Question

Many companies are offering a variety of work/life programs which tend to result in positive personal outcomes for individual employees (i.e., decreased family conflict, lower stress-related illnesses), however empirical research supporting the benefit of these programs to workplace performance is limited. Take a position regarding whether these programs are beneficial for organizational performance. Be sure to explain and justify your position with examples and/or other external support. Are some types of programs more directly beneficial to performance or do they all contribute equally? If some benefit performance more than others, identify those that do and explain why and how they contribute more than others.

Answer 1

Many companies are offering a variety of work/life programs which tend to result in positive personal outcomes for individual employees (i.e., decreased family conflict, lower stress-related illnesses), however empirical research supporting the benefit of these programs to workplace performance is limited. These programs are beneficial for organizational performance. There are many types of employee benefits that a company offers- like bonus, medical insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, incentives, paid leave, promotion or appraisals based on performance, maternity leave, paternity leave, etc. Moreover, a positive work environment is very important for keeping the employees active and stress free. Such positive work environment helps an employee to give their 100% towards their work which would help organisation to achieve its goal rapidly. There are companies who also promote programs which train employees about the culture, mission, vision and goals of an organisation, technical skills required for particular job, communicational development programs, etc. The communicational development programs are considered to be one of the best programs as it helps employees to improve their communication and presentation skills, problem solving skills, time management, team work, leadership skills, make them understand the corporate ethics which they should use while operations, etc. It helps employees to grow mentally as well. When employees are happy and working positively towards their goals, it is beneficial to the organisation. Any employee is inclined towards the organisation which offers them extra benefits, other than their salary and helps them with their personal development. Organizational performance is directly related to its employee’s performance. An employee will perform with high energy at an organisation that will provide positive environment, give importance to team work and unity, and have no politics. Such organisation will grow definitely.

Example- Sharon was working at PS Group (a real-estate developer house), and she was a fresher. She joined in lead management department. Once she joined, she was active member of certain programs that included- the orientation programs – which explained her about the culture, mission, vision and goals of the organisation, structure of the organisation, overview of benefits provided to her by the company, rule, regulation and policies company is following for business and operations. Such program helped her know about the organisation thoroughly, about their nature of business, how they operate, about the goals, benefits they provide to their employees, etc. Apart from it she was also engaged in on- board training which happened regularly to explain her regarding certain matters which is required to achieve organisational goals. This program included addressing Sharon’s need for a particular task, providing her information’s, that could help her complete her task. Technical programs and soft skills programs were also few programs that was conducted regularly for development of personal self of any employee. These programs helped Sharon not only to know about the organisation, but also helped her on how she should work. As per our conversation with her, she was a very short-tempered person and the soft-skill programs helped us to control her anger and speak politely even at home. It helped her with her personal growth as well. This development also helped at work as she handled each and every situation very calmly without getting into arguments with other. What she did was- when any person says you something which make you angry, just smile back and walk-away with some other work, this helped her to avoid unnecessary arguments and fight at work place. With such development she became a positive person and it helped her work faster and helped organisation as well in achieving its goal.

Other programs like Returnship program helped talented professionals to return back at work after long gap, i.e- maternity or paternity leave, sick leaves, people who want to restart their career, etc. Such programs are very helpful for those who left the workplace for long period of time, like 2 or 3 years and want to return. It helps them with new benefits or training facilities, new opportunities, etc. These programs equally help organisation as well. As the employees who are willing to work again are very aggressive and would give their best output in order to help organisation achieve organisational goals. Such organisation tend to get full support from their employees and there is always unity and team work with positive environment. The colleagues are also helpful. They benefit the performance of such employees also.

The incentive programs are the most beneficial programs. Companies often set targets driven by great incentives for the team. The employees work really hard in order to achieve such target as they are aware of the fact that they will be earning something great once they achieve their target. For example- PS group gives incentive scheme of availing a bike worth Rs. 1,00,000/- if they fulfil the target of booking 15 flats in 25 days. The sales person worked aggressively for achieving such targets which for beneficial for the organisation as well. This helped the organisation to get more sales and employees to get more benefits. It was a win-win situation for both for them.