The modern world of work continues to believe that spending long hours at work is a guarantee of commitment and productivity. Although there were many articles on work/life balance before the Covid-19 health crisis, the latter we have just experienced has brought the subject back to the forefront of employees’ and companies’ minds. In practice, however, hyperconnection and professional over-investment continue to disrupt this quest. How do we get there ?
Let’s talk plainly !
As part of their development objectives, companies continue to exert pressure on employees, posing many challenges, particularly in terms of work intensity. As a result, work constraints (deadlines, standards, colleagues, etc.) weigh heavily on employees’ time.
However, it’s not true to say that companies don’t always consider this issue to be of prime importance, since the health crisis has raised awareness in the world of work. Indeed, this crisis has triggered a change in the way work is conceived and organized. It must be said, however, that this evolution has been observed almost exclusively in the so-called developed countries.
The opposite is true in certain sectors of activity in less developed countries. In the past, however, this kind of labor intensity was the exclusive preserve of industrial workers. Today, we find the same constraints in service companies. It is very difficult for employees in these countries to envisage a balance that remains illusory: demands to be met immediately, dependence on colleagues, standards or deadlines.
Today, the working time of employees in all categories is punctuated not only by computerized control and monitoring, but also by outdated management methods that contribute to intensification.
We have already observed in certain companies that management is only satisfied when it sees employees working relentlessly beyond the hourly limit imposed by legislation. The ignorance of managers with this style of management is distressing, as the impact on mental and physical health is disastrous and visible over the medium and long term.
In some business sectors, the demand for availability, even at weekends, sometimes takes the form of on-call duty, particularly for women in industry and the health sector.
Availability anytime, anywhere
The evolution of technology has undoubtedly led to major advances in the automation of processes, work methods, work organization and, above all, communication. All these factors contribute to hyperconnectivity. Nevertheless, hyperconnectivity has become a real problem in our modern world. We are living in unprecedented times. Never in the history of mankind have we had so much information available to us simultaneously. Yet technological progress promised us more leisure time and free time.
In reality, there’s a blur between work time and personal time, if we consider that mobile computing equipment makes our lives easier. Today, we are more easily reachable at any time and in any place for work purposes, by telephone or e-mail.
The health crisis augured a positive evolution in our relationship with work. Flexibility and autonomy are the new allies of remote working, but it has to be said that there is a paradox that specialists have pointed out that employees are progressively damaging their well-being.
“They may prefer to work from home, either partly or all the time, but they don’t pay enough attention to their psychological well-being”.
Mélanie Trottier, Professor of Work Organization and Human Resources at the School of Management Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal (ESG UQAM). In her view, it’s a bit like contributing to your own misfortune.
Olivier Caya, professor at the University of Sherbrooke’s School of Management, explains in an article that we have all become dependent on technological tools. The cause lies in the digital invasion of our lives. We’re so hypnotized by our screens that we don’t know where to turn.
The search for an impossible balance?
Businesses undoubtedly have a role to play in setting up a flexible organization of working hours. To ensure that employees’ time is put to good use and invested in value-added tasks. Companies have much to gain from happy, motivated and more productive employees.
Work-life balance is the ideal compromise between a person’s professional and private life. Work-life balance is a lifestyle concept that ensures maximum happiness for the employee, helping him or her to deliver productive work in which he or she thrives. Both employer and employee are responsible for this.
The good news for employees is that the world of work is increasingly aware of this inexorable change. More and more companies are open to this concept of well-being between work and family, which is a powerful communication tool for attracting talent.
We can’t talk about corporate responsibility without mentioning employee responsibility. Employees are the primary actors in their working lives. Every employee must be aware of his or her responsibility to achieve this balance, without diminishing the importance of work. For a good balance, the boundary must be clearly defined. The relationship between the two areas is important if the quality of each is to be assured. It’s almost impossible to give direct instructions for a general balance because our value systems are different. Should we oppose the two areas, or should we seek harmony between the two components?
We believe that the principles of life are guides to getting closer to a balance that we are aware is acquired over time, and therefore with emotional maturity and reflection :
- Make an in-depth analysis of your personal and professional dreams and aspirations
- Work is not more important than family life, which remains an important pillar of a happy life
- Family life must not encroach continuously on professional life, which requires awareness and balance
- Mental health must be systematically preserved, which means that no job should lead to chronic burnout, wear and tear or overstress
- Physical activity, a healthy diet and good sleep can contribute to optimal well-being
- Treat others as you would like them to treat you, to develop healthy relationships
- Accept with hindsight that reality is complex, that you need to be able to manage your priorities, and that balance is a constantly evolving process that requires constant attention