Many government contractor benefits focus on traditional offerings such as health insurance and retirement savings. However, it is equally imperative to help employees achieve a proper work-life balance.
A happy and healthy workforce is more productive and engaged, so promoting a work-life balance in the contemporary work environment can help employers and employees.
Here is a look at some of the top benefits for modern government contractors looking to improve their work-life balance.
Flex Time
One way to help government contractors achieve a better work-life balance is by offering flex time. With this method, employers require their employees to be present in the office on certain days or make themselves available daily for a certain number of base hours. However, the employees have flexibility in determining the remainder of their schedule.
For example, parents with small children at home may want to start work early to be home in time to pick up their children from school and spend the afternoon with them. Alternatively, they may want to ensure that their working hours do not overlap with their spouse’s so they do not have to worry about childcare.
This is also useful for employees who are more productive at different hours, such as night owls, who may prefer to start at 11:00 am and work until later. When employees can design their work schedule to fit their personal lives, they can better reach that all-important work-life balance.
Alternative Working Schedules
For employers drawn to the idea of flex time but need more control over when their employees are in the office, alternative work schedules are one good alternative.
For example, an employer may allow its government contractor employees to work four 10-hour days rather than the more traditional five 8-hour days. This gives them three days off instead of the usual two, giving them more time for their pursuits.
There are many other ways to approach this, such as allowing employees to work nine hours on Mondays through Thursdays so they can have every other Friday off of work.
In addition to freeing up larger chunks of employees’ time, the more intensive hours they spend in the office may boost productivity.
For employers who are not ready to tackle an alternative working schedule year-round, other scheduling-related perks can also be effective, such as implementing seasonal hours where, for example, employees can leave early on Fridays during the summer or the holiday season.
Another option is allowing employees to take a longer lunch break occasionally, such as three hours instead of one, as long as they come to work earlier or stay later to make up for the hours. This gives them time during the day to run errands or go to appointments that are harder to schedule outside of working hours.
Childcare
Another important benefit for helping employees achieve a positive work-life balance is offering childcare options. This is particularly useful for companies with many parents in their workforce.
Many modern employees consider on-site childcare to be one of the most attractive employee benefits because it is difficult to find. Not only is it convenient and a great way for employees to save money, but it also gives them the peace of mind of knowing that their children are nearby.
Mental Health Benefits
One of the biggest trends seen in employee government contractor benefits in recent years is a greater emphasis on mental health coverage, with more organizations offering better support systems to employees with mental health challenges.
Although there may be a greater expense involved in covering services such as psychological counseling, this often pays off for companies in terms of greater productivity and less burnout and illness-related work absences.
Some businesses may consider offering telehealth counseling, which allows employees to interact with counselors online or via phone. This makes therapy sessions more convenient for employees and removes some barriers that have traditionally prevented people from getting the help they need.
Well-Being Tools
Another way to help employees achieve a better work-life balance is by offering them access to well-being tools. Whether you use them as a supplement for formal mental health benefits that involve solutions such as talk therapy or as a more budget-friendly offering than traditional psychology, this is a great way to help employees learn to manage their emotions and cope with stress.
Many employers offer digital mental health solutions to their employees, such as mood training and mental health apps that use tactics such as gamification to help employees work on qualities such as resiliency. Another popular approach is offering employees access to apps for teaching and practicing meditation and relaxation techniques.
Improve Employee Work-Life Balance with Solutions from Business Benefits Group (BBG)
Is your organization looking for ways to improve your employees’ work-life balance? The benefits consultants at Business Benefits Group (BBG) can design a program that suits your budget and workforce. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or give us a call at (844) 201-3612.