The average employee spends up to 2.5 hours a day on unavoidable personal tasks while at work. Startling, but most can relate – we have all made doctor appointments during work because, well, the doctor’s office isn’t open outside of our own work hours! And, quite simply, there are only so many hours in a day.
Is it in the employer’s interest to assist to reduce this? Yes! Employers, although empathetic, have a vested interested in greatly reducing this spent personal time to ensure employees are focusing on, you guessed it, work! It also greatly reduces stress from the employee and allows for a more focused employee.
What ways exist for an employer to assist?
- Offering flex time as an employee benefit allows employees the ability to plan ahead and flex their hours to allow for windows during normal working days to focus on life needs.
- Business concierge services. Provide help. The future of employee benefits goes beyond 401K and tuition reimbursement. We believe it includes providing employees help – help for their life’s busy. Concierge services are found in close to 40% of the Best places to work and for a reason! Most services provided will do anything an employee needs from dry cleaning, appointment making, errand running, event planning, and some – even pet visits! A low cost to the employer to gain tremendous productivity from employees by taking these items off their hands.
- Work from home opportunities. The message from those who like work from home is consistent – it makes their work life balance possible. Laundry over lunch anyone? Appointment making in the morning when you would otherwise be driving to work? Very beneficial.
When an employer chooses to help their employees with life’s busy, the result is more productivity, more dedicated employees, and a really, really good recruiting tool for new top employees. #winning #lifewithzeal
