Fri 09 Feb 2007

Words are powerful things and the way we use words can have a profound effect.
Work life balance has become the holy grail of the new millenium.
It is as unatainable as the Holy Grail itself.
It is a flawed and destructive concept because it suggests that 'Work' and 'Life' are opposing forces,that a person is either working or living, that the two have to be separated and juggled in an unstable, balancing act.
How about a new concept of work life integration, which accepts the reality that our responsibilities in and out of work are mixed, they intermingle in a way unique to each of us.
What the individual should do is find the mix that suits, the shade of grey which works for them.
Employers should facilitate and support this enabling employees to work flexibly and in a way and to an extent which matches their need to work, to enjoy their leisure and to meet their responsibilities away from work.
Taking away the concept of a struggle between opposites and embracing that of a cocktail will reduce stress and improve the chances for all of us to find the mixture that is right for us.