Good work-life balance could reduce illness and increase retention

Maintaining a good balance between hours spent at work and time for other activities can help to reduce stress and improve productivity, an expert has said.

Gill Trevelyan, head of good practice services at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), was responding to a survey conducted by the European Health Journal.

The research indicated that overtime work had a negative effect on employees'' health, which could have a negative impact on motivation and retention.

Ms Trevelyan said: "All businesses and organisations should be concerned with the health, work and wellbeing of their employees if they want them to give their best."

She added that not working late into the night is beneficial, while getting proper rest, making sure lunch breaks are taken and claiming full holiday entitlements are also important.

Research by Aviva Risk Management Solutions found that 13.5 million working days were lost to work-related stress, depression and anxiety in 2007/08 while 59 per cent of employers do not associate long hours with productivity.
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