positive Self-Talk
Simplify your life
Be self cognizant– schedule time for yourself
Plan Ahead / Prioritize
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
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Write a mission statement / contract (Covey
handout )
Ask for WHAT you need… (from family, work,
friends etc) and
Delegate!
Strategies
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Avoid “can’t” when you mean, “won’t”
Time manage
Learn to say, “NO!” (You CAN say, “I’ll get
back to you & buy yourself time to think.)
You can also say “NO” by saying “Yes!” to
something else. Be positive
Appreciate
Use your slogan cards
More Coping Strategies
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Personalize your workspace
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Eat nutritiously
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Try something new
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SLEEP – (8hrs/night)
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BREATHE deeply and often
More thoughts…
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Look at your expectations. Are they
reasonable?
Deal with problems as they appear.
Let it GO!
Make time for FUN!
Develop & maintain supportive
relationships
Stay healthy!
Avoid!!!
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Should
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Ought
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Must
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Have to
Serenity Prayer
God,
Grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.
Serenity Prayer Grid
ACCEPTANCE
Things I cannot
change…
How can I accept the
things I cannot
change?
COURAGE
Things I have control
over…
The steps I can take
are…
Give yourself permission and
accept that…
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Some things are out of my control
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Life happens…
It’s not all or nothing
We are not meant to be perfect
Be willing to be willing!
Live your life one day at a time. Make
today the best day!
One thing I will do to improve my
work life balance…
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Today…
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Tomorrow…
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The next day…
Adaptive Strategies
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Value family
Strive for partnership, i.e. equality &
partnership including division of family
labor including housework, child care,
decision-making, respect, appreciation,
interpersonal support.
Deriving meaning from work
Maintaining work boundaries
More Adaptive Strategies
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Focusing & producing at work
Prioritizing family fun
Taking pride in dual earning
Living simply
Making decisions proactively
Valuing time
Adaptive Strategies (Haddock et al cited in DeGenova, 2008, p. 224)
Bibliography
Beattie, Melody Gratitude: Affirming the Good Things in Life,
Hazeldon, Ballantine Books, N.Y., 1992
Benson, Herbert. The Relaxation Response, Avon Paperback, 1975
Brown, Barbara B. Stress and the Art of Biofeedback, Harper &
Row, 1977
Carlson, Richard. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Hyperion, 1997
The Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Workbook, Hyperion, 1998
Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Simon
& Schuster, 1989
First Things First, Simon & Schuster, 1994
Bibliography: Stress
Gawain, Shakti Creative Visualization, Bantam Books, USA, 1985
Hay, Louise L. You Can Heal Your Life, Hay House, Inc., 1987
Holmes, Ernest Science of Mind, Dodd, Mead & Co., N.Y., 1938
McWilliams, Peter. Life 101, Prelude Press, 1994
Sark. The Bodacious Book of Succulence, Simon & Schuster, 1998
Sark’s Journal and Play Book, Celestial Arts, 1993
Sheehy, Gail Passages, Bantam Books, USA, 1984
Shoshanna, Brenda. 365 Ways to Give Thanks, Birch Lane Press, 1998
Weinstein, Marion Positive Magic: Occult Self Help, Earth Magic
Productions, Inc., NY NY, 1994
References
Appel, J., & Kim-Appel, D. (2008). Family systems at work: The relationship between family coping
and employee burnout. [Electronic Version]. The Family Journal, 16 (3), 231.
Covey, S. (N.D.) Crafting your personal mission statement. FranklinCovey Institute. Retrieved on
April 6, 2009, from http://www.franklincovey.com/mission_builder/Mission_Statement_Builder.pdf
DeGenova, M. (2008). Intimate relationships, marriages & families. 7th edition. Boston: McGraw Hill
Department of Employment and Industrial Relations (October 2, 2008). Retrieved on April 6, 2009
from http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/industrial/family/worklife/index.htm
Fitzer, M. (N.D.). What is your definition of work-life balance? Retrieved on April 6, 2009 from
extensionhr.osu.edu/Support%20Staff%20Handouts/Work%20Life%20Balance.ppt
Lombardo, L. (ND). A case for workplace flexibility. Families and Work Institute. Retrieved on April
6, 2009, from http://familiesandwork.org/site/search.html?keywords=work+life+balance&h=0