Employees 'take responsibility for work-life balance'

A total of three out of four UK workers believe that maintaining a good work-life balance is down to them rather than to their employer, a new poll has found. According to the research carried out by psychologist Richard MacKinnon, 70 per cent of workers are concerned about the possibility that their personal life might affect their performance in the office.

However, speaking to Recruiter, Mr McKinnon of Talent Q urged employers to be more "innovative" in ensuring that staff attain a happy balance and provide benefits beyond those they are legally obliged to. He highlighted the potential of flexible working policies and recommended that bosses set an example in terms of work-life balance to encourage employees to do the same.

Many of those polled said that they had given up some work-balance during the recession, while 44 per cent expected equilibrium to return after the economy recovers.

"You are damaging a person's work-life balance if you ask them to work crazy hours," the psychologist warned. He added: "Employers have a duty of care towards their staff, but employees have to be aware of the nature of their job and engage with the issue of work-life balance."

In advice issued about achieving a good work-life balance, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggests that "the world of work has changed" and its surveys have indicated that the major concerns for respondents to its surveys are "long hours and work intensity". This suggests that it is important for employees, including those working in banking jobs in London, to try and achieve a good work-life balance.

Many of those polled by the CIPD reported that they could not imagine working any harder and one in five reported taking work home with them each day. However, the organisation notes that introducing policies to improve the work-life balance of staff can enhance productivity, increase the flexibility of operations, improve morale, reduce absenteeism and attract a more diverse workforce. Additionally, the advice also points out that some measures must be introduced to meet legal requirements.

Additionally, a radical study was recently published by left-wing thinktank the nef (new economics foundation) that proposed the introduction of a much shorter formal working week in the UK in order to combat existing economic, social and environmental problems.

Anna Coote, co-author of the report and nef head of social policy suggests that such a move could break the pattern of "live to work, work to earn, and earn to consume", placing a lighter burden on the earth's natural resources and improving the work-life balance of Britons. The report noted that two-adult households are working six hours longer per week on average than their counterparts in 1981 and suggested other benefits of reducing the formal working week may include reducing social inequality, cutting unemployment rates and boosting levels of civic engagement.

These studies place the emphasis for a healthier work-life balance for those in finance jobs in London firmly with both employees and their bosses and indicate that more flexible working can result in greater productivity and motivation in staff.

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