Developed byMara J. Briere, MA CFLE pending

pointstoponder@theredsox.org

Work-Life Balance

Opening Activity

Worksheet

Please put your name and address on the envelope inside the self-addressed and stamped envelope with my name and address! Pick a date for next week and write it where the stamp should go…

Objectives

Define termsIdentify issues related to balancing rolesExplore options for improving role effectivenessSelect one strategy to experiment withImplement and evaluate

Work-Life balance is…

The Association for Work/Life Progress (AWLP) defines work/life in the following way: “The term ‘work-life,’ in the broader sense, defines ‘policies, programs, services, and attitudes within a company that are specific to fostering the well-being of its employees through the effective management of work, family, and personal life.”

What is Work-Life Balance?

The Work & Family Connection has developed this definition. “Work-life is the practice of providing initiatives designed to create a more flexible, supportive work environment, enabling employees to focus on work tasks while at work.

It includes making the culture more supportive, adding programs to meet life event needs, ensuring that policies give employees as much control as possible over their lives, and using flexible work practices as a strategy to meet the dual agenda – the needs of both business and employees.”

Benefits to Employers

reduced staff turnover rates becoming a good employer or an

employer of choice increased return on investment in training

as employees stay longer reduced absenteeism and sick leave improved morale or satisfaction greater staff loyalty and commitment improved productivity

Spillover…

Work-family spillover is defined as the extent to which participation in work impacts participation in family (DeGenova, 2008, p.223).

Strengths from your family provides you with strengths in your work and vice versa (Steward & Olson cited in Appel & Kim-Appel, 2008, p.222).

How do you define your own work life balance?

What are your Values? What’s important to you? What makes you happy ? What did you write down earlier?

What are the Barriers? time, stress, dual career family, lack of support

from family, supervisor, peers

Work

Relationships

Self-Care

Work Life Triangle

Work ( what we do, careers, housework, chores, etc)

Relationships (personal, friendships, partners, spouses, children

Self-Care (spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, health, wellness, exercise)

Pros and Cons of Work & FamilyDeGenova (2008)

Work fulfillment & the family Work, stress & the family

Multiple roles can be beneficial for the overall health and well-being of families

Job stress affects family relationships, i.e. role strain otherwise called “role overload”

Parent has a sense of well-being & success

Difficult to attain family or work goals

Added income Employee well-being declines, including physical health

Social support Separation from family due to travel, long hours

Satisfying work yields positive outcomes for the family

Less cohesive marital & family relationships

Coping Strategies Positive Self-Talk Simplify your life Be self cognizant– schedule time for

yourself Plan Ahead / Prioritize

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Write a mission statement / contract

(Covey handout ) Ask for WHAT you need… (from family,

work, friends etc) and Delegate!

Strategies Avoid “can’t” when you mean,

“won’t” Time manage Learn to say, “NO!” (You CAN say,

“I’ll get back to you & buy yourself time to think.)

You can also say “NO” by saying “Yes!” to something else. Be positive

Appreciate Use your slogan cards

More Coping Strategies Personalize your workspace

Eat nutritiously

Try something new

SLEEP – (8hrs/night)

BREATHE deeply and often

More thoughts… Look at your expectations. Are they

reasonable? Deal with problems as they appear. Let it GO! Make time for FUN! Develop & maintain supportive

relationships Stay healthy!

Avoid!!! Should

Ought

Must

Have to

Serenity PrayerGod,

Grant me the Serenity

To accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Serenity Prayer Grid

ACCEPTANCE Things I cannot change…

How can I accept the things I cannot change?

COURAGE Things I have control over…

The steps I can take are…

Give yourself permission and accept that…

Some things are out of my control Life happens… It’s not all or nothing We are not meant to be perfect

Be willing to be willing!

Live your life one day at a time. Make today the best day!

One thing I will do to improve my work life balance…

Today…

Tomorrow…

The next day…

Adaptive Strategies

1. Value family2. Strive for partnership, i.e. equality &

partnership including division of family labor including housework, child care, decision-making, respect, appreciation, interpersonal support.

3. Deriving meaning from work4. Maintaining work boundaries

More Adaptive Strategies

5. Focusing & producing at work6. Prioritizing family fun7. Taking pride in dual earning8. Living simply9. Making decisions proactively10. Valuing time

Adaptive Strategies (Haddock et al cited in DeGenova, 2008, p. 224)

BibliographyBeattie, Melody Gratitude: Affirming the Good Things in

Life, Hazeldon, Ballantine Books, N.Y., 1992

Benson, Herbert. The Relaxation Response, Avon Paperback, 1975

Brown, Barbara B. Stress and the Art of Biofeedback, Harper & Row, 1977

Carlson, Richard. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Hyperion, 1997The Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Workbook, Hyperion, 1998

Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Simon & Schuster, 1989First Things First, Simon & Schuster, 1994

Bibliography: StressGawain, Shakti Creative Visualization, Bantam Books, USA, 1985

Hay, Louise L. You Can Heal Your Life, Hay House, Inc., 1987

Holmes, Ernest Science of Mind, Dodd, Mead & Co., N.Y., 1938

McWilliams, Peter. Life 101, Prelude Press, 1994

Sark. The Bodacious Book of Succulence, Simon & Schuster, 1998Sark’s Journal and Play Book, Celestial Arts, 1993

Sheehy, Gail Passages, Bantam Books, USA, 1984

Shoshanna, Brenda. 365 Ways to Give Thanks, Birch Lane Press, 1998

Weinstein, Marion Positive Magic: Occult Self Help, Earth Magic Productions, Inc., NY NY, 1994

ReferencesAppel, J., & Kim-Appel, D. (2008). Family systems at work: The relationship between

family coping and employee burnout. [Electronic Version]. The Family Journal, 16 (3), 231.

Covey, S. (N.D.) Crafting your personal mission statement. FranklinCovey Institute. Retrieved on April 6, 2009, from http://www.franklincovey.com/mission_builder/Mission_Statement_Builder.pdf

DeGenova, M. (2008). Intimate relationships, marriages & families. 7th edition. Boston: McGraw Hill

Department of Employment and Industrial Relations (October 2, 2008). Retrieved on April 6, 2009 from http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/industrial/family/worklife/index.htm

Fitzer, M. (N.D.). What is your definition of work-life balance? Retrieved on April 6, 2009 from extensionhr.osu.edu/Support%20Staff%20Handouts/Work%20Life%20Balance.ppt

Lombardo, L. (ND). A case for workplace flexibility. Families and Work Institute. Retrieved on April 6, 2009, from http://familiesandwork.org/site/search.html?keywords=work+life+balance&h=0