Work-Life Feed

Click to read: Work Life Balance – Dispelling The Myth!

Source: Aero Tech News

Snippet: I recently stepped into a new role as an executive team member at a high-tempo organization. Later, I found myself having great conversations with friends and mentors about finding a healthy work-life balance.

As we talked though our day-to-day challenges in the face of COVID-19 and shared mutual experiences, one thing became apparent — no one’s balance is exactly the same. We all often discuss this topic as if there is some perfect, universal balance that exists daily. One that we can all can obtain. But no, that is not the way it is. In reality it is unique to each of us and to different times in our lives.

You may like this; Worklife Balance or Integration – What’s the difference?

Balance can’t always be measured a day or even week at a time. Balance, like resiliency, is measured over the long haul. And part of finding this long-term healthy mindset is acknowledging the fact that the desired work-life balance may be slightly off day to day.

No family structure is the same, so by default, priorities are different. To address this balance, here are some steps to take; find activities that recharge you, communicate your boundaries, and don’t forget about you. These are three out of nine other suggestions in the Aero tech News report.

Welcome to Worklife Feed articles and site-files indexing and adaptation series.

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Click to read: The 9-5 is Dead And Workplaces Will Not ‘Return To Normal’

Source: Daily Mail

Snippet: COVID-19 pandemic brought several fast paced changes to our daily lives, least of which is not the forced working from home. Starting initially with some few weeks of lack of clarity, months have rolled in with many working from home since then.

Google, Salesforce and Facebook are among businesses that have said that their employees can work from home until at least next summer. Microsoft and Twitter have said some staff can do so forever. On the surface, it seems that the Coronavirus have killed the traditional 9 to 5 office routine.

Recommended: In New Normal How Will We Go Back To Work? – Poll

However, a new report has claimed that the office will remain a key part of British working life. And it describes as speculation and ‘misplaced’, the idea that the office is dead.

The publication warns that workplaces ‘will not return to normal’ after the pandemic is brought under control – with employees having adapted to the ‘new normal’ of working from home during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The 9-5 Is Dead And Workplaces Are Dead – That Is Speculation And ‘Misplaced’

The report collated information and surveys from dozens of publicly available studies. It quoted one source which says that 41 per cent of remote employees reported higher levels of stress. This is high compared with 25 per cent of their counterparts who are in the office.

Another study by NordVPN that the report highlights, claimed that UK employees have been adding around two hours to each workday while working from home. This means that they have been adding an extra working week per month.

Yet another study by the International Workplace Group (IWG) claimed that 85 per cent of businesses had confirmed that productivity increased as a result of having greater flexibility. The group said that 63 per cent of those surveyed report a minimum 21 per cent improvement in productivity.

Welcome to Worklife Feed articles and site-files indexing and adaptation series.

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Click to read: Ireland Remote Working Hubs To Be Funded By The State

Source: The Irish Times

Snippet: The Irish Government plans to fund remote hubs in rural towns and villages over the next two years. This is part of the development of a State strategy on remote working.

Mr Varadkar, who is Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said the move to remote working in recent months, because of the pandemic, “probably would have taken 10 years as a planned strategy”.

Despite the fast pace of change, there is a growing concern about remote working, which is being ‘always at work.’

Sinn Féin spokeswoman, Louise O’Reilly said that “if you work from home you’re sort of always at work and sort of always at home. There needs to be a clear definition of remote working as a protected form of work.”

There is also the concern that while promoting Ireland remote working hubs, jobs do not to other countries.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned that “we have to look at the risks to the country as well of people who currently live in Ireland, perhaps remote working from the Canaries, or Ibiza or Poland or India. That’s a real risk to us in terms of losing jobs”.

Welcome to Worklife Feed articles and site-files indexing and adaptation series.

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Click to read: For Chicagoans, Pandemic Gave A Friendship Lifeline

Source: Chicago Tribune

Snippet: As the COVID-19 pandemic tightened its grip on Chicago, Danielle Campbell reached out to seven of her dearest friends. Most had gone to college with her; all had been in her wedding. But now one was in Seattle, and three were living in France.

The “Fabulous Babes” group chat that resulted was flooded with messages, and soon there was a weekly Zoom meeting with wine or cocktails. The “Babes” discussed their anxieties and challenges, but they also shared silly photos and joked and laughed.

Chicagoans have reached out to dear friends across the country and the world during the pandemic. And in some cases, they’ve stayed in close contact with multiple conversations, texting sessions or video chats.

Welcome to Worklife Feed articles and site-files indexing and adaptation series.

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Why A Work-Life Balance Scoreboard?

According to a Harvard Business School survey, 94% of working professionals reported working more than 50 hours per week and nearly half said they worked more than 65 hours per week.

“… when the assumption that everyone needs to be always available was collectively challenged, not only could individuals take time off, but their work actually benefited.”

The EU Gender Equality Index 2019 focuses on Work-Life Balance (WLB). The EU WLB scoreboard cuts across three broad areas {paid work, unpaid work (care) and education and training}. These is presented with 15 indicators in six specific areas of concern.

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