Work and a career are an important part of many of our lives, from helping us to pay the bills to giving us a sense of purpose.
However, it’s important to remember that work is just a part of our lives. While it may feed into many aspects of life, it’s important to find a balance that gives us some time away from the stresses of the office to enjoy other aspects of our personal lives.
The traditional pattern of working 9am-5pm, five days a week and with limited holiday allowance and a fixed salary at the end of the month, is changing as the world of work evolves.
Employees are seeking more beyond their monthly salary, as they look to gain more varied opportunities and to work more flexibly around the other commitments in their busy lives.
Organisations are accepting the value of flexible and part-time working patterns as employees become more committed to their roles, offering perks such as childcare vouchers, competitive pension schemes and health insurance to retain employees.
Many organisations offer the opportunity to work from home, which can give employees a welcome break and save them time to use for other activities. Other companies provide travel opportunities as part of an employee’s role, with many employees keen to travel as part of their work. Such opportunities can provide a wealth of experience.
One of UK’s best places to work is Google, which has extremely creative ideas linked to work-life balance. These ideas include massage sessions, music lessons, and various outings such as picnics, parties and even ski trips. Employees who become fathers are given six weeks’ paternity leave, which is three times the statutory allowance.
Another big change in large corporate companies is the supporting of its employees in voluntary work. There has been a growth in the number of employees expanding their skills/experience by volunteering alongside their paid roles, usually outside their paid working hours; however, many companies can see the value of encouraging employees to gain such experience and the fact that it will help the employer’s own brand.