Work-life integration is the new kid on the block. We’re here to explain the importance of truly integrating your employees’ work and personal lives in order to get the best out of them. Not sure what the difference is? Discover what sets integration and balance apart, as well as how to offer benefits that tick all the boxes when it comes to work-life integration.
What is work-life integration?
Work-life integration is when employers take a holistic approach to supporting employees in all aspects of their lives. For example, taking care of their health with private healthcare, protecting their mental health using an EAP, or taking people’s different schedules into account by offering flexible working.
Gone are the days when people were expected to drop their personal lives at the door on the way into work each morning – the working world is changing. Work-life integration accepts that work and life go hand in hand, so It’s an even more modern take on work/life balance – we sometimes refer to it as work-life harmony as it sounds a bit softer!
What is work-life balance?
A ‘healthy’ work/life balance means different things to different people, as everyone prioritises work and personal life in different ways. The Mental Health Foundation says “it’s not so much about splitting your time 50/50 between work and leisure but making sure you feel fulfilled and content in both areas of your life.” This could mean getting enough sleep so that you’re not stressed at work, and not being overworked in your job to the point you’re failing to meet deadlines.
Balance vs integration – what’s the difference?
While the two are similar, the main difference is that work-life balance emphasises maintaining a healthy divide between our professional and personal life, yet work-life integration is about finding a way for both aspects to coexist in harmony.
By integrating work with personal life, the idea is that people will enjoy and be more productive in both, more so than when we try to separate them.
The pros and cons of each
Work-life balance
A big benefit of work/life balance is that giving employees enough time for themselves and their families can make them happier, and therefore more productive and motivated at work.
Not constantly worrying about your job means you’re more likely to be more relaxed and less stressed, and research proves this boosts decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Plus, allowing employees the time and space to pursue hobbies and interests outside work can increase creativity and innovation at work.
However, for some employees, achieving a 50/50 balance can be unrealistic. For example, if the business is going through a period of extreme growth or the team is shrinking, employees might have more responsibilities and deadlines to meet for a period of time. This fluctuation and uncertainty in their work/life balance can lead to higher stress levels and lower productivity.
Work-life integration
The best thing about work/life integration is that employees can give the same attention and respect to all aspects of their lives, helping to boost their physical and mental wellbeing. For some people, achieving work/life integration is more realistic than striving to reach that perfect 50/50 work/life balance. And it’s natural for employees to feel a sense of empowerment when they’re in control of how they spend their time, which studies show can improve confidence and self-esteem.
On the other hand, while work/life integration might mean employees can choose their work hours and schedule, they might feel guilty about doing less work occasionally which can lead to feelings of guilt and stress. Employees who feel constantly integrated with work may never take time to rest and recharge, which can be damaging in itself and lead to burnout. Ultimately, achieving work/life integration requires employees to feel supported by both their employer and their family and friends in order for it to work.
Why work/life integration is the future of HR
That’s right, we said it. We’re all about work/life integration as a way to improve employee performance, job satisfaction and overall happiness.
Let’s talk psychology for a second. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that everyone has basic needs, and those further down the hierarchy must be satisfied before people can focus on the higher needs. For example, at the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid we have physiological needs (like food and shelter), which are more critical than self-actualisation needs (like creativity and spontaneity) which sit at the top of the pyramid.
But what’s HR got to do with basic human needs? Well, employee benefits help to support an array of human needs. From our most primal needs to how we find fulfilment in our jobs, benefits lift people up:
- Want to meet your staff’s basic physiological needs? Offer healthcare and financial wellbeing support.
- Do your employees want to feel safe and secure? Provide retirement plans and life insurance.
- Think your team’s self esteem could be boosted? Recognition programmes and L&D budgets are a great way to do this.
- Would your employees benefit from a dose of self-actualisation? Coaching sessions and flexible allowances can help.
The way we see it, with the right benefits, you can make sure your employees feel happy and fulfilled in every area of life. By offering a personalised package of benefits through a platform like Ben, you’re helping to integrate work and life for the benefit of employees and your business.
Not sure which needs keep your employees up at night? Ask them! Follow our top tips for an effective employee survey to gain valuable insights into what people want and how you can offer benefits that satisfy their work and personal lives.
How can benefits platforms make it more seamless?
One of the best things about benefits platforms is that people can pick and choose which perks work for them. For some people, planning for retirement might be really important, so they might choose to increase their pension investments. For others, annual leave might be a priority in order to switch off and return to work properly rested, so they might prefer to buy more holiday. With platforms like Ben, you can house all these benefits in the same place. So it’s incredibly easy for employees to explore what’s on offer, add a new benefit or switch one out for a different one.
Plus, having everything in one place makes it easier for employers to track engagement and find out what’s working (or not working so well). With Ben, you can see everything from which benefits category is getting the most love, to how many active users you have and your employees’ overall satisfaction score. Want to see whether men or women spend more money on fitness, or how many people opted into life insurance in January? You got it.
At Ben, we’re all about creating a tailored package of benefits that help to shape your employees’ lives outside of work, rather than just sustain them. Because the happier and less stressed people are in their personal lives, the better they perform at work and the more likely they are to love what they do. Want to learn more? Get in touch with us here at Ben!