ACHIEVING WORK-LIFE BALANCE

1. ACHIEVING WORK-LIFE BALANCE AIM- IRS Conference August 2009 Grand Rapids, Michigan Presented by: HMT Industry Director, Charlie Brantley HMT Director of Field Operations – West , Dave Horton

2. Achieving Work Life Balance Workshop • Purpose: • To focus on how to successfully combine work, family relationships and leisure time into a satisfying life. • Approach: • To create a skill set that enhances the ability to evaluate priorities, focus on the big picture and use long range planning • Use prioritizing and organizational skills to make sense out of conflicting demands

3. The Work – Life Balance • Work and personal world were once very distinct. • It is harder than ever to keep up with both your work and personal activities. • Activities and social spaces are becoming ambiguous.

4. Some things people deal with on a daily basis • Getting ahead at work • Spending quality time with your significant other • Caring for elderly parents • Doing chores at home • Taking care of children • Commuting to/from work

5. The Never-Ending Work Day … • There was a time when people in the IRS reported to work Monday through Friday and worked an 8 hour day. • The day started at 8:00AM and ended at 4:45 PMhowever, • The world has changed. Some of the changes in the work world caused a change and blurring of the work and personal worlds.

6. Changes in the Work World • Global economy • International business • Advanced communication technology • Flex-time schedules • Alternative or flexi-place work location • Changes in family structure (dual-career)

7. Some Facts to Consider About the Workforce • 57% of people who say they had to go into work late or leave early did so because of caring for elderly relatives • 4% say they’ve turned down a promotion • 10% say they went from full-time to part-time work Article in Forbes Magazine- March 17, 2009

8. 2 out of every 5 employees are dissatisfied with the balance between their work and personal lives The lack of balance is due to: Long work hours Changing demographics More time in the car Deterioration of boundaries between work and home Survey Results From More Than 50,000 Employees from a Variety of Manufacturing and Service Organizations Found(Source: Quintessential Careers article)

9. So … How Do You Restore Balance to your Life? • First, remember that the work/life balance can mean different things to different people. • It can also change and mean different things to you at various points in your career. • You also have to be realistic. • If you set a priority (EX: advance in your career), you have to be realistic about what that will require.

10. 10 Tips for Getting your Work/Life in Balance( By Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.) • Negotiate a Change with Your Current Employer • Changes can include: flextime, job-sharing, telecommuting or part-time employment. • Your 1st step is to research your employer’s policies and methods of handling previous requests • Find a New Career • Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming than others. • Explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible

11. 10 Tips for Getting your Work/Life in Balance (continued) • Find a New Job • Rather than a career change, perhaps you simply need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. • This may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position • Slow Down • Life is simply too short • Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. • Find some ways to distance yourself from the things that are causing you the most stress

12. 10 Tips for Getting your Work/Life in Balance (continued) • Learn to Better Manage Your Time. Avoid Procrastination. • For many people, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized – and procrastinating. • Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines – and then stick to them • Share the Load • Even though we may sometimes feel we’re the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. • Get your partner or other family members to help you withall your personal/family responsibilities

13. 10 Tips for Getting your Work/Life in Balance (continued) • Let Things Go. (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff) • Learn to let things go every once in a while • Learn to recognize the things that don’t really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go • … then don’t beat yourself up for doing so • Explore Your Options. Get Help. • In many cases you do have options; you just need to take the time to explore them • EX: a sitter for your children, options for care of your aging parents, counseling for yourself • Don’t feel overwhelmed with your family responsibilities

14. 10 Tips for Getting your Work/Life in Balance (continued) • Take Charge. Set Priorities. • Sometimes it’s easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done • Buck the trend. • Simplify • It’s human nature to take on too many tasks and responsibilities, to try to do too much and to own too much. • Find a way to simplify your life • Change your lifestyle • Get rid of the clutter and baggage in your house – and your life.

15. Final Thought on the Work/Life Balance…. • In the end, the key word is balance. • Find the right balance that works for you • Celebrate your successes and don’t dwell on your failures. • Life is a process .. and so is striving for balance in your life.