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Using technology to support a healthy work-life balance
Discover how Mitie’s workspace solutions can help your colleagues maintain a healthy work-life balance through the intelligent use of technology
While being available 24/7, and always on, is considered the norm for many working people, maintaining a healthy balance between work and home life is an ongoing challenge. Working late or at weekends to finish projects, win promotions and beat deadlines, can clash with family responsibilities. Managing relationships can become a source of stress in itself.
According to the CIPD Good Work Index 2022, 24% of employees are planning to leave their jobs in the next 12 months for ones with a better work-life balance. In the race to attract and keep top talent, the companies with a healthy attitude to the wellbeing of their workforce will win out.
How a better work-life balance boosts workforce productivity
Traditionally, it was employers that applied pressure to stay at the office, or on the factory floor, later and longer. Happily, there is a growing appreciation of the fact that an unhealthy work-life balance is not good for employees or the bottom line. Although it might boost short term profits, in the long term it could lead to reduced productivity and staff leaving the business in favour of more enlightened employers.
A good work-life balance is not just about time spent working versus time spent doing other things. It is also about the quality of the time spent in the workplace, the employee experience, and the ability to get the job done when there. All of these things are enabled by the intelligent use of technology.
Employers that encourage staff to develop a healthy work-life balance, and openly support them, can have:
- More engaged employees, who feel better about their jobs and being in the workplace.
- Employees who are less stressed and have the headspace to be more creative and productive at work.
- The business benefits of a more efficient and positive work experience.
Forward-thinking organisations are helping colleagues to redress the balance and technology is key to working smarter not harder.
What technology is used to support work-life balance
Technology that speeds up or automates work processes, or improves the physical environment and how the space is used, will have a positive impact on productivity.
Collaboration tools, like Teams, Slack and Trello, have made it easier to work together on projects, no matter where we are, and they continue to be the ‘go-to’ for cohesive working. For those who spend some, or all, of their time in the workplace, technology is being used to enhance the working environment and help the day run smoothly. It is also being used to provide feedback on how workspaces are being used and how they could be improved to deliver a better work experience.
Aim for a better workplace experience
Sensor technology is used to monitor and optimise environmental factors like temperature, humidity and light levels in workspaces. At Mitie, we use air cleansing technology to remove airborne pathogens and improve air quality in our workspaces. It gives colleagues an extra layer of assurance that their wellbeing is being looked after.
Our digital workplace technology optimises the workplace experience and improves productivity for our clients. Aria, our workplace app, connects colleagues to their facilities and services, and enables everything from booking desks and meeting rooms to ordering coffee.
We use Sphere, our workplace effectiveness measurement tool, to find out how employees feel about their working environment. It helps clients understand the relationships between their people, technology and the environment they work in. It provides them with insights into the people aspects of their workplaces that have a direct impact on productivity and informs any areas for improvement.
How we helped a client understand their workplace experience
We helped a government client to optimise the workspace for its diverse and multi-generational workforce. We surveyed more than 350 employees on their experience of three key aspects of their workplace: physical, sensory and emotional. Our workplace design team used the feedback to identify which improvements would enhance their experience, and positively impact productivity and wellbeing, while satisfying strategic workplace goals.
As a result, for the employees, we took the hassle out of using shared spaces by creating areas where they could work quietly, collaborate in groups, and remotely book desks and meeting rooms. We improved the air quality and improved access to outdoor spaces and breakout areas, all of which helped enhance employee wellbeing.
How Mitie can deliver a better workplace experience and enhance work-life balance for your employees
Mitie is one of the UK’s largest facilities management companies. Our team of workspace specialists use the latest technologies and data-driven design techniques to create truly connected and people-centred workspaces.
Better workplace experience is a high priority for new and existing employees and a key factor in the competition for top talent. We have developed a range of tools that bring that experience into sharp focus. The actionable insights they produce are used to guide meaningful change, enhance workplace experience and make sure that employee wellbeing is maintained as a priority. We create spaces that deliver increased productivity and cost savings, with high levels of employee retention.
Our digital workplace technology is a central component of our comprehensive and transformational Science of Service® facilities management offering.
Enquire now to see how Mitie can optimise your workplace experience to deliver a better work-life balance and improved productivity.
Source: CIPD Good Work Index 2022
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