While 93% of employees said work-life balance was critical for good overall wellbeing, 67% do not feel they can fully switch off or keep work-life boundaries, according research by Protime UK.
Its report The work-life boundary gap – why it matters and how to fix it, which surveyed 2,000 UK employees, also found that poor work-life balance negatively impacted 41% of employees’ wellbeing on a daily or weekly basis, and 65% on a monthly basis or more. Employees took an average of 5.4 days of sickness absence in the last year due to stress, anxiety or burnout.
Just one quarter of employees (24%) think both employers and employees are best placed to decide on how they want to work, with 21% being consulted on realistic work volumes and setting clear work-life boundaries, 18% on the existence of a policy that protects it, and 20% on enforcing one.
According to respondents, avoiding the urge to check work emails outside of working hours (58%) and removing push-notifications (54%) are the main actions that can enable them to mentally switch off outside of working hours.
Two-thirds (62%) additionally said managers should ensure employees can mentally switch off outside working hours and 59% believe organisations should enforce boundaries. Respecting work-life boundaries (54%), ensuring workloads are manageable (52%) and creating a culture where switching off is respected and encouraged (48%) were the top actions that employees want organisations to take.
Just one-tenth (11%) said their employer did a very good job of managing wellbeing, while 26% said there is no meaningful support for it. Three-quarters (72%) support the introduction of a right to disconnect initiative, believing it would improve their work-life balance.
Simon Garrity, UK and international business development at Protime, said: “Our research demonstrates that unboundaried work is having a significant negative impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Organisations need to take a comprehensive approach to managing work-life boundaries, including clear policies, cultural changes, and practical tools to support employees.
“The potential benefits are substantial: improved employee wellbeing, reduced burnout and absenteeism, and ultimately, enhanced productivity. It’s time for businesses to recognise that respecting work-life boundaries is essential for long-term organisational success.”
