Work-life integration is similar to the well-known concept of “work-life balance.” Though both were developed to help employees meet personal and professional demands while reducing stress and burnout, they’re not actually the same thing in practice. The main difference between them is when and how workers have time to take care of personal responsibilities unrelated to work.
When we talk about work-life balance for employees, there’s an emphasis on separating personal from professional. Work-life balance often involves setting boundaries, so employees (and others) know when it’s time to work and when it’s OK to handle private or personal needs. Work-life integration, on the other hand, is based on the idea that professional and personal lives can be integrated. People should be able to step away from their jobs to handle anything — even if it happens to be during traditional work hours. For most people, achieving work-life integration results in improved focus, reduced workplace stress, and other benefits.
Keep reading to learn what work-life integration is, why it’s continuing to gain popularity, and how you can implement effective practices and policies in your organization.
What is work-life integration?
As opposed to work-life balance, work-life integration is the idea that working and managing personal needs can occur simultaneously. The modern workplace model has undergone significant changes in recent years. Now, employees appreciate having the flexibility to accomplish everything they need to do in a given day — regardless of whether it’s work-related or a personal need.
Combining personal and professional responsibilities means employees can prioritize their days, get their work done, and still find the time to take care of daily life outside of work.
Examples of work-life integration can include:
- Having a flexible schedule that offers autonomy
- Arriving late to work because of a morning doctor’s appointment and then staying late to make up the hours
- Collaborating remotely or engaging in meetings even when people are in different physical locations
- Working from home and caring for a sick child
- Leaving work early to run errands before stores close
- Working at the airport before a flight
- Dialing into a call from the car on the way to another appointment, obligation, or event
- Going for a walk or doing a workout during a lunch break
Work-life integration vs work-life balance
The terms work-life balance and work-life integration are often — and incorrectly — used interchangeably. However, they take a vastly different approach. The easiest way to distinguish between them is to think about work-life balance as the separation of work and life, and work-life integration as the combination of work and life.
Work-life balance:
- Encourages the use of boundaries to separate work and personal lives
- Allocates time and energy for all areas of life
- Doesn’t allow one part of life to infringe on another
- Improves employee mental health
Work-life integration:
- Focuses on managing work and personal lives simultaneously
- Creates a flow between the two areas of life
- Recognizes that the modern workplace model often overlaps with personal life
- Emphasizes adaptability
Essential components for work-life integration
Working remotely, using technology, and interfacing with a global economy are the 3 main components of work-life integration.
Remote work
Remote work options can reduce stress while allowing employees to manage daily routines and responsibilities. Blending personal needs — like working out, going to the doctor, or running errands — into workday routines doesn’t have to impact productivity or quality. In short, allowing your team to work remotely is a win-win for employees and employers.
The concerns: It’s normal to be worried about allowing workers to be remote, but research links it to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover. While it’s true there have been some mixed findings about the outcome of working remotely, most research shows an uptick in productivity levels and other benefits, like lowered stress and anxiety (as long as people feel supported by leadership and can find a balance between professional expectations and their personal lives).
Technology
Technology has changed how — and where — people do their jobs. Today, technological advances mean modern workforces can stay connected even when they’re in different corners of the world.
Instant communication, online collaboration, and access to resources are always just a few clicks away, thanks to the countless project management tools, video conferencing platforms, and apps that allow us to work anytime, anywhere.
The concerns: Of course, the challenge with technology is always going to be learning to unplug. Just because people are easy to reach 24/7 doesn’t necessarily mean you should expect them to be available outside working hours.
Globalized economy
Our globalized economy allows today’s organizations to seamlessly operate across borders and time zones, which can make defining working hours a bit challenging. Employees might need to collaborate early mornings or late evenings to accommodate various schedules, but providing flexibility on both ends ensures there’s time for personal life in addition to work demands.
The concerns: Companies that operate globally must openly prioritize work-life integration policies to prevent burnout, job dissatisfaction, and lack of engagement.
Benefits of work-life integration
Work-life integration offers several advantages for employers and employees. It starts by creating an environment that welcomes a relationship between personal and professional responsibilities instead of trying to control it.
Benefits of work-life integration for employees include:
- More flexibility
- Autonomy that helps them achieve balance
- Improved mental and emotional well-being
- Increased job satisfaction
Benefits of work-life integration for employers include:
- Increased productivity and performance
- Higher retention rates
- Attracts and retains top talent
- More engaged workforce
Challenges to achieving work-life integration
Offering work-life integration can cause some challenges. Awareness is key to addressing and overcoming most of them, though, which will allow workers to maximize work and personal time efficiently.
Difficulties and potential challenges with work-life integration:
- Blurred boundaries: Combining personal and professional spaces might blur boundaries. For some people, it can be difficult to fully disengage from work and focus on other things. For example, it can be tempting to check or respond to a work email when it’s family time. Suggest employees use out-of-office or do-not-disturb settings on devices to identify when they’re using their personal time.
- Burnout and overworked: New research found that almost half (44%) of employees in the United States are burned out. The same study found that 45% and 51% feel “emotionally drained” or “used up,” respectively. As employees try to shift into a mode where they can do everything at once, they might be tempted to take on too much. The goal is to reduce stress, so it’s important to emphasize balance and ensure expectations aren’t overwhelming your people.
- Challenges with setting boundaries: Setting boundaries — and then actually sticking to them — can be hard, especially when employees first start doing it. Remote work inherently blurs the lines between home and office, even when employees have a dedicated workspace. For many workers, driving away from a physical office can offer much more workday closure than walking from the office to the kitchen might. Make sure you’re sharing the importance of shutting down and off at the end of the day.
- The mental and emotional toll of feeling “always on”: Connectivity is a blessing and a curse. While it allows a remote scenario, it can also result in pressure to feel available all the time. Employees might feel anxious or guilty about changing their focus from work to personal issues. If not properly managed, the sense of being constantly on can result in chronic stress and strained personal and professional relationships. Mandate mental health days or reinforce that PTO is there for employees to deal with anything they need to, without judgment or penalty, as long as they’re getting their job done.
How employers can support healthy work-life integration
You can dramatically change how employees manage their lives by supporting healthy work-life integration. The policies you implement can create an environment that enhances well-being, job satisfaction, and productivity so employees will thrive inside and outside of their professional roles.
Offer flexible work schedules
Flex schedules can reduce employee stress and enhance productivity. Give your employees the opportunity to adjust work hours, so they have time to manage personal responsibilities and priorities throughout the day.
Encourage remote work options
Remote work can be empowering. Employees who work remotely have autonomy in their lives that can reduce stress and help them focus when working because they’re not anxious about “everything else” they need to do.
Promote a results-oriented work environment
Focus on outcomes instead of micromanaging your people. Your efforts will allow employees to effectively manage their own time and prioritize high-impact tasks.
Provide mental health and well-being support
Offer access to mental health support, such as counseling, wellness programs, and other initiatives aimed at helping employees manage stress levels and maintain balance.
Create a culture of trust and support
Encourage open communication and ensure leadership is empathetic when dealing with employees. Supportive work environments help people feel understood and valued.
Encourage regular breaks
Breaks are essential for preventing burnout and keeping employees from feeling overwhelmed. Promote short and frequent breaks during the workday to reduce fatigue and renew energy levels.
Offer paid time off and personal days
Offering paid time off and personal days is a great way to make sure employees have time to recharge or deal with things like doctor appointments. By removing the stress that comes from juggling professional and personal responsibilities, employees can return to their jobs refreshed, motivated, and ready to work.
Provide technology and tools to increase efficiency
There’s no way to avoid technology in the modern workplace today. Access to tools that increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and enable workers to complete their jobs can be invaluable.With technology integrated into daily life, employees can be more efficient and have personal time throughout their days.
Support professional development without overload
The American Psychological Association (APA) recently published a report connecting a lack of growth opportunities with seeking employment with other companies. In fact, one study found it’s the second most common reason workers left their jobs in 2021 (just behind low pay). By offering convenient opportunities to grow with your company, you’re incentivizing employees to stick around, helping them advance their careers, and promoting work-life integration along the way.
Set clear expectations for work-life boundaries
Expectations, practices, and policies surrounding boundaries should be clear, consistent, and communicated regularly. Make sure your team knows they have the power to disconnect and recharge as needed.
Create a culture that values time off
Valuing time off should be a company-wide culture. Encourage employees to take advantage of the leave you offer them. Send a strong message about the importance of work-life integration and self-care, rest, and recovery. People will be at their best when they know you want the best for them.
Lead by example
Leadership sets the tone when fostering a culture that prioritizes work-life integration. Management and other leaders should model healthy behaviors by taking breaks and disconnecting when necessary. Caring about their own well-being signals to workers that it’s OK for them to do the same.
Achieving long-term work-life integration
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for long-term work-life integration. Achieving it requires a revolving and continuous process, with ongoing effort and a willingness to adapt to changing needs. The good news, though, is you can help employees blend their personal and professional obligations. It’s worth it, too. The benefits of work-life balance or integration include greater employee productivity, enhanced job satisfaction, increased longevity, and improved mental and emotional well-being.
Mental health is integral to creating healthy work-life integration in the workplace. Providing access to mental health services like online therapy for employees from Talkspace helps employees navigate challenges as they learn to blend the demands of work and life. Online therapy is a convenient and effective way to seek guidance and find tools that help employees set healthy boundaries, manage stress, and balance their professional and personal lives. Work-life integration is more than just a strategy — it’s staying committed to helping your people so they can thrive in every aspect of life.
Request a demo today to learn more about how Talkspace can help you implement work-life integration in your organization.
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