Some recent studies on employee burnout are alarming. 84% of millennials have experienced burnout at their current job. WHO recognizes burnout as a legitimate syndrome. More people are being pushed towards burnout as organizations do not recognize the impact of overwork on mental health and employee productivity.

We consider it imperative that organizations recognize their responsibilities and take cognizance of these numbers. The world of work has changed unrecognizably in perhaps the shortest time over the last decade. As the work environment becomes borderless, organizations become all the more responsible for ensuring that their policies and work environment become more technology-driven and even more human-centric. 

Work-life balance is not a perk in this hybrid world

Studies also show that work-life imbalance decreases productivity by 21%. 

Overworked employees or those on the verge of burnout are also more likely to call it quits. Replacing them costs almost twice the annual salary in 2024. 

Employee morale within the organization also plummets and impacts productivity levels. 

Plus, as the demographic changes, employee engagement at work, their productivity, and output become directly linked to work-life balance. 

Work-life balance is not a perk in this hybrid world.  It is a strategic initiative…one that is fundamental towards building healthy and productive work environments; where employees get the space to think, the room to ideas, access human libraries, and innovate to drive exceptional customer experiences. 

All these good thoughts, however, need to be translated into actions and opportunities that create pathways for work-life balance. 

Life at enreap – How we cook a perfect ‘work’-‘life’ pie

We walk this talk at enreap through several initiatives that contribute towards employee wellness. 

Our people-centric work environment has been in a state of constant evolution as the world of work evolved. Just like software, today’s work environment demands a certain interconnectedness. Silos across organizations whether to conduct work or access work opportunities severely hamper growth. As such, our policies and work culture have accommodated the needs of this hybrid world and addressed the things that matter to the employees. 

We believe that approachable managers are crucial in driving workplace wellness and employee work-life balance. 

Approachable managers are the bridge between a healthy work-life balance and business outcomes. They allow us to foster a culture where employees are empowered to manage their work and personal lives successfully.

But what does approachable management mean to us?

Approachable management is all about creating an environment of continuous learning and enablement at work. This means that our employees can approach management for anything that they need to thrive in the workplace. 

The drivers of approachable management are: 

• Open communication

Approachable management creates a safe environment for employees to be curious and to have open and honest conversations. Our employees feel safe discussing workload concerns, deadlines, personal needs that need consideration as they impact work, etc. with ease and without any fear of judgment.

Because of this, our employees get proactive solutions, navigate work-related challenges, and have better work-life balance. 

• Flexibility 

Employees today are almost like business partners and not cogs in the wheel. They are versatile contributors, brand ambassadors, and strategic contributors that allow us to meet our business goals. 

As the work environment becomes hybrid, collaborative, and diverse, flexibility becomes essential to create a dynamic, resilient, and future-ready work environment. 

Today if organizations want to access, attract, and retain top talent, they have to offer flexible work environments that allow employees to take care of their schedules for appointments, childcare, unexpected situations, etc.

Approachable managers understand the demands of everyday life on employees. As a people-centric workplace, our management has deep empathy towards the advancing challenges of everyday life as with hybrid work, as work and life begin integrating, rather than intersecting.  Approachable managers help employees manage their time effectively, resolve challenges faster, learn more, and reduce work-life conflict with ease.

• Workload management 

Employees who feel safer talking to managers about workloads, performance impediments, and productivity challenges resolve problems faster and are more productive. Approachable managers are solution-driven and help employees develop a growth mindset by being available and fair.

Approachable managers monitor workload distribution within the team and ensure tasks are delegated fairly and deadlines are realistic. They make sure that employees are not overburdened and help them maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

We constantly evaluate processes ecosystem to ensure that they remain current and adapt them to changing needs of the evolving business ecosystem. Optimized processes drive productivity and reduce cognitive load that potentially impacts performance. Current and relevant processes also increase the ease of completing tasks which make workload management easier.

• Support and opportunities

Approachable managers who are champions of work-life balance send out a clear message that employee well-being matters. Flexible work arrangements, encouraging breaks, and respecting personal time help to set the tone of this culture.

Along with this, we ensure that employees feel supported and seen in the workplace. Robust mentorship programs, open door policies and accessible top management, comprehensive learning and growth paths, and professional opportunities to grow across different roles and even domains are complemented with approachable managers. These managers  help employees identify opportunities and leverage all the resources that help them thrive in the workplace and reach professional excellence. .

Active leadership involvement is a crucial element of approachable management. Our leadership team works closely with Stanford under the Seed Business Transformation Program to align the internal team with the business goals & objectives. We have also expanded our team sizes and have hired highly-skilled resources aggressively as we expand our global footprint. This makes sure that workload distribution and resource allocations offer optimal work-life balance. 

Approachable management makes sure that the enreap environment is buzzing with energy, vitality, questions, curiosity, healthy competition, and innovation. While we do believe that employees ultimately manage their own time, we endeavor to deliver an environment that does not create conflict between work and life. With approachable management in place, achieving a balance between work and life is not an uphill battle but an organic outcome.