Are you balanced? Spending time to evaluate your work-life priorities may be the answer

June 9, 2012 - PRLog -- Singapore – According to a study published by the European Heart Journal, people who regularly put in overtime and work 10 or 11 – hour days increase their heart disease risk by nearly two-thirds. Experts said the findings highlighted the importance of work-life balance.  

Work-life balance, ultimately, is about creating and maintaining supportive and healthy work environments, which enable employees to have balance between professional and personal responsibilities and thus, strengthen employee engagement, loyalty and productivity.

In a research project that co-developed by Cups Media and a local government agency of Singapore, 1,136 people from more than 250 companies participated in a survey in 2011. In the study, participants filled up their responses in a series of questions, which are printed on paper cups at their offices, when they are having their tea break or coffee time. Almost 80% of the participants come from the private sectors while the remaining comes from the public sectors of Singapore.

The study found that about 450 employees (or 40% of the survey population) want to “get things better”, and they would like to “spend more time to see how to improve their work life balance”. 80 participants reported that their work-life is “lopsided” and it is advised that they need to rethink their life priorities urgently. For these people, experts advised that they may have to:

1) Re-assess their work-life needs: Knowing what is expected of one at work and at home is the first step to achieving a balanced work-life.

2) Know one’s work-life options: Find out the work-life programs available at the workplace. Does the work environment allow flexible work arrangements? Part time work or telecommuting? Leave benefits such as family care leave? These programs are often made available to help employees to support their work and their family commitments.

3) Make informed work-life choices. One needs to know one’s priorities in life to make informed work-life choices. At some point, every one may need to make sacrifices. However, people will be less frustrated when they are clear of what they want and the trade-offs in life.  

Fortunately, 52% of the participants who participated in the self-check reported that they have a score above 33, which indicated that they have a “Perfect Harmony”!

The Managing Director of Cups Media, Ms. Joelle Goh, encouraged employees in the workforce to actively discover more about family life education, because it empowers and enriches one’s work, personal and family life, all at the same time. In addition, she added “Many organizations in Singapore actually encourage their employees to take advantage of their flexible work arrangement programs. One should take advantage of these programs and make informed decisions, so that they feel more empowered at work and at home”.


Resources:

Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports of Singapore (www.mcys.gov.sg)
Family & Community Development @ eCitizen (http://fcd.ecitizen.gov.sg)
Cups Media Pte Ltd (www.cupsmedia.com)  

About the Campaign

This is a three month campaign that run and implemented by Cups Media Pte Ltd. 267 companies, from different industries, received free paper cups, which contain a “self-check” questionnaire on the cups. A series of questions with scores were printed on paper cups; and participants submit their responses to the organizer by sms messages. A total of 1,136 employees from hundreds of different companies participated in the survey.

About Cups Media Pte Ltd (www.cupsmedia.com)

Cups Media, Singapore’s leading free cups advertising company, specializes in handheld branding in the workplace; bringing their clients closer to their target customers. Through displaying a marketing message, logo, or special promotion on the quality paper cups, their clients can place their advertisement to their target customers’ workplace. Literally, putting their advertisements in their customers’ hands!

This innovative marketing strategy will achieve results whether it is the sole advertising medium or a part of an integrated campaign. The concept can be used effectively in acquiring customers, sustaining brand image, driving traffic to a website, launching a new product and many others.