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Work-Life balance - A mere concept without a solution?

By Binu Paul, SiliconIndia | Wednesday, 15 December 2010, 16:55 Hrs | 6 Comments

Work-Life balance - A mere concept without a solution?

Bangalore: If WORK is an activity done regularly for money, LIFE is everything else. There is more to life than work. The unhealthy imbalanced life choices of some people make work and life difficult.The highly competitive and busy scheduled corporate world has made 'work-life balance' a mere concept with little solution to practice especially in the IT world.

You work overtime, more than 10 hours a day; you are way too busy to get off your desk for a lunch break, so you starve instead; your best friend in the whole world is your colleague; you are so very "emotionally" attached to your job that you call the office your home and your colleagues your family; and you couldn't make it for your parents' anniversary or your child's sports day, all these are some of the often-said signs of overworking and lack of work-life balance.

Global delivery model would have worked wonders for IT as an industry. But to the professional, it means, being also available to the time of the team across the other side of the globe. That means attending calls and meeting at weird hours whether it be weekend or late evening.

According to a research conducted by the Corporate Executive Board, work-life balance is one of the most important workplace attributes - second only to compensation. It also found that employees who feel they have a better work-life balance tend to work 21 percent harder than those that don't.

There is a sharp increase in heart disease, musculoskeletal illness, workplace violence, mental or psychological strain and absenteeism among the corporate employees, which is just an outcome of improper work-life balance. It is absolutely meaningless when you workovertime to meet everyone's needs,but not your own and keep everyone happy, but not yourself. Ones should have the courage to say 'NO' to things that will take away his social life.

It is not the costly services like the on-site gym or health care services that the organizations provide that ensures a better work-life balance, rather it is the 'gift of time' that is valued more. Many believe that a flexible schedule is the most important work-life practice that their employer could provide.

Any work-life balance article is incomplete without the mention of smartphones. The red light flashing from the Blackberry could distract you at any important function or meeting; perhaps even at middle of the night. Many of you would have come across people answering their mails on smartphones while attending family functions or kids' school programs.

The corporate world need to understand that the productivity will be much higher if the employees are allowed to re-charge, pursue other interests and generally have a life. The executives are the real wealth and they need to be taken care of. As responsibilities at home are equally important as those at work, the funs outside the office should also be given equal importance. A good work-life balance will make you feel your workplace an extend family which is an ideal scenario that can bring you satisfaction in your career and your family life.

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Reader's comments(6)

1: very well written.
love what you do n do what you love.it is important to remember that the world will go on without you, so love your life for the short span you are here.

Posted by:Heramb Sukhathankar - 16 Dec, 2010

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2: I agree with the thoughts in the last paragraph, but I wish Binu Paul would improve his grammar and spelling. Please note: "career", not "carrier". This mistake is made by many people, but one does not expect it from Silicon India staffers.

Posted by:VRS - 16 Dec, 2010

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3: I always think that we work most efficiently when we have enough time away from work.

Also check out:

http://www.programmerinterview.com/

Posted by:jaya - 15 Dec, 2010

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4: EXCELLENT ARTICLE. WORK-LIFE BALANCE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED ONLY WHEN THE PROFESSIONAL'S WAY OF THINKING CHANGES. HE SHOULD MAKE A COMPARISON BETWEEN TIME AND MONEY. WHEN HE FEELS HE IS NOT EARNING SUFFICIENT, HE WILL HAVE MANY OTHER WAYS TO EARN MONEY(FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS OTHER SKILLS). BUT WHEN HE SPENDS TIME, HE CAN'T GET IT BACK. SO ONE SHOULD GIVE THE IMPORTANCE TO TIME. AND THIS THOUGHT SHOULD COME TO EVERY IT PROFESSIONAL. ONLY THEN THE EMPLOYERS CAN CHANGE. IF THEY WANT TIME, THEY SHOULD COMPROMISE WITH LESS SALARY(EVEN THEN HE CAN LIVE A GOOD SIMPLE LIFE). BUT NO ONE WANTS SIMPLE GOOD LIFE. THEY ARE NOT READY TO COMPROMISE FOR A LESS SALARY. SO OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO SACRIFICE THEIR TIME FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY. AND THAT WILL BE TOO LATE WHEN THEY REALIZE. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. I AM NOT BLAMING ANYONE...

Posted by:Mohan Rao Mudradi - 15 Dec, 2010

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5: You can report which companies have the best work/life balance at the site http://www.cubecheck.com

Posted by:Thomas - 15 Dec, 2010

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6: This ia poignant appeal to the corporate top brass to treat the people who work for them more humanely that they are being done at present.It is true that some of the best performers are receiving astronomical compensation packages and that professionals in other fields(read:non-IT)are able to have what is called life.I really commisserate with the IT professionals.At least they must look for ways to retire early in the sense somehow develop a niche clientele by performing for whom they could earn better and yet retain that crucial work-life balance. What the other professionals lose in not being in the IT sector may be the astronomical pay packets.

Posted by:MAHADEVA S.SARMA - 15 Dec, 2010

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