The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Learning and Skils Council earlier this year reported on the state or work-life Balance across industry sectors.

So what did they have to say?  We looked into the report and here we summarise the key points. 

The ESRC carried out a study on 700 firms in France, Germany, the UK and the US.  Their results provide for interesting reading.

Perhaps in contrast to what one might think, the small firm where employees know the names, faces and birthdays of everyone around them is not necessarily the best place to gain the ideal work-life balance.  According to the ESRC, the bigger, more globalised firm is better positioned to provide its employees with a better work-life balance for their employees.

The report also backs up what we all already know - that well managed firms work smarter and that working smarter means employees are less likely to work more than their daily contracted hours. 

Particularly helpful management practices in firms where employees had a better work-life balance included the fostering of talent, consistent training opportunities, the reward and retention of high performing staff.  Where a company was in the habit of these good management practices, they were also more likely to provide more family friendly policies, encouraging better work-life balance, for example, flexible working, shorter hours, more holidays and better childcare options.

A study by Investors in People (IiP) backs up the findings of the ESRC, stating that flexible working procedures can help reduce absenteeism and improve retention. 

Figures from the National Office for Statistics suggests and increase in those working flexibly from home - so perhaps organisations are finally catching on that better work-life balance means happier employees who are more likely to stay with the organisation.