Work-life balance has been a topic of conversation for years and has found its way into most people’s vocabulary. This concept originally concentrated on setting boundaries and keeping work separate from personal life. Think about work-life separation! Then email, cell phones and work-from-home jobs infiltrated our careers and lives. The last straw appeared in 2020—a pandemic, virtual school, and work. The lines between work and home life blurred.
In a recent AgCareers.com poll, two-thirds of people said it was challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance working from home. Nearly 90% said they bring home stress from work, and 83% checked their work email after hours.
In response to the balance and remote work trends, we’ve seen the concept of work-life integration, or synergy, take hold. This synergy is more of work and personal life blend. Integration may seem alarming or intrusive to some, and you are not alone if you believe work should state at work and not follow you home.
TIME SPENT AT WORK
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey, the average full-time American worker spends over eight (8.28 to be exact) hours at work daily. That means most of a worker’s waking hours during a typical workday are on the job. With the bulk of your awake time spent working, it’s unsurprising that work is on everyone’s mind. AgCareers.com asked people if they felt they could advance professionally in their job by only working 40 hours per week; 50% responded “no.”
WORK-LIFE PROGRAMS
Human resource professionals are reconsidering work-life initiatives. As a result employers have increased their efforts to promote employee well-being. Many experts advocate for acknowledging an employee as a whole person, including both their work and personal situations.
Employee well-being initiatives recognize that an employee often brings their entire self into the workplace, good or bad, whether working in-person or remotely. Personal situations may affect work life, and work situations may affect personal life. Understanding employees’ circumstances and needs allows employers to support well-being and enhance business success.
Employers may offer paid time off, flexible scheduling, telework, health and wellness programs, and employee assistance programs to support work-life well-being.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM AN EMPLOYER?
Paid time off (PTO) programs are a method to foster work-life balance. Alternatively, employers may offer a program that designates separate sick and vacation time. AgCareers.com
observed a notable increase in the average time off received by new hires over the past couple of years. In our 2022 Employer Benefits Survey, new hires received an average of 12 PTO days, or instead, 7 sick days and 10.5 vacation days. Over 40% of employers offer wellness programs for their employees. More employers are also using flexible work arrangements, according to the AgCareers.com annual HR Review Survey. Of ag & food employers responding to the survey, 53% offered a hybrid work schedule with some office hours and remote work. Over 40% of employers offer flexibility in schedule.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE VS. INTERGRATION
Balance |
Integration |
Separate Boundaries Defined |
Blended Coexist Synergy |
So, what does balance versus integration look like? It varies for each person. It can also vary by their stage in life, current situation, work status (full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, or student), and outside factors.
It would be best to examine your priorities, personal situation, career type, and industry to discover realistic expectations and what creates the best equilibrium for you. For example, do you prefer your work and life to be separate or blended? Balanced or integrated?
ASK YOURSELF—DO YOU WANT TO:
Adhere to a strict daily schedule
Work up to 40 hours/week
Disconnect after hours
Have responsibilities of managing people, products & services
Work weekends/evenings
Work remotely
Have flexibility to attend events during normal work hours
Travel for your job
Take classes or continue your education
Be involved in your community, volunteer, or mentor
Work-life balance or integration preferences are different for everyone. After you’ve asked yourself what you want and what is realistic for your career type, you can compare it to what your employer, or potential employer, offers.
These questions are ideal for the end of the interview when the interviewer asks if you have questions! In the interview, ask the employer about their company culture and position on work-life balance and flexibility. Their answers can help you determine if the organization and role are a good fit for you.