Employees with a healthy work/life balance have long been perceived as more valuable than their unbalanced peers – usually invited onto more task forces and getting smiled at more often by the CEO.
But how does a company know employees are actually achieving this balance – and not just saying they’re achieving it to be more valued?
That’s where the Work/Life Balance Report comes in.
“They could be saying they’re making popcorn with the kids when they’re actually at their laptop strategizing platforms,” says Wilma Willis, HR Director at Chicago’s Plunktip – one of over 30,000 companies requiring employees to complete the report each week.
“We need to know what’s really happening.”
In their reports, workers document their “life” activities – earning points for each one after the company has contacted others involved to verify the activity actually took place. Some actual questions:
What are three “fun” or “rewarding” activities you engaged in outside the office? (8 points) Examples: Drinking a “smoothie” with friends, “romping” with an approved pet (cat, dog, ferret)
Did you participate in an activity from which you learned something that wasn’t job-related? (4 points) Examples: How to play dominos, “binge-watching” a TV show, learning a new dance or “twerk”
How often did you engage in the activity of “horseplay” in the office? (5 Points) Describe the activity and how much time was spent on it. Also provide four reasons why you believe engaging in this activity was more important than doing your job.
“The reports are due at end of business every Friday,” says Willis. “Sometimes people have to work extra hours to finish them, so they may miss a few kids’ ballgames or dance recitals.”
But the many advantages of a well-balanced staff, she says, more than make up for such minor concerns.
