Peruse job descriptions and you will find many companies stressing their commitment to work-life balance, the inclination to giving employees the time to achieve success in their professional and personal lives.  

Managing time at and away from the office can be a very difficult juggling act. There are many benefits for businesses that acknowledge this basic aspect of life. If, for instance, a company genuinely understands the importance of staff leaving early to tend to a sick child or watch their kid’s championship game, those employees will appreciate your support.

The results are played out on the job. Employees who respect their companies are more apt to be refreshed and productive. In many cases, they will be more creative and in a good frame of mind. This positive attitude leads to their producing winning marketing campaigns, successful courtroom arguments and precise budgets. Then, when employees are expected to work long hours and even dedicate time on the weekends to meet a critical deadline, they’ll be likely to reciprocate your dedication to their needs.

Grasping the importance of work-life balance can ultimately lead to a noticeably motivated and efficient staff, and as a result, a substantially more profitable business. As an added bonus, staff will be quick to recommend your company as a great place to work, helping to attract and retain top talent. Potential clients are perceptive. They know how to gauge staff morale, which can be a big factor in whether they decide to hire your company.

Now let’s look at the flipside. While numerous businesses encourage work/home symmetry, others scoff at the idea. For them, business is business. Certain proprietors and industries expect 100 percent devotion to the job. It could mean that an employee works 12-hour days for a week straight, plus after work conference calls. Part or most of their weekend, employees may be glued to their phone and laptop or feel anxiety instead of pride while watching their son or daughter star in the school play. 

The company nails the deadline and the client is thrilled. Everything works out well in the end. Maybe not. The steps to success may create extreme stress, which can manifest itself physically, emotionally and mentally. It is nerve-wracking and leads to burnout. Your employees feel relief rather than a sense of accomplishment after completing a task.

In addition, consider whether this is more than a once-a-year occurrence.  Many workers experience severe burnout every quarter, or even more frequently. This could eventually have a significant impact on the business’ bottom line. Overworking your staff molds resentful employees and plummeting morale. You may lose clients who are dissatisfied with the resulting subpar work product.

There is everything to gain, and lose, through your mindset toward work-life balance. The positives far exceed the negatives. If you see troubling trends among employees, you might want to explore whether work-life balance could be a factor. The financial and human health of your company may be riding on it.