There’s less focus on hours worked and more emphasis on the output delivered. The preference is to let employees tailor their day to suit their tasks and energy levels. This trend has been quietly going on in the background for some time now, but during the period of lockdown who-even-knows-at-this-point, it gathered serious momentum.Ībove all, jobs that require creativity, knowledge and innovation benefit from shifting the emphasis away from quantitative rules, targets and nine-to-five work patterns. Trend 2: A shift from quantity to quality We’re also seeing a growing group of people who are less invested in self-fulfillment, materialism and recognition because these things can be a distraction from the things that really matter in life. Research by PwC shows that we’d rather earn less and work for a purpose-driven organization that matches our values, than earn much more while – for example – polluting the planet. If we have to take a slight salary cut to do a job that aligns with our sense of purpose, then we’re happy to do it. Work shouldn’t feel like work, it should feel like living. We work because we want to contribute to society. This view is for many people – especially younger generations – a thing of the past. During the week you work and on your days off you live. It suggests that working and living are two separate activities. Let’s take a moment to think about the term work-life balance. Trend 1: Do you live to work or work to live? Some of these have been slowly gaining traction for years – such as domestic equality, where household chores are no longer being divided up according to gender – while others saw a rapid boom as a result of COVID – such as the need for flexibility. We’re seeing a number of patterns in terms of employee work-life balance. Trends related to work-life balance that we’re seeing right now Unlimited access to consultations with licensed psychologists doesn’t just help to improve employee mental health and reduce sick leave, it also prevents resignations. A good mental health package is steadily climbing its way up the list of requirements employees have for their employers. Ultimately, balance means less people taking sick leave and a lower rate of employee turnover. Experience more job satisfaction, which makes them more motivated to carry out their dutiesĪs you can see, a good work-life balance is great for both the employee and the employer.Are in a better mood and more patient with others.Maintain higher energy levels because they have plenty of time for socializing, hobbies, and exercise.The main reason to prioritize work-life balance is that it’s a prerequisite for happy and healthy employees.Įmployees who have plenty of time for themselves: Why a good work/life balance is important After all, we’re going through a period of rapid change.īased on five current trends, we’re going to explore the associated risks and how OpenUp can help you navigate these. Because we’re about to tell you which trends in the field of employee work-life balance you can watch out for in the future. Predicting the future is something that only happens in the movies.

Important of work life balance