Work-Life Balance vs. Life-Work Balance

I continue to advocate for what Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin, says: “Take care of your employees, and they will take care of your business”.  We need to establish a culture within companies where the care, prevention, and well-being of people should be priority number one, and with a good budget to operate on this front.

However, since the upheaval caused by the pandemic, the world of work has seen how people changed their priorities. They realized that it was possible not only to work from home but also to save (or spend less), and even have an alternative source of income. This has also accelerated the process of new generations not “dying” to have a position in a company, which has led us all to question how on earth we find and retain talent.

For some time now, I have expressed that the discourse has changed. Before, when you went for a job interview, as an applicant, your sales pitch was what dominated the conversation. Today, that pitch has become a “reverse pitch,” meaning it is the company that has to sell itself with its benefits, innovative schedules, and work culture, the more “hype” the better. For me, this is more positive than negative, as long as the balance does not tip too far in one direction.

It is clear that the employee has to be well to prosper in the company and help it thrive (there is no doubt about that). It is clear that the working conditions and culture must be appropriate for employees to feel part of something incredible (here, purpose plays an important role). However, what happens when there is a crisis or a project to deliver? What happens when, as in the old days, the employee has to give blood, sweat, and tears to get the work done?

Recently, I heard Simon Sinek say on a podcast: “It’s okay to ask your team to stay late to get that project done.” Within this new labor trend where taking care of the employee is a priority, we must not lose that balance, even to the point where the employee does not prioritize taking care of their company.

Yes, we must do whatever it takes to make the employee truly a priority for companies and shareholders. Without employees, companies and businesses simply do not happen. We must continue to work to make that work-life relationship happen in all areas and at all levels.

However, we must also make a call to take care of that work-life relationship, and we must all understand that if there are no good businesses, there will be no companies, and therefore there will be nothing to take care of the employees.