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Work/Life Balance is a Joke

Not the actual concept of achieving a balance of work and life, of course, that you can do. But the phrase “work/life balance” has been thrown around so much by companies that don’t have a clue what it means, touting their excellent work/life balance and benefits, that it has become virtually meaningless.

A company at which employees must fit their sick days and personal time into a set number of days in a year does not have a work/life balance. A company at which employees must request time off and hope that they are permitted to go on vacation during the time they have selected, does not have a work/life balance. A company where employees cannot easily rearrange their work schedule when something comes up at home, without feeling pressure from their manager or team, does not have a work/life balance. A company at which employees feel guilty about taking time away does not have a work/life balance. A company at which employees who wake up ill still consider toughing it out to go into the office, say it with me, does not have a work/life balance! The definition of achieving balance implies that there is equality and in all of these situations, work clearly has the upper hand. The scale is tipped in favor of the job, and the personal life must always accommodate the job.

I think we have been entering a new era, with tech leading the way, where the question is no longer how good is the work/life balance at a company, but rather how people-centric is it there. At a company that is people-centric, managers recognize that their people are all they really have, and thus treat them very well. Vacation days are available when desired, and possibly not even tracked (this is something we do at our company). The benefits are actually beneficial, with good health coverage, retirement, profit-sharing, and more. The dress code (or lack thereof) is relaxed. People-centric companies are extremely flexible because they understand that in order to attract the best people, you have to be willing to treat them like human beings, not tools.

Personal mentality also comes into play here for sure. We as a society are workaholics which can be a very unhealthy approach to life. I love my work, sometimes it’s hard to stop working at the end of the day, but we all need a line in the sand. There has to be a point at which you say “I can get to this another day, I’m going to make time for my friends and family now.” Those of use who set the example by making time for our personal lives frequently will encourage others around us to do the same. Then perhaps people-centric philosophies will become the norm.

Is your company people-centric? If not, perhaps it’s time for a change!

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