The Importance of Scheduling In Maintaining A Healthy Work-Life-Balance

By Katreena Sarmiento

Image Source: Unsplash

June 11 2021 - Time is gold. I would say it is worth more than the most precious stone in the world. It is the single most prized possession we all have on earth. Having said that, it is our main duty to protect and conserve it. So if you have a company to run and handle hourly employees, it is necessary to have an operating tool which you can use in managing and protecting the time of your team. As you go along the process of creating the work schedule, you are also doing a responsibility of maintaining work-life balance which has a direct impact on your workforce. I compiled seven helpful tips for you to create a better work-life balance you and your team can enjoy as you prepare your employee schedule.

Work-life balance should be a value / policy in your company - each company has its own set of values or beliefs that mandates culture and decisions. Add work-life balance in your company values and inform your team that it is your foundation in decision making. Kindly include it in the new hire orientation so new members of the team will know that you care about maintaining work-life balance in your organization and you set rules to support this value.

Limit overtime work - overtime work is inevitable because it means more money. If you want to live with your core value of having work-life balance in your organization, tell your employees that working overtime has many side effects like health issues, decreased productivity and turnover and high absenteeism. It will be best to set a rule that no one should work more than a 40-hour workweek. You can also make a policy that will allow your employee with a family event or emergency to schedule a time off from work or to find another team member to cover their shift in order to attend the family event.

Employees should control their schedule - involve the entire team in the schedule making process by providing them control and access to their own schedule. Making your employee schedule accessible to everyone enhances good communication like requesting for time off, shift switching, claiming open shifts among others.

Be realistic in setting up goals - setting goals that are unrealistic will have you sacrifice in other areas of life. It can be good when you're able to reach your quota for example but in most cases, it has negative effects in achieving work-life balance. Unrealistic and unmanageable goals can lead to failure and longer hours at work. It will be best to set goals that can be handled by the team with reasonable hours and healthy work-life balance in place.

Show your employees that you are there to help - as a boss or a supervisor, you have to have that "I can always help" image in front of your subordinates. Don't let them suffer in silence and experience chronic stress. Challenging work situations can be worked out but it will take some assertiveness on your part being the head. Show your employees that you care and you are with them in every battle. This would lessen the chance of your employees being out of focus and rendering long hours at work forgetting all those policies about work-life balance.

Know your employees even outside work - It is an important step to know your employees' lives outside of work to better understand the work-life balance schedule you are trying to promote. Reach out to them and ask about their motivations, dreams and passions. Ask your employees upfront if there’s anything you can do from a scheduling standpoint to help them reach their goals. Take down notes and support what has been disclosed to you and you’ll be amazed on how your employees perform after taking into consideration their priorities.

Work smarter - it is an important skill for everyone to use time more efficiently and this something that should be learned by all. Utilizing the right formula of time-management can free you from stress and save you up to an hour a day. The use of technology to be more organized will make you work smarter not harder, hence, saves you a lot of time, effort and money.

Life is not always working round the clock to earn more. As you sit down and create a schedule for your team, you’re also planning on the most valuable resource a person has. The employee experience begins and ends with their schedule so you have to take time-planning seriously. Long hours of work may be required sometimes especially during peak season and you have to reach for goals and client demands but always make sure that each of your employees are contented with their schedule and that schedule allows them to have a life outside of work so they can be happier and motivated.

• Work/Life Balance Articles