Can a Robot Think Critically and Muse Philosophically? Skills for the Future Workforce
February 12, 2025
It is essential for individuals to be assertive and speak their mind without being rude and aggressive. Do not say a yes to others if you do not agree to what they are saying irrespective of their designation and level in the hierarchy. Remember, as an individual, you have all the rights to express your […]
The Benefits of Freelancing in Times of Job Insecurity In these times when job insecurity is rampant, and when professionals are increasingly finding their full-time jobs suddenly at the risk of downsizing and redundancies, there are many among these professionals who are considering switching to the freelancing mode. This way, they either become freelance consultants […]
Time management is one of the most essential skills contributing to the success of an employee as well as organization. An employee needs to manage his/her time well to complete assignments within the stipulated time frame and deliver results on time. Employees often complain of not being able to spend quality time with family members […]
Planned Vacations Contemporary organizational theories talk about the need to reduce person dependence and ensure that the show goes on even in the absence of key resources. In this context, it is important for managers to actualize effective vacation planning as they deal with planned and unplanned vacations and time outs taken by their team […]
What is the Social Mirror and why does it Matter? In HRM (Human Resource Management) theory, there is a term called Social Mirror which is used in the context of how an individual’s upbringing, immediate environmental forces, peer influences, and societal perceptions play a major role in determining his or her career progression and success […]
In these hypercompetitive times, stress and strain are common causes for concern for all professionals. Given the fact that most professionals work for twelve-hour workdays and more, it is natural that they begin to feel stressed out and tired because of overwork. This has the consequence of upsetting their physical and mental health as well as causing issues in their family life.
When modern corporate professionals spend a majority of their time in the office including working on weekends, they have little time to spend with their families. The work life balance or the necessity to ensure that work does not suffer and at the same time, personal life does not suffer as well is a favorite topic of discussion among corporate trainers and lifestyle experts.
If we look at the typical workday of many professionals, we find that a disproportionate amount of time is spent on commuting to and from the workplace to their homes. Even without accounting for congested roads in Asia and suburban homes in the West, the commute takes longer simply because staying close to the workplaces, which are located in the downtown areas, is expensive.
Hence, one aspect that can be remedied is by taking public transport, which not only reduces the carbon footprint but at the same time also ensures that professionals have the time to think about the day ahead on the way to work and reflect on the day completed on the way back home.
The next aspect about work life balance is that professionals must devise ways and means to work from home given the employer is willing to entertain such a possibility. Studies have shown that employees get more work done when they work from home and especially for the women professionals who might have to take care of kids when they are sick and attend to other commitments, working from home is an attractive option.
Of course, in recent months, because of the gloomy economic conditions, some employers are frowning on the work from home option and hence, it is high time for the policymakers and the governments to encourage employers to consider legitimate demands for working from home.
Working from home not only saves time on the commute but also is productive as employees are less distracted because of the buzz at the workplace and at the same time can take care of their personal commitments without having to forego their professional obligations.
The third aspect of work life balance is that it is critical for professionals to take their vacations regularly as it is a great time to de-stress and relax. Many multinationals like Citigroup have mandatory vacation periods because they not only want to be overly dependent on employees from the perspective of person independence, but also want their employees to take time off for vacations so that they can come back refreshed and rejuvenated.
The fourth aspect of work life balance is that professionals must indulge in physical activities and exercise regularly as this helps them to stay fit physically and mentally. Further, they must avoid taking calls at home in the evenings on regular workdays except when they are working from home and as far as possible, they must avoid working on weekends. Apart from this, they must ensure that time spent at the workplace is for genuine work related reasons and not merely to while away the time in pursuit of non-work related activities.
For instance, it is common for many unmarried professionals to stay on at the workplace even when they do not have any work because they do not want to go to their homes as the workplace becomes more exciting because of the company of their peers. This is a habit that might work when professionals are unmarried but once they have a family, this habit can be self-defeating and lead to adverse work life balance.
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