Changes in technology, connectivity, generational differences have lead to a change in views in terms of how we approach our working lives.
One of the game changers is the ability to work and perform your duties from home. As a return to work Mum I am fortunate that my business allows me the opportunity to strike a work life balance. BUT this isn't always the case and in the last 6 months I am seeing more and more companies in the Life Science industry curtail their appetite for flexibility around home working.
I am yet to read an article or speak to one of my customers about how easy it is to find talent - the demand certainly outweighs supply.
Employee engagement and well being is key to a productive work force and employers need to take the onus to build an environment where this doesn't have a detrimental effect on their culture and peoples ability to integrate.
Scientists are amazing problem solvers so can anyone solve this?
One of the things that makes people feel positive at work is work-life balance. People who feel they have good work-life balance work 21% harder than those who don’t, according to a survey from the Corporate Executive Board, which represents 80% of Fortune 500 companies. That extra effort is the definition of the discretionary effort that comes from employee engagement. Contrast that with the negative effect work-life conflict has on employee performance—reduced work effort and performance and increased absenteeism and turnover (Anderson, Coffey, Byerly, 2002), reduced health and energy (Frone, Rusee, Barnes, 1996), and increased stress and burnout (Anderson et al, 2002).
