How to develop and maintain a good work-life balance

Today’s working population lead exceptionally busy lives. With an average of 31.3 million people working last year, more of us are committing to working eight hour days or even longer. Indeed, with a huge 94% of working professionals admitting to working more than 50 hours a week, many people often find themselves in the office after hours, especially busy Medical Sales Representatives, whose roles often involve large amounts of paperwork, and long hours on the road commuting between GPs, hospitals and the workplace.

With that in mind, it’s more important than ever that companies and employees make the effort to cultivate a good work-life balance, both within the office and outside of it. With a quarter of UK professionals unhappy with their work-life balance, and many considering it a more important factor when choosing their job than even their salaries, it’s an important factor for employers to get right if they want to develop a workforce that is happy, motivated and loyal.

Here are some tips for developing a work-life balance within the workforce that works:

Flexible working practices 

80% of millennials say that organisations allowing for highly flexible work arrangements has a positive impact on their work-life balance which in turn has a positive impact on their overall wellbeing, health and happiness. 

It’s no secret that flexible working hours have a huge impact on the wellbeing of staff, and on their productivity: mothers who need to fit working hours around caring for their children, or Medical Sales Representatives who spend a lot of time on the road, all stand to profit by flexible working hours. which allows them to fit their personal schedules around their work schedule. By decreasing stress and allowing people to work at a time, or in a way, that best suits them, companies will be able to increase engagement too, especially as the advent of the internet has made it easier than ever for people to do their job from a variety of different locations. 

Employee benefits

Employee benefits schemes have certainly risen to prominence in recent years - and for good reason. Pension plans come as standard in today’s job market, and today employers are turning to new schemes to attract and engage their workforce. Many Biotech companies, for instance, offer excellent health insurance benefits, with firms like Novo Nordisk paying up to 94% of employee premiums, and Merck providing an on-site health clinic for its staff. 

That’s not all, though: other benefits include discounted gym memberships, free or subsidised canteen food, and deals through sites like MyPerks for cinemas and holidays. And given that many employees, like Medical Sales Representatives, are often on the road, companies pay for a company car or reimburse them for petrol. 

Given that 72% of employees say that being able to customise their benefits would increase their loyalty to their current employer, it’s a strategy well-worth investing in if they want to engage their current staff and attract new staff. 

Good employee policies

Creating an environment with a good work-life balance is all about implementing policies that allow employees to thrive. Although it is sometimes inevitable that work will pile up and that employees will have to stay late some days, it should be company policy to check on those employees who are constantly in the office, or who are logging hours well beyond the rest of the workforce. If you think as an employee that you are too busy, it may be a good idea to ask if there’s anything any of the rest of the team can do to help.

Be an employer who cares: in a working environment where 89% of British workers drag themselves out of their sick beds to go to work, it’s important to keep a close eye on staff to avoid burnout and keep them at their happiest, healthiest, and most productive.

Finding the balance

Taking the time to perfect work-life balance, whether in pharmaceuticals or as a Medical Sales Representative, can pay dividends in many ways. Not only does it create a productive, healthy workforce who knows that the employer has their best interests in mind, but it will improve the company’s reputation in the industry and attract new talent.

At IQVIA™, we go the extra mile to ensure that we create a great work-life balance for our employees. Find out more in our interview with Therapy Area Specialist Alice Brooks, or why not browse our open jobs in Medical Sales and Pharmaceuticals here? 

Sources

https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/five-benefits-of-work-life-balance/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahlee/2014/10/20/6-tips-for-better-work-life-balance/#4146e0ef29ff 

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247563

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sian-abigail-bradley/beware-the-burnout-the-da_b_17283264.html 

https://blog.accessperks.com/employee-engagement-loyalty-statistics-the-ultimate-collection 

https://www.medreps.com/medical-sales-careers/medical-sales-salary-report/ 

http://www.winstonbenefits.com/the-employee-benefits-blog/best-employee-benefits-biotech-industry  

http://workplace.care.com/the-most-compelling-work-life-stats-of-2017-so-far 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes