How Can Companies Promote Work Life Balance?

CEOs who encourage a sweatshop culture, who drive their staff to work unreasonable hours, are only hurting themselves in the long term.

That is the conclusion of multiple pieces of research, which agree that burnt-out employees are less productive and end up damaging a company’s bottom line.

According to US research firm Qualtrix, 19% of US employees do not feel energised at work, which costs the economy US$20m for every 10,000 workers who are struggling or suffering physically or mentally at work. 

That equates to US$322bn of turnover and lost productivity worldwide due to employee burnout, says Qualtrix.

A survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that working long hours made 27% of employees feel depressed, 34% anxious and 58% irritable. 

One in three staff, according to the foundation, feel unhappy about the amount of time they spend at work. 

And having your staff quit on you because they are overwhelmed by their workload also costs you in the short term too.

According to research by Oxford Economics and Unum, the average cost of losing an employee costs over £30,000 in lost productivity and replacement costs. Specifically, that’s £25,182 for loss of productivity and £5,433 to find a replacement.

Higher engagement

Companies on the other hand that prioritise employee work-life balance report increases in productivity, retention and performance, research shows. 

Studies indicate employees with structured time away from work demonstrate higher engagement levels and take fewer sick days.

Businesses report that staff who maintain boundaries between work and personal time demonstrate improved concentration and decision-making capabilities. These employees also show enhanced communication with colleagues and clients.

Data indicates that employees with defined work-life boundaries maintain focus for longer periods. These staff members deliver higher quality output and demonstrate reduced error rates in their work.

Companies report that staff who take regular breaks and maintain standard working hours show increased motivation to achieve targets. These employees also demonstrate higher rates of project completion.

Research shows that teams with balanced working patterns develop stronger professional relationships. These groups demonstrate enhanced problem-solving capabilities and increased innovation in their approach to challenges.

Better candidates

Encouraging work life balance in your workplace also helps you attract better staff.

A 2022 study by Aviva revealed that, since the pandemic, people have become more focused on work-life balance than salary. Aviva reported, “More workers said they were attracted to their current role for the work-life balance [41%] than the salary [36%]. This is a switch in rankings compared to 2019, before the pandemic.”

How big companies promote work life balance

Companies implementing work-life balance programmes report reduced staff turnover. These organisations demonstrate cost reductions in recruitment and training through improved retention rates.

Corporations have different ways to encourage work life balance. Google offers flexible working hours and on-site gyms and laundry services, while Microsoft provides unlimited paid time off for salaried employees and Salesforce has wellness and meditation areas in all of its offices.

How CEOs can promote workplace life work balance

#1 - Encourage staff to take holidays

Create policies that require staff to take their full holiday allowance within each calendar year. Companies should avoid systems that allow holiday accrual or payment in lieu of time off.

The American Sociological Association, a professional organisation for sociologists, reports that increased holiday usage correlates with reduced psychological distress among workers. 

#2 - Mandatory screen breaks

Medical research demonstrates that extended screen time and prolonged working hours impact physical health. Staff who take structured breaks report reduced instances of repetitive strain injuries and visual fatigue.

Implement mandatory screen breaks and encourage outdoor meetings. Staff should receive training about the health implications of extended screen time.

#3 - Right to disconnect

Establish clear boundaries for out-of-hours communications. Create protocols specifying when staff must respond to messages outside standard working hours.

#4 - Flexible working

Introduce flexible working patterns that accommodate personal commitments. Companies should develop systems that measure output rather than time spent at work.

#5 - Promote employee health

Create wellness programmes that include health assessments and fitness facilities. These initiatives should receive dedicated budget allocation and regular board-level review.

#6 - Create social spaces

Businesses that introduce games rooms and social spaces report improved staff interactions. These facilities provide opportunities for mental breaks and strengthen team relationships.

#7 - Mindfulness apps

Technology solutions, including mindfulness applications and meditation programmes, show measurable impact on stress reduction. Companies report these tools help staff manage workplace pressure.

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