DOES THE NEW WORKPLACE YIELD MORE CONTROL OVER WORK-LIFE BALANCE?

By Kyle Dutton, DLE Media and Membership Intern, Finance and Marketing major with a minor in Economics at Syracuse University

The past year has been a complete rollercoaster for all of us. Trying to adapt to a new workplace was far more challenging than probably any of us expected.

The June Culture Chat, How We Are Making the Still-Changing Workplace Work, sizzled with stories and advice from professionals from diverse organizations. The majority of the group agreed that one dividend of the pandemic-altering workplace is work-life balance. In a live poll conducted during the program, 69 percent answered “yes” when asked: Do you have more control over your work-life balance since working remotely?

Here are some reflections, tips and techniques that surfaced:

• Living at work blurs with working from home. Since the start of the pandemic, people have transitioned to a new work environment. Working from home has been extremely convenient for some – but for others, it can be the opposite. Many find themselves getting too attached to their work; they feel hooked and discover that they’re working after normal office hours just because they can.
• Setting boundaries. Being upfront with your employer should become the new normal. You should not find yourself checking your phone at 2:00 AM because “work is calling” or your boss needs something. Both the employer and employee should set boundaries between themselves and allocate discussions about work at a time that is mutually convenient. People need to utilize their non-work time wisely and decompress, regardless of whether they’re working virtually or going into the office.
• Taking time to recalibrate. Given the fact that we are working in a dynamic environment, most companies are playing it both ways by providing hybrid options to their employees. This means that people can choose their work environments, or at least state a preference. The transition from working in an office to going fully online or vice-versa can be very challenging. This move takes time as employees need to adjust to their new environments or “recalibrate” themselves to make sure they’re bringing their A-game every day.
• Do what works for you. If you find that you are a lot more productive or efficient when working from home, stick to that decision. Being upfront and fully transparent with your manager and team about what works best for you is key in this process. This applies to choosing to work in person, too. Flexibility appears to be a workplace factor. Results of a Culture Chat live poll showed 64 percent of attendees were given a choice for their future work environments.
• Be aware of bias. A recent study showed that people who chose to work from home are more likely to be more introverted. This bias of classifying people as introverts or extroverts based on their work preference is indeed dangerous. Employees should have equal opportunities for being promoted. Choose a company that suits your needs.

The discussion is available exclusively to attendees on our YouTube Channel. Access to this professional development resource is a bonus dividend for attending the June 25 DLE Culture Chat and participating in this timely conversation. Be sure to visit and subscribe to take full advantage of our amazing resources.