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...Education and Employment has found that four out of five employees believe that everyone should be able to balance their work and home lives. The achievement of such a balance is an increasingly important issue for businesses, particularly with rising numbers of female and older workers, and the growth of the so-called "Generation X" that values life balance more than high salaries.

Definition

Work-life balance is an integrated and harmonious blending of the needs of an organisation with the family and private commitments of its employees. There are clear business benefits to organisations in recognising family and other external pressures on its employees, and in making provision to enable employees to deal with those pressures. The balance usually relates to flexible hours, times of work and related working practices.

Achievement of a work-life balance is important for all staff, not just those with young children.

Advantages of improving work-life balance

If employees maintain a good balance between work and home life, this can result in:

* better employee performance and increased productivity

* higher morale and lower staff turnover

* lower absence and sickness rates

* reduction in burnout and stress

* better recruitment and retention of staff

* improved company image.

Disadvantages of improving work life-balance

* Improved company performance will take time to become apparent, and will take time and effort to get right.

* In downsized or...

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