39 AGCAREERS.COMAGRICULTURE & FOOD CAREER GUIDE Work-life balance has been a topic of conversation for years and has found its way into most people’s vocabulary. This concept originally concentrated on setting boundaries and keeping work separate from personal life. Think about work-life separation! Then email, cell phones and work-from-home jobs infiltrated our careers and lives. The last straw appeared in 2020—a pandemic, virtual school, and work. The lines between work and home life blurred. In a recent AgCareers.com poll, twothirds of people said it was challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance working from home. Nearly 90% said they bring home stress from work, and 83% checked their work email after hours. In response to the balance and remote work trends, we’ve seen the concept of work-life integration, or synergy, take hold. This synergy is more of work and personal life blend. This may seem alarming or intrusive to some, and you are not alone if you believe work should stay at work, and not follow you home. TIME SPENT AT WORK According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian works over eight hours on paid work activities daily. That means most of a worker’s waking hours during a typical workday are on the job. With the bulk of your awake time spent working, it’s not surprising that work is on everyone’s mind. AgCareers.com asked people if they felt they could advance professionally in their job by only working 40 hours per week; 50% responded “no.” WORK-LIFE PROGRAMS Human resource professionals and business leaders are reconsidering worklife initiatives. Employers have increased their efforts to promote employee well-being. Many experts advocate for acknowledging an employee as a whole person, including both their work and personal situations. Employee well-being initiatives recognize that an employee often brings their entire self into the workplace, good or bad, whether working in-person or remotely. Personal situations may affect work life, and work situations may affect personal life. Understanding employees’ circumstances and needs allows employers to support well-being and enhance business success. To support work-life well-being, employers may offer paid time off, flexible scheduling, telework, health and wellness programs, and employee assistance programs. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM AN EMPLOYER? Paid time off programs are a method to foster work-life balance. In the AgCareers.com 2022 Employer Benefits Survey, 17% of Canadian ag & food employers planned to increase paid time off benefits for employees. Over 25% of employers offer a wellness program. Wellness programs encourage employees to engage in healthy activities and promote a healthy lifestyle. More employers are also using flexible work arrangements, according to AgCareers.com annual HR Review Survey. More than half of Canadian employers offered flexibility in scheduling. Nearly half offer a hybrid work schedule, 33% offer core hours with flexibility outside of those, and 23% offer a part-time or reduced schedule. WORK-LIFE BALANCE VS. INTERGRATION So, what does balance versus integration look like? It varies for each person. It may even vary by their stage in life, current situation, work status (fulltime, part-time, contract, temporary, or student), and outside factors. You need to examine your priorities, personal situation, career type, and industry to discover what is realistic and what creates the best equilibrium for you. Do you prefer your work and life to be separate or blended? Balanced or integrated? ASK YOURSELF—DO YOU WANT TO: • Adhere to a strict daily schedule • Work up to 40 hours/week • Disconnect after hours • Have responsibilities of managing people, products & services • Work weekends/evenings • Work remotely • Have flexibility to attend events during normal work hours • Travel for your job • Take classes or continue your education • Be involved in your community, volunteer, or mentor Work-life balance or integration preferences are different for everyone. After you’ve asked yourself what you want and what is realistic for your career type, you can compare it to what your employer, or potential employer, offers. These questions are ideal for the end of the interview when the interviewer asks if you have questions! In the interview, ask the employer about their company culture and position on work-life balance and flexibility. Their answers can help you determine if the organization and role are a good fit for you. Illustration by Tierney on Adobe Stock AG
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