When Just Talking About It Actually Works

 

Just talking about HR programs can help improve worker performance, according to this study by the SHRM Foundation.  The study shows that you can build job satisfaction merely by talking about work-family programs.  Among the findings, "...offering work-family programs can result in improved attitudes and performance, even when use of these programs is low."

So remind workers of the many programs available to them, e.g.

• paid/unpaid elder care leave
• flexible spending accounts for dependent care
• elder care resource and referral
• child care resource and referral
• flexible spending accounts for elder care
• and on-site child care

To maintain a higher morale over time, highlight different benefits periodically, perhaps during weekly meetings. Explain how your organization supports the use of these programs to maintain work-life balance.

You don't have to lie about  anything or exaggerate. Just promote actual programs. Show you care. Help push workers out of their anxiety. Give them a way to improve their lives.

As an additional advantage, those workers who actually do use work-family programs "have lower work-to-family conflict than those who don’t and this lower conflict translates into improved attitudes and performance." Better performance? You could use that.

Think of this as another way to retain those high-performers without spending a lot of project money.

Don't know what to say? Work with HR to find out what to communicate or have HR reps communicate for you. Use newsletters, meetings and any other media you can.