There’s a paradox sitting at the heart of the issue of work/life balance at the moment.
Research shows that people are increasingly seeking 24-7 digital connection while driving; in the bedroom; and in social and family lives.
More and more people sleep next to their phones, take devices on dates and digitally connect at meal times. Many people want to be “always on”. But when you’re open and available, it’s hard to choose to ignore it when the emails happen to be from the office or the tweets are coming from the boss.
Old rules
The concept of work/life balance largely precedes the advent of digital technology. The term was first coined in the 1970s, but 100 years ago, employees were taking papers home their work finished up.
Round-the-clock digital response and connection is much more pervasive. Research suggests that many millennials want their home life to be just that, in fact, 100% that. One global study of full-time workers in eight countries conducted by Ernst & Young finds that millennials – and particularly millennial parents – are so serious about finding work/life balance, they’re willing to relocate if it means they can move into a job that offers it.
"It’s hard to choose to ignore it when the emails happen to be from the office or the tweets are coming from the boss." Image via iStock.
This is only one snapshot, but there’s a lot of research around at the moment about work/life balance. Employees want to bring their own devices to work, and enjoy social media connection in whatever way suits them. But they want to close the door on work when they get home and not be pestered by work at home
Top Comments
Im not surprised the millenials are pushing back. They are usually the most junior workers and are more likely to be micro-managed whilst having an insecure future with the company. Consequently they might feel more pressured to be responding to texts, emails etc when they are eating, travelling, unwinding or sleeping. In times past I suspect the youngest workers believed that going the extra mile would be rewarded with promotions, pay increases and permenancy. Now the millenials have no reason to believe that their extra contribution will be either recognised or rewarded because of "global economic factors" that demand a flexible, low-paid workforce. Likewise using social media at work has probably replaced face-to-face socialising with colleagues with the advantage of being less disruptive, more controllable and more flexible.