By Adam Bajan

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ll know that Justin Trudeau had once again made front page international news. He was in Japan with other world leaders for a G7 summit. And like most world leaders, he brought his spouse with him. But rather than making the news for his intention to promote Canada’s plan to revive a stagnating global economy, Trudeau made headlines for his stated intention to take a day off for work life balance. Why? Because it was his and wife Sophie Gregoire’s wedding anniversary. This was work life balance at its finest. After all, if the Prime Minister is doing it, why shouldn’t you?

One of the biggest reasons behind the need for a work life balance is that as technology develops and we find ourselves ‘plugged in’ for an increasing number of hours each day, work is creeping into our lives in ways that it never used to. The days of leaving the office at 5:30 and not worrying about work until the next morning are long gone and in their place are e-mails sent at eleven at night or replied to with sleep-blurred eyes while the kettle boils. As this compounds itself over the year, the need to step away from work and recharge the batteries becomes paramount.

But for management, too much of a work life balance can mean that desks and chairs might be empty at inconvenient times and that productivity might suffer. It’s all well and good for an employee to say that they’re taking a day or afternoon off because they’re feeling stressed or overworked but doing this repeatedly can result in deadlines not being met and deliverables not being signed off on. This is where the balance in work life balance comes into play.

“Management is always going to be concerned about the bottom line,” said Tamara Reid, HR leader at Ashton College. “Employees on the other hand, are concerned about their well-being. A healthy office is one where the needs of the company are in line with the needs of employees.” This typically translates into creating an environment where a little push and pull goes a long way.

For instance, instituting a flex-time policy or paid annual leave for employees who have passed their probationary period is one way to guarantee a company’s investment on their time. And studies show that well rested employees are not only more happier and productive at work but in their home life as well. “If you’re constantly in work mode you can feel drained at home, even when you’ve had a chance to unwind. At times we feel pressured to sacrifice vital mental health time for the sake of our careers” said Reid. “Hitting the right balance between work and leisure is the key to success on both fronts.” Even if you’re not running the country.

Adam Bajan is a digital brand experience assistant at Ashton College, a post-secondary college in Vancouver. Founded in 1998, Ashton College has become a national and international force in the field of higher education.