Chapter 14
The Sustainable Workforce
Organizational Strategies for Promoting Work—Life Balance and Wellbeing
What is it like to be part of a sustainable workforce? Just ask employees. Browsing employee comments about the employers recently identified as the top 25 companies for work–life balance by the online employment and career community of current employees and job seekers Glassdoor.com reveals the following picture:
[The company] respects and values its employees and their families. Work–life balance is very real and everyone is encouraged to take time off and keep their work hours under control. The work environment is much less stressful than the competition.
Professional and personal development are highly encouraged for all employees.
[The company] strongly believes in supporting the local community.
Pros: freedom, autonomy, respect, a real life. When you love your job and the company values your contributions, everything is easy.
By contrast, employees at companies that rank low on work–life balance describe their workplaces on Glassdoor.com with comments like these:
Twelve- and fourteen-hour days with no lunch breaks, not much flexibility with scheduling and always pressured to work extra days.
The company's focus on activity metrics and growth expectations over team morale creates a hostile work environment.
The company doesn't demonstrate ...
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