The next generation of candidates wants more than a job. They want to be part of a supportive, inclusive organisation that promotes a balanced approach to work and living. Employers have to do more than pay lip-service to this idea, instead they must embed balance at the very heart of their culture.
We spoke to Sam Tyrell, Managing Director of Enactus Sheffield who is currently in the third year of a Biomedical Sciences degree. He discussed the importance of work-life balance for him individually and how he thinks organisations can get better at this important balancing act.
Vitally important, in my opinion. From my experience in Enactus, it’s very easy for people to get sucked into work and we see some members drop out because they throw everything into it and burn out. It’s just not sustainable. The same applies if they are going for a job after university. If they burn out, it’s not good for the company and it is not good for them. I think at some point in the week, everyone needs to zone out and relax completely. How exactly we achieve this is up for debate, but it’s vitally important.
Yes, absolutely. It would be a factor at the top of the pile. I appreciate in most organisations you have to be passionate about what you do and throw yourself into it. But I think there is a difference between being passionate and just putting in endless hours and effort that leave you drained. I think for me, it would be a job that I am passionate about but within a culture that recognises that work isn’t absolutely everything.
I think, in terms of my experience from leading Enactus, it has to come from the top down. If people see their leaders saying, “This weekend I did this” or “I went there”, talking about something apart from their workload, this reflects downwards. They need to see balance at every level and this needs to be communicated really well.