Comment: Improving work-life balance
Providing employees with a positive work-life balance will result in better engagement with the business, more motivation, and less stress
The trucking industry is based on hard work and long hours. This has been the industry norm for decades, but times are changing and as an industry, we need to look at how we operate to attract the new generation that we need in the industry to replace our ageing workforce. We need to start thinking seriously about how we can provide a better work-life balance that makes the industry more attractive to the younger generation.
With more than 90% of the freight task in New Zealand moved by trucks and this freight task expected to double in the next 30 years, the industry will need more people to manage the freight growth. It’s critical that we develop a healthy lifestyle that attracts these people to our industry.
As a society, we’re witnessing a generational change in attitudes to work. The younger generation that’s coming into the workforce is demanding a better work-life balance than our generation has enjoyed, and we need to change with the times to be competitive in attracting this generation.
We’re in a fast-evolving and competitive labour market. The industries that adapt and harness this change will be successful in attracting new talent.
Providing employees with a positive work-life balance will result in better engagement with the business, more motivation, and less stress, which, in turn, increases business productivity and reduces lost time through health and safety issues.
As an employer who provides a positive work-life balance, you become an employer of choice who will find it easier to attract new employees. This will lead to increased staff loyalty and retention. On its own, this can provide savings to a business in reduced training and HR costs. Your employees are your number-one business asset. Developing and protecting this asset is a sound business choice.
As a business, you would not run your trucks into the ground through a lack of servicing and maintenance. The same level of care and investment needs to be put into your employees.
Without a healthy lifestyle balance, your employees have an increased chance of suffering from health-related issues, including stress, fatigue, illness, depression, stroke, and heart attack. This is not productive for your business.
Make sure your employees take regular holidays. Going without regular holidays or time out from work is bad for their health and risks burning them out. Look at work schedules and rostering to ensure that your employees get time to regularly recharge their batteries.
Develop strategies so that your employees can control their work-life balance. Have a company policy that at the end of the day, your employees turn off their phone and technology so that they get some quality time off with family and friends.
As a good employer, provide the opportunity for your employees to have a fully subsidised medical check, including a trip to the dentist to get their teeth x-rayed and look to assist with the cost of any repairs that may need to be done. Have their eyesight tested. This will give them and your business peace of mind. Look for the signs of burnout, such as fatigue, apathy, unusual accidents, and ill-health. Talk to your employees individually to see where you can assist.
Helping your employees understand that their own choices can negatively impact their health is important. Encourage them to eat a healthy diet by reducing their intake of coffee, sugar, energy drinks, and alcohol and to eat more fruit and vegetables. Advice them to regularly exercise. A half-hour walk around the block each day would also help and they will be amazed at how much better they start feeling in a short time. Incorporate information about health risks and good health choices into regular toolbox meetings, newsletters, and other communications as part of an overall wellness programme. Provide inspiration by getting a dietician to address your employees with some healthy eating and exercise tips.
Employee benefits, including gym memberships, nutrition counselling, weight loss services, and smoking cessation makes it easier for employees to get healthy and also sends the message that health is something your business is serious about, not just something you’re paying lip service to. Treat your employee’s health as a long-term business commitment, just like a long-term commitment to improving driver safety and reducing accidents.
Lead by example by being a good role model for work-life balance and a healthy lifestyle. Remember no one will take advice from someone who does not follow their own advice.
Develop flexible work schedules to give employees a better work-life balance. This does not mean that employees can come and go as they please. A flexible work schedule policy for your business will spell out the conditions to employees. Having some flexibility will encourage diversity among your workforce, allowing families to work around family responsibilities such as childcare and schools.
Getting your employee’s family involved helps to support their work-life balance. You can encourage families by having events such as ‘Bring your kids to work days’, sponsoring work picnics, or getting families involved in supporting a charity that your business sponsors or taking part in community-focused events such as the bi-annual Trucking Industry Show.
The New Zealand Trucking Association delivers the ‘Healthy Truck Driver’ programme from the Safety MAN Road Safety Truck to trucking businesses around New Zealand. The programme is designed to help truck drivers identify the symptoms and causes of common truck driver health issues.
Each participant is given a take-home booklet that identifies the key health issues, with useful links for further information, advice, and help. By participating in the Healthy Truck Driver programme, you’re helping to start conversations and encouraging your drivers to become healthy drivers. You can request a visit at roadsafetytruck.co.nz.
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