The truth about the work/life balance

We've all read the latest tips on how to improve the work / life balance. Yet many of us are still working late into the night, while dreaming about that future holiday or missing out on helping our child with his or her homework. EBR have gone on an investigation to find out the truth about the work / life balance.

So what is the truth about the work / life balance? The answer is that there is no "truth", only opinion from HR managers and experts who claim to know the answer to how you should lead your home and work lives.

Some say that your HR department is responsible for managing your work / life balance (Chris Ferdinandi, Renegade HR), while others argue that HR has no control over your personal life! (Kriss Dunn, the HR Capitalist). 

One executive bluntly told a HR conference that individual choices are the main part of the work / life balance which can have consequences on your home and work lives. He stated that not being there in the "clutch" by choosing family over work means that you could be missing out on that next big promotion (Jack Welch, General Electric Co.).

So should we be blaming our children because we missed out on a promotion? Or does this mean we should be forfeiting our familial and social duties so we can further advance up the corporate ladder? What kind of society do we live in, that our main ambition is how to increase our pay package?

While EBR agrees with Welch that the work / life balance involves some serious choices which can have consequences, we say that it's more important to make these decisions based on your own happiness and wellbeing.

Keep an eye out for future tips on the work / life balance.