How to Give Your Employees the Balance They Crave

Some of your employees will crave balance above all else. Those employees recognize the importance of balancing their work lives and their personal lives. They prefer to work for organizations that make work-life balance an attainable goal by supporting both the business and personal success of their employees.

How to Identify Employees Who Value Balance

There are a few characteristics that people who value balance tend to have in common:

Those who value balance ignore email and work-related tasks when they are off the clock.

They generally have very clear personal goals in addition to their work goals.

They may become agitated when their work projects consume their personal time.

They generally know how to leave their personal lives – including personal stresses –out of the office.

The Pros of Having a Balance Employee on Your Team

If life is a balancing act, these employees know better than to ever tip the scales too far. Those who value balance have big personal and professional goals. They want to achieve all of these goals – and also avoid burnout.

In a tight-knit office, they might be the one who hesitates to connect with their colleagues on social media. It might be widely known that they have a family or a cherished past time, but they shield the details well. When it comes to those workplace perks like health initiatives or flex time, they will be some of the first to take advantage.

The Cons of a Having a Balance Employee on Your Team

While an employee who values balance is not necessarily less dedicated to either part of their life, chances are that when one spills into the other, they will become frustrated or stressed. Unplanned overtime or a family emergency during work hours might be enough to tip the scales they work so hard to keep even.

Why It's Important to Support Your Balance Employees

Employees who value balance thrive when they feel supported. They look for employers who are just as happy to see their employees finish marathons as they are to see them hit sales goals. When these employees receive that support, they are quick to return the favor – usually by giving their all to the position.

Employers should appreciate that these employees are not prone to burnout and stress like their less balanced counterparts may be. Stress is a major driver of job changes, and a lack of work-life balance is a huge stressor for many,

What Your Balance Employees Hate

The 47-hour workweek that many Americans put it in is stressful for many, and your balance-focused employees will be the first to speak up about it. If your company expects long hours and hard work without compensating employees through onsite health initiatives or flex time, then your balance-loving employees are probably searching for new jobs right now.

Additionally, while these employees are generally great at avoiding burnout, too many surprises can lower their otherwise high boiling points. Companies will see the most growth and dedication from balance-chasing employees if they clearly outline opportunities for career advancement and what it takes to capture those opportunities.

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If a balance-focused employee is in your midst, your company is probably high on their priority list. When they join your team, they're prepared to bring you into their perfect mixture of work and play. If you help them maintain that mixture, they'll respond by giving you their absolute best at all times. However, if you ignore their need for balance, you'll lose them – and quickly.

A version of this article originally appeared on the Vitru blog.

Ryan Mead is the CEO and founder of Vitru.