Research Paper about Work-Life Balance
Have you ever been so stressed at work that you just need a vacation, or need to take your vacation days in case your kid is sick, family event, or has an emergency? I know I have, At the beginning of the year, my family informed me that we were going to go on a trip. With that, I called into work and asked for just a week off. Rather than giving me the full week, they said I could have only five days off. Unfortunately, I was unable to go on vacation. Even though, according to the website Foothold America (2021), “US workers receive around ten days (about one and a half weeks) paid holiday each year” (Para. 4). However, according to the article Living and Working in Denmark, “Every employee is legally entitled, to 35 days (about one month four and a half days) paid vacation.” (n.p.). The purpose of this paper is to show why Americans should have longer vacations and shorter workweeks, and how it can benefit them mentally and physically.
First, having a job is crucial in this society, but at what cost. In a 2019 stress survey, they found that “94% of American workers report experiencing stress at work” (Wrinke, 2019, n.p). Stress at work can look vastly different for everyone, whether it is getting in reports or saving lives. No matter what your stress is like at work, the most stressed-out people are more likely to have a premature death (Neighmond, 2014, para. 3). It has been found that The American Institute of Stress reports that 120,000 people die every year as a direct result of work-related stress (Goh, Pfeffer, & Zenios, 2016, para. 1). Your physical health is just as important, according to Corporate Well Magazine, “physical health problems linked to workplace stress include immune deficiency disorders, musculoskeletal disorders including chronic back pain, and gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome.” (Para. 11). With not managing your stress and taking a vacation you can put your body through even more stress or sickness. Not only does workplace stress affect your mental and physical health (Marks, 2021, n.p), but taking longer vacations have shown to make employees' mood towards work different (Halkos, para. 10).
When returning home from vacation, the American Phycological Association (APA)(2018), states that “68% of working Americans reported positive effects of taking vacation time and said when they returned to work their mood is more positive, and 66% had more energy (para. 6). While 57% said they had more motivation, and felt less stressed” (APA, 2018, para. 6). When employers encourage their employees to take time off 71% said they had more motivation compared to the employees who said their organization doesn’t encourage time off (APA, 2018, para. 10). Employers encourage employees to take time off, which shows that they care about their employees, which helps to improve the overall working environment. With time off from work, employees seem to benefit from this to be more productive at work which can lead to companies benefiting. Taking time off can improve and boost your mood, but if longer vacations are not an option, there are ways a company can take to improve its employee’s stress levels. Not only do Americans work many hours per week, but other countries have also taken the step to cut their work hours for employee benefits.
The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), states that “an important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work.” (Para. 3). According to Walsh, (2017), “Denmark is the number one country for work-life balance (para. 3). While according to Mazur, (2021), the average 24-year-old to 54-year-old United States employer, with a full-time job works about 40.5 hours a week (n.p.). Whereas according to Walsh (2017), Denmark employees work a standard of 37 hours per week, with fewer hours per week for a Denmark employee leads to more time for personal care and needs (Para. 3). The benefits of work-life balance include “increased productivity; improved recruitment and retention; lower rates of absenteeism; reduced overhead; an improved customer experience; and a more motivated, satisfied workforce.” (Halkos, para. 14). With Denmark having longer vacations and shorter hours per week, they scored at 7.646 happiness when the United States happiness ranked at 6.951 (World Population Review, 2021, n.p.).
“Work-life balance enables employees to feel as if they are paying attention to all the important aspects of their lives.”(para. 14) states Halkos. Practicing a work-life balance can make it seem more like you are in control of your life. For instance, learning to say no in the work environment can be hard, but you do not want to overschedule yourself (Mayo Clinic, 2020, n.p.). United States employers could improve promoting adequate time off work by making it mandatory to take all their earned vacation days within the year. This helps with “Knowing they can take time off when they need it removes a layer of stress, and they appreciate the job.” (Biedron, 2021, n.p.). Instead of seeing your employees as working machines, see them as human beings with lives outside of work. So, for now, when you are overloading yourself at work just remember that you should “work to live, and not live to work” (Happy Danes: Why is Denmark the happiest country in the world? 2021, n.p.).
