#WorkLifeBalance – are you getting it right?

Whilst Covid-19 continues to bring disruption and challenges to us all, there is no doubt that for some, the impact the pandemic has had on our working lives has been transformational.

Employers across the world have recognised that hybrid working can create an engaged, efficient and productive workforce. Equally, many employees have reaped the benefits of being able to carve out enough time to enjoy healthy work and healthy life.

National Work Life Week provides an opportunity for employers to not only showcase the opportunities for flexibility within their organisations but also to shed light on the role it plays in our health and how it can be used to attract and, importantly retain a productive workforce. Statistics from Working Families indicate that 85% of working parents say work-life balance is a top priority and will influence their next choice of job.

At Pennington Choices, the pandemic has strengthened our understanding of the importance of the balance between work and home life. And whilst we have been forced out of some familiar routines and into new ones, we recognise that everybody within the organisation work differently and has a wide range of commitments.

As an organisation, we offer flexible working hours (compressed hours, remote working, family-friendly contracts), physical and mental health-promoting activities from cycle to work schemes to a range of benefits, as well as an open communicative culture; we are a company that loves transparency and has a continual open-door policy for all of our leaders and directors. We want our staff to feel comfortable raising issues, concerns or sparks of innovation with us. Mental health and wellbeing are incredibly important to Pennington Choices. Our Social, Wellbeing and Engagement consultant is employed to look after our staff, managing a newly created 12- month mental health programme of information and activities for all.

Becky Crook, Corporate Services Director at Pennington Choices said:

"The health, safety and wellbeing of our team are at the heart of our organisation. We recognise how much every individual employee matters to the overall success of the business. Happy, healthy employees that have a great work-life balance will ultimately enjoy the time they spend at work more and will be more productive as a result".

At Pennington Choices, people are at our core. As a close-knit organisation, we strive for excellence in everything that we do; something that particularly resonated for one new employee:

"For me, not having to choose between being a parent and having a good career was paramount to my choice to join the company. The pandemic has allowed me to be more conscious about what works and able to reflect on what matters to me and those important to me. Pennington Choices have created a sustainable, flexible working environment that offers me the opportunity to do more than just a job".

And it's not just working parents who benefit from working for an organisation that value work-life balance. Amelia, 27, who joined the company in 2019, said: "As well as the balance between work and my personal life, splitting my working week between home and the office means less time wasted on commuting and more flexibility during the day. Being able to get outdoors and into the fresh air in the day helps me to perform at my best and provides me with the focus and productivity later in the day".

It is clear that a good work-life balance benefits both businesses and employees. Whatever flexible working means to you, we'd love to hear from you. We are always keen to welcome talented individuals to join our growing family and become part of all the great things we are doing here. For more information, please visit our careers page here.