We have already published an article on work-life balance. Today we are going one step further. Work-life integration is basically an advanced form of work-life balance. Instead of strictly separating work and private life, the two are mixed together. But how exactly does this work?
Digitalization as a promotion of work-life balance
Work and leisure time are still kept separate. However, the two are becoming increasingly intertwined. Thanks to digitalization, it is now possible to complete many work tasks at home or to squeeze in private tasks at the office. A strict separation of work and private life is becoming increasingly difficult.
This is where work-life integration comes into play. Private and professional life are consciously interwoven. In contrast to work-life balance, however, it is not about bringing the two areas of life into balance. This means separating the two areas from each other.
However, this is hardly possible in many professions. If you surf the Internet at work, you can quickly click on a page for private purposes. Does your job require you to visit social media? You can quickly lose yourself there without doing anything productive.
Work-life integration therefore takes place automatically to a certain extent. Working models such as coworking or working from home are also fueling it.
Mixing private life and work
Employers are not necessarily enthusiastic about this development. But it cannot be stopped. That’s why adaptation is the right step here. Private and professional life are becoming increasingly intertwined and the trend is on the rise.
If work-life integration is consciously planned by the company, the relationship can be managed. The aim is to maintain the productivity of employees, but at the same time offer them more freedom for private matters.
This is particularly important when looking to the future. For the younger generations, money and career are less important than their private life. Companies that want to remain attractive to applicants in the future should look at work-life integration.
Work-life integration offers a clear advantage for employers: an increase in effectiveness. Basically, working time is constantly wasted, no matter how good the planning may be. A low order situation, completing tasks faster than planned, waiting for new orders, meetings that get out of hand and so on.
Instead of having to use this wasted time for work, private things can be done in the meantime. Conversely, when the order situation is better or longer tasks need to be completed, work can also be done at home. It’s not about balancing one with the other. It’s about using the time wisely. Be it for work or for private life.
Implementing work-life integration
In order to implement work-life integration in a company, you have to abandon the idea that every shift has to be full and last eight hours. Work-life integration requires a flexible working model.
Possible models include trust-based working hours, part-time work, working from home or working for a lifetime working time account.
It requires a certain concept, which is best developed by a separate department within the company. The working atmosphere should be relaxed and free. Motivation and willingness to perform should be encouraged, while freedom is granted.
It is important to consider the needs of employees. If they have families and children, they should also have time for their families. If employees are pursuing health goals, these should be promoted. This only works with a well-designed system.
Basically, the company is becoming a place with leisure facilities. This can also go further. For example, through consultations on private topics integrated into the company.
The recording of working hours requires special treatment when it comes to work-life integration. If work can be organized freely at any time, both in the company and at home, the same must also apply to working time recording. A flexible and reliable system is needed that is mobile and easy to use. The timeCard meets these requirements.
Work-life integration is not for everyone. Some employees want to maintain a strict separation of private life and work. This is still possible. Essentially, work-life integration means that you have to take care of creating a balance with work yourself. Everyone is free to decide what this looks like and when it takes place.
Conclusion
Work-life integration is already widespread. It will continue to grow. As an employer, it therefore makes sense to look at ways of integrating work-life integration into the company.
This will not work overnight. The demands of the employees have to be met and many areas have to be adapted. In addition, the employees themselves have to get involved. Mixing private life and work, but still getting time off, requires a certain amount of self-management and discipline. This may have to be learned first.
