Kohll (2018) highlights that it is time to redefine what work-life balance looks like, according to many leaders. The best way to appeal to millennial workers, who are projected to dominate the workforce by 75% in 2025, is a worthy endeavor. Kohll (2018) further notes that the current work environment has been forced to be under significant transformations where work flexibility and life balance has gained more prominence than the amount in the paycheck. Working at home and any hour of the day, as opposed to the traditional 9 am to 5 pm work hours, to maximize employee productivity should always remain the constant aim ( Miller & Yar, 2019) . More so, Miller &Yar (2019) posits that the best means to keep talented employees despite their generational differences is through ensuring they have the time they desire away from the office. Also, ensuring employees enjoy their office time is the best means to motivate and engage them.
Both authors advocate for a new work environment where the young generation is not tied to the four walls of an office since they can work anywhere. More time and space to handle other life-related endeavors apart from office work have been factors that the young generation ask upfront before they sign an employment contract. More value is given to flexibility as opposed to higher remuneration among the young generation is the similarity is evident between the authors. Flexible working environments and employee’s welfare has been the new norm in the organizational culture of the globally competitive business entities.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Kohll 2018) diverges in explaining the concept of work and play emphasizing that a flexible working environment appeals across generation of workers. Besides, millennial generation workers are considered lazy and entitled compared to the previous generation of workers in office environments with dictated work hours. Miller &Yar (2019) denotes that as the boomers' age, they resent, giving younger workers more workplace flexibility, a privilege they did not enjoy at their life stage and age. The boomers prefer younger employees to suffer the way they did in their quest for a flexible working environment.
I agree with the writers that more value towards work and life balance is better than increased salaries with more significant professional titles. Employees are more productive in an evolved, flexible work-life balanced environment than a traditional office with rigid working hours and terms. Such comes from reduced workplace burnout and employers saving money while retaining a more productive and healthier workforce ( Kohll, 2018). Employees become more productive and efficient if not forced to cleave life from work ( Miller & Yar, 2019) . Working from home or receiving work calls while on vacation can be a great incentive to be happier and more productive. Unlike the traditional workplace with inflexible terms, the current revolutionized work, where employees work on their terms, demonstrates that organizations value their employees.
'Work hard, play hard' has been my previous mantra in my work ethic. Unless we work, we cannot play; only the right balance is needed to make this work. However, following the traditional retirement concept of playing more than working, has led to inconsistent performance coming from workplace burnout. In my opinion, I have resorted to working smarter, not harder. Such involves using a schedule that will allow me to take time in my activities without feeling guilty. Work and life balance are an essential dimension of a healthy work environment as it helps to reduce stress and burnout among the employees. In turn, this enhances their personal and organizational productivity as they can allocate time to different competing needs between work and life scenarios.
References
Kohll, A. (2018). The evolving definition of work-life balance . Forbes. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/03/27/the-evolving-definition-of-work-life-balance/#2ba51a159ed3
Miller, C. C., & Yar, S. (2019). Young people are going to save us all from office life . The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/style/generation-z-millennials-work-life-balance.html
