Work-Life Balance In Tech: It’s Not A Myth

Damian Scalerandi, Forbes Viewed 2080 Times Viewed by 819 People

In November 2021, quit rates in the U.S. reached a record high of 4.5 million resignations in just one month, representing the height of the Great Resignation. During this period, employers around the world were rethinking their recruitment and retention practices, overhauling and reconceptualizing how they could ensure talent was happy.

Credit: Getty

Fast-forward just a little over a year, and the headlines seem dire, with a looming recession and massive Big Tech layoffs. This may prompt some employers, particularly in the tech sector, to believe they have the upper hand—that tech talent is desperate for any job. But not so fast.

Tech talent remains in high demand. It's just that work models look a little different these days. And the best workers in the industry still have their pick of roles and are looking for jobs that won't just give them a paycheck but also make them happy.

What's one ticket to happiness? Work-life balance.

What are the hallmarks of work-life balance?

An employer not providing a good work-life balance is one of the top reasons why Gen-Zers will turn down a job offer, according to Adobe’s Future Workforce Study.

How can employers in tech—an industry notorious for long working hours and heavy project loads—make work-life balance a reality for their talent?

Tech companies are well-known for offering somewhat irreverent perks, like napping pods. But more and more frequently, professionals are seeking out simpler benefits that support their well-being: mental health support, fitness and gym reimbursements, free childcare, tuition and educational reimbursements and generous parental leave, to name a few.

Another benefit I've noticed is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the world of tech startups, is unlimited PTO. While this may sound like a godsend to employees, it can be a bit of a double-edged sword. In some cases, employees may end up using less vacation time because they feel pressure from their employers to always be on the clock.

For this type of policy to be effective, I suggest employers actually embrace the mindset that time off is a good thing. Leaders must show their teams that it's okay—encouraged, even—to take a break, first by doing so themselves.

Go further than simply reducing workloads.

It's important for leaders to remember that work-life balance isn't just about reducing our professionals' workloads. It's also about incorporating wellness into work itself.

One thing people across industries crave is flexibility. In fact, research shows that a staggering 94% of individuals around the world want a flexible work schedule.

We're in an environment where employers can provide more flexibility than ever before. My company's professionals have always worked entirely remotely, but it's become clear to others in tech and beyond that a remote-first model has a lot of benefits, particularly since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

Remote work does aid work-life balance in numerous ways, such as by eliminating commute times, thereby giving workers more time for themselves and their families. Tech companies can take this a step further by encouraging or even enforcing strict signoff times, preventing the overwork culture that is too often a fixture across our industry from taking hold.

Make work a positive experience.

Employers want our workers to be happy. We are creating amazing things in the tech industry, true, but we are also cultivating and boosting talent. And work should be positive.

Providing tech talent with a strong work-life balance can go a long way in encouraging positive feelings about their employers—and improving overall well-being. And it has benefits for employers, too, including stronger retention rates.

Work should augment life, not detract from it. And that's why balance is so important.

Originally Published On: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/04/03/work-life-balance-in-tech-its-not-a-myth

Comments:(0)