Bluegrass Dairy and Food points out a few tactics a business can take to prioritize employee work-life balance.

1. How to Make
Work-Life
Balance Work for
Your Business
BLUEGRASS DAIRY AND FOOD

2. In theory, trundling along on the nine-to-five grind
should be easy.
For many employees, the nine-to-five label is wishful thinking: and optimistic
buzzword for HR professionals and billing departments. Not everyone has the
ability to disengage and leave work behind when five o'clock rolls around;
there are still projects to complete, emails to send, deadlines to meet. The
work isn't done - so the employee's personal life can't start. This is the
opposite of an ideal work-life balance.
Organizations that prioritize employee work-life balance foster a better and
more productive working culture. Here are a few strategies to kickstart change
for your employee base.

3. Prioritize
Productivity
The main barrier to productivity is
process. Take a close look at the way your
company functions, and ask: is
communication difficult? Is the
delegation process confusing? Do my
employees know who or where to go to if
they have questions or concerns about a
project? If a working environment is
productive and expectations reasonable,
there should be no need for employees to
give up their post-work hours for a
project.

4. Encourage Out-of-
Office Events
Why not encourage a team
volunteering event after work, or set
up a time for everyone to mingle over
coffee? Encouraging out-of-office
events allows employees to bond and
establish better relationships than
they might otherwise at their workday
stations or cubicles. Or, think smaller:
set aside a few minutes each Friday to
chat about the week and share
weekend plans.

5. Listen to Employee
Concerns
People appreciate being listened to, even
if you can’t provide them with what they
need. If someone comes to you with a
concern about their working hours or
situation, take the time to hear them out!
Making special compromises for a single
parent or an employee with a sick family
member will not only ease some of the
employee’s burdens, but also foster
goodwill and trust with your team.

6. Check In With
Struggling Employees
Sometimes employees do struggle with
their workload. The problem might be
that they aren’t managing their time
well, or that they have taken on more
projects that they can reasonably handle
- but in any case, the situation needs to
be resolved. Check in with any team
member who seems to be staying late or
struggling with their workload! By
finding the issue at hand and setting a
plan for future success, you both help the
employee grow and develop a talent for
the company.

7. Set a Good Example
No one will feel free to take vacation days
if you never take time off. Remember,
employees take cues from their higher-
ups, and company culture always begins
at the top. Set a good example for your
team by establishing a good work-life
balance in your own life! You - and your
company - will be healthier and more
productive for it.

8. Thank
You!
Bluegrass Dairy and Food