Maintaining a work-life balance can be challenging especially for global teams where it’s always “business hours” somewhere. But with the proper culture in place, where employees are encouraged to take time off and feel supported in doing so, striking the delicate balance between work and life out of it, is possible.
In this blog, we sit down with TOA Global’s leadership team, Chief People Officer Jeremy Clements and Philippine Country Manager Chico Inong, to find out how the leading talent solutions provider of Accountants provides an environment that is conducive to work life balance.
What is TOA Global’s approach to work life balance and how is it different from other organizations?
Jeremy: I think it’s common in the Philippines to have annual leave credits and weekends off. But since TOA Global is a global organization and people collaborate with colleagues in different time zones, we encourage them to disconnect on weekends and use their service incentive leave credits whenever they need time away from work.
We want them to enjoy the opportunity of doing things they love, that’s why we have 21 days of paid time off.
Chico: Our set schedules – day and night shift – are also standard for the most part. This helps our team members plan their personal lives accordingly. We also partner with clients who are like-minded.
In addition, we also make sure they continue to have enriching experience to make them more engaged. That’s why we have employee engagement activities such as team building, sports fest, social clubs, and community outreach programs.
How does TOA Global and its leaders establish a healthy work-life boundary?
Jeremy: We lead by example. Although our role would sometimes require us to put in extra hours at work, we don’t let work overshadow our home life. We make sure that we have adequate home time and adequate work time as well. And we also use our annual leave to take time off which really helps us to recharge and enjoy family time.
Chico: Disconnecting from work during holidays and days off is a great way of leading by example.
How does the organization benefit when team members have a healthy work-life balance?
Jeremy: It benefits the organization in so many ways. When team members have a stronger work-life balance, they have adequate time to recuperate. They can return feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to work.
It’s a bit like running a sprint versus running a marathon. You can sprint for a little while, but not too long. But with the marathon you can go a lot longer. And the only way to run that marathon is to make sure you get that balance.
Chico: It drives employee satisfaction so the organization can greatly benefit from it.
How does a better work-life balance retain top talent and prevent them from quiet quitting?
Jeremy: At a minimum, it shows that the organization cares for its people. Some organizations see their people just as a resource that needs to be worked. And when that resource gets tired, they let them go
At TOA Global, we’re looking at the long term and what I mean by that is we want people to have a career with us and stay with us for a long time. The only way to do that is by making sure they’re enjoying what they do, have adequate recuperation, and have that work life balance.
Chico: There are multiple studies around how employees who are finding balance balance between their jobs and personal lives are twice as happy, more productive and show greater loyalty to their organizations.
