Friday’s Big Idea

Today's Big Idea: Work-Life Balance

The idea of work-life balance entered corporate consciousness relatively recently in the United States, only to be mortally threatened by the 2008 economic downturn and its aftermath – an employers' market in which jobs are scarce and workers' rights less of a priority for many employees than putting food on the table.

But as companies ramp-up productivity with fewer and fewer human resources, they're discovering that an "always-on" work culture can increase worker burnout rates, leading to high turnover and retraining costs.

Organizational researchers and psychologists like Leslie Perlow and Dan Ariely study what motivates workers and what makes organizations function effectively – and how to reach intelligent compromises – between workers' and organizations' needs – that benefit everyone.

Switching off an "Always on" Culture

by Jason Gots

The “always-on” work culture, says Leslie Perlow, drains morale and initiative, and scatters employees’ mental resources, making it difficult for them to take ownership of projects and prioritize their efforts. But changing it requires collective effort.

The Four Day Work Week

by Jason Gots

According to psychologist Dan Ariely, Google’s policy of giving employees free reign over 20% of their work week – one full day out of five – makes for happier, more passionate workers and a better, more creative company.

Photograph 51 and the Pursuit of Balance

by Andrea Chalupa

Rosalind Franklin was instrumental to the discovery of DNA, but as the film photograph 51 demonstrates, hers was a life out of balance.

Whose Responsibility is Work-Life Balance?

by Jason Gots

Obviously, people’s priorities differ. But it’s fair to say that culturally speaking, the United States leans in the direction of intense productivity at the expense of time spent reading a good book, or in the company of friends and family.

21st Century Living

Friday’s Big Idea

Today's Big Idea: Work-Life Balance