Work and Life: The Balancing Act

Balance between leisure time and work time is extremely important. However, with ever-increasing responsibilities and stressors, work–life balance is becoming harder to maintain, and the resultant imbalance is proving detrimental to both employees and employers.

This report examines the growing imbalance between work-life and personal life and outlines the importance of maintaining a healthy work–life balance. It explores the effects of societal influences, such as technological advances and changing demographics, and the business case for work–life balance programs and practices. The report concludes by outlining guidelines that organizations can follow and incorporate into their work–life balance plan.

The report is based on a literature review; the findings of Signal49 Research’s 2010 work–life balance survey of 384 primarily large and medium-sized organizations across Canada; and three case studies of organizations that have made work–life balance an organizational priority.