Job Search Tips << Back to list of Job Search Tips

Working within your limits
by Sophia Su

In a knowledge-based economy, the people we hire are our most important assets. Yet for many people the reality of life is an organisation where they do not feel they are being treated as the most important asset. The reality of working in today's contemporary organisation is that employees have little work-life balance and this spills over into their attitudes, behaviour and the values they hold in the workplace.

Work-life balance has become a major issue in the workplace in many countries. Almost everyone does some form of work-life planning. Engaging in a formal work-life planning process in a structured disciplined manner will greatly help in overcoming the 'cat and mouse' game that often goes on between supervisor and subordinate. It would also create more responsibility and empathy in the workplace.

The benefits of work-life balance
Policies that afford a work-life balance for everyone is good for the workplace. In fact, some small businesses save simply by using family friendly work policies. And the results are promising. There is a reduction in casual absence, better staff retention, easier recruitment and improvements in the morale, commitment and productivity of the employees.

Is there a future for work-life balance?
In Singapore, for instance, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has noted that "Singaporeans do want a balance in their lives." Deputy Prime Minister BG Lee Hsien Loong has said that the civil service is leading the way by adopting family friendly measures at the work place. It already has measures to help working mothers in the civil service. In addition, the civil service recently announced measures like allowing telecommuting -- where practical, as an alternative working arrangement, particularly for parents with young children, and flexi-time work arrangements -- as long as there is no loss of productivity or lapse in service standards to the public.

BG Lee also added that experience has shown that well-designed and effectively implemented family-friendly policies strengthen businesses. This is because they boost productivity and lower costs by improving retention, reducing absenteeism and enhancing worker commitment.

It is noteworthy for employers to remember that if they make an effort to balance the demands of every employee's life with those at the workplace, the organisation will become a happier, more efficient and thereby more productive workplace.

Tired of a never-ending work day? Need more QUALITY time with your family and yourself? How do you achieve it? Well here are five simple suggestions to help you work a little less and enjoy life a little more.

1. Set aside lunch time as personal time.
Instead of working through lunch and with colleagues, spend the time on yourself. Call an old friend, have lunch with the wife, get your haircut, exercise at the fitness centre or browse through the local bookshop. In short, take some time to rest and relax away from the office setting. The short respite will do you wonders, and you will feel re-charged.

2. Set reasonable deadlines
Not everything needs to be finished yesterday. Prioritise your work, and give yourself a sensible amount of time to accomplish a task, including a little extra time so that you can reasonable account for unforeseen contingencies. You will feel more relaxed, and your work will be better.

3. Say no to assignments on occasion
It is ultimately not the quantity of your work but the quality that counts. Consider taking on fewer assignments so that you can meet your deadlines promptly and produce better work. When you say, "I am sorry. I cannot take on a new assignment right now as I am already fully committed to a project", your statement implies that you are upfront, reasonable and dependable. Offer a feasible date when you can take on the task to show that you are not a shirker.

4. Commit to personal appointments
Give equal priority and importance to your family as you do your work commitments. Put them on your same calendar. If you plan to block off lunch with your spouse on a particular day, don't give the time up for a work engagement.

5. Set definite stop lines
Have you worked overtime, and told yourself "just another hour" only to find yourself still at the workplace two hours later? That's the time to apply the stop lines. Put a brake on your work. Set a fixed time beyond which you will not work and stick to it.




<< Back to list of Job Search Tips