Human Resources 101

Whether your company is small or large, policy driven or informal, there are things you can do about work-life balance. Here are 57 ideas gleaned from actual workplaces. They range from simple to complex and represent a range of costs. Any one of these ideas can be a first step to implementing a program of work-life balance in your workplace.

1. casual Fridays
2. lunchrooms, to encourage people to meet and eat together
3. more relaxing furnishings in a gathering area
4. decor or points of interest (e.g. fish tank) that cause people to”take a breather”
5. employee notice boards for posting personal notes or requests (e.g.TV for sale, seeking car-pool partners)
6. personal space rooms (e.g. retreat with a minor illness)
7. couches for naps
8. private phone rooms or booths to make personal calls
9. breakfast at company expense
10. no responses to e-mail required on weekends
11. no meetings between 8 and 9 a.m,, leaving the first hour of the day free to catch up on work and with co-workers
12. no meetings every second Friday, allowing people to get more done and free up their weekends
13. scheduled, breaks in the workday beginning or end of the day
14. social events or mixers to strengthen at-work friendships
15. family events to strengthen family/work connections, understanding and support
16. workplace tours, videos, photo diaries or ”bring your child to work days” to help family members understand and support the employees’ work commitment
17. grandparent’s day off to spend with grandchildren
18. provide day care and after-school care at the work site
19. on-site fitness centres, opening fitness centres to family members
20. subsidies or passes to local fitness centres
21. bringing wellness into the workplace (e.g. massage therapists, yoga)
22. on-site convenience store
23. on-site rink, walking trails, basketball court, barbecue
24. on-site dry cleaning service
25. on-site cyber café
26. staff parking
27. taxi vouchers or bus fare for unplanned overtime
28. concierge services (e.g. shopping, pet walking, house cleaners or contractors)
29. automobile pickup and servicing
30. supper brought in for unplanned overtime
31. bulk discounts for ski passes
32. discounts on any company products
33. brokered discounts at popular retail outlets, restaurants, clubs or for car insurance
34. tuition reimbursements or subsidized living costs while employees are at school
35. scholarships for children of employees
36. low—interest loans
37. no-interest loans
38. paid memberships in community associations or local teams
39. limits to mandatory overtime
40. eliminate travel on Sunday to allow families to he together for a full weekend
41. eliminate mandatory Saturday night lay-overs for business trips
42. pay for employees to take a spouse along on a business trips
43. learning or wellness accounts
44. tickets to local theme parks, ballet, sporting events
45. company picnics, dinners, parties, golf tournaments
46. work/family account (a set amount to spend as they see fit)
47. pay for lessons not related to work
48. pay for meals or a housekeeper for a grieving family
49. a thank-you card to an employee
50. a thank-you card to the employee’s family
51. well-behaved pets in. the workplace
52. on the spot” good work” awards
53. work schedules that align with the bus schedule
54. policy that employees must take vacations
55. paid leave each month or each year to a volunteer
56. volunteering together as a work team
57. dollars for doers”—charitable contributions earned by volunteer work