There was a time when attractive compensation packages were the sole criterion for employees while choosing or switching employers. Not anymore. Not after the pandemic. Today, professionals across the globe consider work-life balance a key factor when making career decisions.
Surveys after surveys corroborate this new trend. The Global Workplace Report -2021 published by NTT shows that 57% of employees now choose employers based on work-life balance. The case is no different in India. The Randstad Employer Brand Research finds that it is the top driver for 63% of male and 67% of female Indian employees.
All these numbers make one thing clear – it’s high time organizations started prioritizing the well-being and work-life balance of employees. The question is, how? Coworking has a lot to offer in this regard. Let’s look at 6 ways on how organizations can help employees achieve work-life balance through coworking spaces.
By offering flexibility
Lack of flexibility affects the work-life balance of employees significantly. When working on rigid schedules, they find it difficult to do tasks at their convenience, which leads to less satisfaction and more stress levels. In a survey conducted by Flexjobs, 54% of respondents with flexible work options rated their work-life balance as good or excellent. Only 29% of respondents without flexible work options reported the same.
One of the key benefits of coworking office spaces is that they offer optimal flexibility. Employees working from shared offices can enjoy better control over their workday and plan it around their most productive hours. Moreover, women who juggle careers and family can better achieve work-life balance through coworking spaces.
By providing facilities for increased productivity
Unproductive work environments are detrimental to the work-life balance of employees. Lack of amenities, bad ergonomics, poor office design choices, insufficient lighting, and distractions often prevent them from finishing their tasks on time. As pending work starts mounting, people work extra hours to meet goals, which affects their personal lives.
Employees can achieve a better balance between work and life in coworking office spaces, thanks to the wide range of facilities they offer. A distraction-free environment, designated areas for focused work and recreation, well-equipped workstations, ergonomic furniture, proper lighting, high-speed internet – you name it and a shared office has it all.
By reducing commute time
Reduced commute time is the winner of all coworking benefits for employees, and rightly so. According to a report by MoveinSync, Indians spend around 7% of their day commuting to and from offices. Its implications are glaring – the more time people spend commuting to offices, the less time they have for personal life. This often leads to social isolation & health issues.
Here again, employees can enhance their work-life balance through coworking spaces. Typically, shared office space providers have offices in multiple locations in the city – organizations can choose desks in more than one location and allow their teams to work from an office closest to their house. Thus, they get more time for personal matters, resulting in better work-life harmony.
By helping develop and stick to a routine
The pandemic has made many companies embrace the remote or WFH model. Despite all advantages, such a model poses employees a key challenge – it comes in their way of developing and sticking to a routine. Lack of routine leads to poor time management skills – people either work without breaks or end up taking more breaks than they need.
It is easier to achieve work-life balance at coworking as it helps employees organize their workdays more efficiently. They can plan their day, get dressed and get out of the house, and finish their tasks without getting carried away by distractions. Moreover, a coworking office helps employees have a designated place for work, helping them separate their personal life from professional commitments.
By offering the much-needed downtime
Taking too many breaks comes in the way of a healthy work-life balance. However, not having enough downtime and relaxation can be equally harmful. A quick lunch with friends, a short conversation with colleagues, a cup of hot coffee, a little reading time, etc., help employees decompress. Short breathers, in other words, are integral to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Employees can enjoy a balanced work-life in coworking spaces – one that strikes the perfect harmony between work and breaks. Shared offices are equipped with community areas and lounges where people can gather and mingle. Cafeterias serve as a place to charge up and connect with colleagues, while there are green areas, quiet corners, game rooms, and fitness centers for people who need a quick recess.
By offering a social life and support
A healthy social life can do wonders for the work-life balance of employees. Studies show that having social connections at work helps increase employee health, happiness, and performance and reduces their stress levels.
However, it is hard to build meaningful social connections while working from home or in traditional offices. People who work from home have little or no opportunities to connect with their peers, while those working from conventional offices rarely get a chance to interact with people other than their team members.
Shared offices score high on social connectivity and support. Employees can attain optimal work-life balance at coworking as it offers an environment that builds and promotes social connections. Community-inspired workplaces help people escape feelings of isolation, not to mention the support such an environment gives to its members.
Final Thoughts
Since people have started prioritizing work-life balance over salaries and steep career prospects, organizations should focus more on employee wellbeing. Moving to a coworking office might seem like a simple step, but it goes a long way in ensuring that the professional and personal lives of your employees are in sync.
The authored article is written by Aditya Verma, Founder & CEO, The office pass (TOP) and shared with Prittle Prattle News exclusively.
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