While there are many factors that can increase stress levels in individuals today, the workplace is one of the most prominent causes. Prolonged stress increases the chances of poor mental health among individuals which lead to other symptoms like insomnia, perpetual fatigue, irritability and lack of concentration. According to the World Economic Forum, individuals are now more likely to prioritize their health and well-being emerging from the pandemic.
Moving out of the pandemic, many people are starting to prioritize work-life balance more than ever before. This manifests itself in job searches by having “work-life balance” as a soft factor, alongside hard factors like pay. Individuals would also much rather work for companies that have values aligning with their own.
In the recent Twitter saga, Elon Musk has mandated employees to return to office for work. The remote work arrangement gained popularity during the pandemic. However, because the pandemic was not a planned event, this arrangement is considered an anomaly and is oftentimes not stipulated in contractual agreements.
What is work-life balance, and why is it important? In short, work-life balance is the state of equilibrium where the demands of one’s career and the demands of personal life are of equal value.
