Keeping employees motivated and effective is central to a company’s success. A stressed-out, run-down and over-worked staff is one that’s sloppy, lacking focus and prone to mistakes. Even the best, most dogged employees will eventually, if pushed too hard, reach a point where they become a liability rather than an asset.

Ensuring your employees achieve a healthy work/life balance is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make for your company. The American Psychological Association estimates that every year, stress-related absenteeism, lowered productivity and employee turnover cost American businesses $300 billion. That doesn’t include increased medical and insurance costs.

The key to a healthy work/life balance is letting your employees deal with small problems before they get out of control and become big ones. This in turn makes them happier, more productive workers, and less inclined to look for new employment. Lowering turnover lowers hiring costs, hours lost without a position filled, and the cost of training a replacement.

There are a few options you should consider when trying to help them achieve that balance:

• Flextime – Not everyone operates equally on the same schedule, so try allowing employees to start and end their working hours earlier or later to accommodate their needs. Apart from personal differences in effective waking hours (the rare, mystifying “morning person”), this gives greater flexibility to employees who may wish to continue their education or those who have to arrange childcare.
• Workweek Compression – By scheduling four 10-hour workdays instead of the traditional five eight-hour shifts, employees have another whole day to devote to relaxing, handling the issues in their own lives, and spending time with their families.
• Telecommuting – Not every job requires a person to be in the office at all times. If a position can be done adequately from an employee’s home office, consider letting them work remotely some or all of the time. It isn’t hard to keep in touch with people through technology these days, and a committed program might even save on some rental and office costs.
• Proactive Initiatives – Give your employees a hand by offering initiatives that help decrease stress or makes their lives easier. Consider on-site childcare to streamline their commute and save them money. Regular exercise is a great stress-buster, so consider on-site facilities or financial assistance to a local gym.

Staffers, Inc. is a leading provider of staffing solutions in the Jackson area and throughout Mississippi. Contact us today to learn how we can help your company.