Work Life Balance [人事5-CSR･健康経営・人事部・労務]
WLB(Work Life Balance) is like a “Serotonin (Monoamine neurotransmitters)” effect, which let us not memorise everything by controlling the Cerebral cortex. So if you have enough Serotonin, you can control your stress well. Likewise If you have good WLB strategy, your staff can enjoy the life not worrying their work at home.
When you go back to home after work, you don't need think about your work at home. However if you cannot switch your mode well, you tend to continue to think about your work unconsciously and cannot relax well.
So it is advisable to have some fun after the work to switch from working mode to fun mode like playing with your kids or doing some hobbies but not simply watching DVD with a glass of wine.
Companies can provide some hobby club to enjoy for an hour before going back to home, for instance photo club, ruuning club or bowling club. This will support to switch your mode to fun one. Week end recreation or sports event might accelerate this.
Of cource you can do this without company support, however it is easier to enjoy with colleagues rather than yourself alone.
On the contrary , when your kid get sick or you have some family issue at home, you cannot concentrate your work at office and your productivity goes down.
Companies can provide some flexi work scheme like flex work time or work from home etc so that you can adjust your time well.
There are some misunderstanding about WLB. Employees will think WLB is a benefit as the understanding of "Work is bad and Life is good" while Management will think WLB is reducing work hours. But in fact WLB strategy is to stimulate work efficiency and creativity and make working life more interesting.
In order to execute WLB strategy successfully, the senior management have to show their good balance of Work and Life. If they manage their WLB well and become productive and creative, their staff will follow.
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."