27 work life balance survey questions to ask your employees to measure their workplace engagement (Updated in 2023)

It is a well-known fact that bosses, in general, are impressed by productive employees—the ones who value the company’s time and effort to make the world a better place by making a great product or service. Smart employees are aware of this and try their best to be their productive selves at the workplace. They know this is the key to a successful career. After all, happy boss, happy life, said everyone in whispers.

Well, the downside to this philosophy in life is that employees are often driven to be their productive best throughout the year. But giving one’s hundred percent all the time is an impossible feat. The illusion that some employees chase by working themselves round the clock without any consideration to their personal crises or physical and emotional health is a major issue, and often overlooked by both leaders and employees.

What is work life balance?

Work life balance is the ability to manage one's professional and personal life in an efficient way. It is a state of equilibrium between work and leisure activities and the ability to juggle both with ease. It is important for a person's overall well-being, as it helps to reduce stress, increase productivity, and improve relationships with family and friends.

Work life balance has become increasingly important in today’s world as the demands of both work and personal life have grown. With the rise of technology, people are now able to work and stay connected with their family and friends wherever they go. This has made it much easier to juggle both work and leisure activities, but it has also increased the expectation of being “on” all the time.

As technology continues to evolve, so does the idea of work life balance. This generation prefers to prioritize flexibility in their lives, allowing them to work and play with equal priority. This means that they are more likely to take advantage of remote work options, flexible schedules, and taking time off for self-care activities.

The concept of work life balance is expanding to include more than just work and leisure. People are now looking for more balance in their physical, mental, and emotional health and their relationships with loved ones. This means that people are now paying more attention to things like nutrition, exercise, mental health, and relationships.

The challenge now is finding the time and energy to manage all these different aspects of life. This means it is important to be mindful of how much time is spent on work, leisure activities, and self-care. It is also important to prioritize these activities in order to ensure that all aspects of life are being taken care of.

Why is work life balance important?

The concept of work life balance has been a major concern for employers and employees for many years. As technology continues to evolve, the need to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life has never been more important. An unbalanced work life dynamic can have a detrimental impact on employees from different generations.

• Millennials, also known as Gen Y, are now the largest generation in the workforce. As digital natives, they are used to having access to technology and expect to incorporate it into their work life balance. They prioritize their personal lives, requiring flexible working hours and freedom to use their devices at work. Without these, they can become stressed and burned out.
• Generation Xers, or Gen X, prioritize their career and often put family and other responsibilities on the back burner. They are used to a work life balance and need a sense of control and autonomy over their work. They may become frustrated if they can’t achieve the same balance they had before they entered the workforce.
• Baby Boomers, or Gen B, are the oldest generation in the workforce. They grew up in a time when technology wasn’t as prevalent, so they are used to having more time to dedicate to their personal event. They may feel overwhelmed if their work life balance is disrupted. They may also feel a sense of guilt if they are not able to dedicate enough time to their families.

So it is essential for employers to ensure that their employees have a healthy and balanced work life dynamic. This will help to ensure that their employees are happy and productive and that their businesses remain competitive and successful.

Employers should create policies that accommodate their employees' different needs and expectations, regardless of their generation. This will help ensure everyone feels valued and can achieve a good work life balance.

Upping the balance game

Being productive is great but running after hyper-productivity isn’t. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Let us tell you why.

When employees disregard their physical and emotional needs to scale the career ladder, it almost always backfires. It not only impacts their overall well-being but also their career. Yes, working round the clock without any concern for our needs is extremely harmful. When we lead an imbalanced life, our productivity levels do not surge. In fact, they tend to lower gradually. Not just that, our creativity suffers too.

So, when we are working insane hours every week trying to reach our goals, we are actually draining ourselves completely. We shove ourselves so much into our work that it leads to a number of problems such as:

• Increased levels of irritation and anxiety
• No interest in social interaction
• Loss of emotional hygiene
• Screen fatigue
• Lack of personal growth

These are just a few problems that do not work in your favor when being hyper-productive. When we don’t have a work-life balance, we can never really give our best to our company even if we want to. Burnout can be a real challenge that not only handicaps our work life but also our personal lives.

Lest the balance is lost

As we have hinted earlier, work-life balance does make a happier and balanced individual. And the more balanced an individual is, the happier an employee is. It’s science!

And we got evidence to prove it. In 2019, a monster.com survey revealed that more than half of India’s working professionals fail to achieve work-life balance. Yes, around 60 percent of Indians admitted that their professional lives kept on intruding into their personal lives. The rate was of course higher in metropolitan cities when compared to non-metros. These individuals complained of various physical ailments as well as an impact on their personal relationships, commitments, etc.

But according to a report by Statista, India is in a better position when compared to the U.S. and UK. In fact, the Dutch enjoy the best work-life balance with a score of 9.5 out of 10 followed by the Italians and the Danish.

“For an organization, enabling employees to maintain a work-life balance is important because it stimulates both employee engagement as well as employee retention.”

Recent times have witnessed a major shift in terms of employee behavior. Educated millennials are now looking for jobs that offer a better work-life balance than their current companies. The above-mentioned statistics are dark reminders of burnout and work-induced severe stress.

People have realized the ill effects of working long hours and having stressful jobs. Bigger packages are no more traded for an employee's well-being. According to a Gallup report, How Millennials Want to Work and Live, more and more millennials keep switching jobs searching for better work environments and company culture.

Leaders at many young startups have now started understanding the employee psychology and have begun emphasising the importance of a more flexible and hybrid culture that allows employees a better chance to enjoy an improved work-life balance.

Benefits of work-life balance

A good work life balance benefits are immense and can help employees in many ways. Here are some key ways work life balance can help employees:

1. Improved mental health: Work life balance reduces stress and anxiety, leading to improved mental health. It also reduces the risk of employee burnout, depression, and job dissatisfaction.
2. Improved physical health: Work life balance helps improve overall physical health by reducing stress, which can have a negative effect on physical health. Stress can contribute to conditions such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other ailments.
3. Increased productivity: When employees are able to balance their work and personal lives, they are more likely to be productive at work. This is due to the fact that they are not distracted by their personal lives and can focus on their job duties.
4. Improved quality of life: Work life balance allows employees to enjoy a better quality of life. This is because they are able to spend more time with family and friends, which can lead to increased satisfaction, where employees don't have to sacrifice sleep.
5. Increased job satisfaction: When employees are able to balance their work and personal lives, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. This is due to the fact that they are able to enjoy their job duties while still having time to pursue personal interests.
6. Increased sense of achievement: Work life balance can lead to a sense of accomplishment as employees are able to accomplish both their work and personal goals. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and improved quality of life.
7. Increased creativity: When employees are able to balance their work and personal lives, they are more likely to be creative. This is due to the fact that they are not mentally exhausted and can think more clearly.
8. Reduced absenteeism: Work life balance can help reduce absenteeism. This is because employees are less likely to take time off for personal reasons when they are able to balance their work and personal lives.

How to improve your work life balance

A healthy work life balance helps ensure that your professional and personal lives are balanced and that neither takes precedence over the other. However, achieving a good work life balance can be difficult, especially if juggling multiple obligations.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to improve your work life balance.

• Prioritize: Take the time to prioritize your life and work tasks. Make a list of what needs to be accomplished and divide it into sections for work and home. That way, you can focus on the most important tasks first and ensure you're taking care of your professional and personal responsibilities.
• Set boundaries: It's important to set boundaries between your work and home life. Create a schedule and stick to it. Let your co-workers know when you're available and when you're not. Set realistic expectations for yourself and your team, and don't be afraid to say no if something isn't feasible.
• Take breaks: Regular breaks throughout the day are essential for maintaining a healthy work life balance. Get up and walk around for a few minutes, or take a short break to have a snack or read a book. This will help you stay focused and productive throughout the day.
• Limit distractions: It can be difficult to focus when there are a lot of distractions around you. Take steps to limit the number of distractions you have to deal with, such as turning off your phone, closing your email, and disconnecting from social media.
• Make time for yourself: Make sure to take some time for yourself each day. Whether going for a walk, reading a book, or getting a massage, take some time to relax and recharge.
• Delegate: Don't be afraid to delegate tasks to others. You don't have to do everything yourself. Delegating tasks to others can help you free up time to focus on the things that really matter.

How do you measure a good work life balance?

Measuring work life balance can help employers ensure their employees are engaged, motivated, and productive. Employers can measure work life balance by evaluating how much time employees spend on work, the quality of work they are producing, and their engagement level towards their work.

Employers should assess how much time employees can spend on personal activities such as family time, leisure activities, or vacations while also evaluating their employees’ emotional and physical well-being and ensuring that their employees are not suffering from stress or burnout.

Employees can measure their work life balance by assessing their satisfaction with their job and personal life. Employees should evaluate how much time they spend on work related tasks and how much time they can spend on personal and leisure activities.

Here are a few employee surveys that employers can use to measure a good work life balance for their employees:-

Employee engagement survey:

Employee engagement surveys measure how employees feel about their work, job satisfaction, and relationship with their managers and colleagues. The survey should contain questions about job satisfaction, job security, recognition and reward, learning and development, communication, and other areas of job satisfaction. The employee engagement survey can help employers understand how engaged employees are with their job and the organization as a whole.

Employee satisfaction survey

This type of survey measures employees' overall job satisfaction. It helps employers understand how their employees view the organization, their job, and the workplace culture. So, in your next employee satisfaction survey, you should focus on areas such as job satisfaction, job security, job performance, overall work experience, and their opinion of their supervisors.

Mental health survey

Mental health surveys measure the mental well-being of employees. Questions should focus on stress, burnout, depression, and other mental health issues. This employee survey can help employers identify any mental health issues that may be affecting their employees and provide guidance on how to support them.

Manager effectiveness survey

Manager effectiveness surveys measure employees' feelings about their direct manager. The survey should contain questions about leadership, communication, feedback, trust, and other areas that affect employees’ opinions of their manager. This survey can help employers understand how employees view their managers and identify any areas of improvement.

Work environment surveys

Work environment surveys measure employees' feelings about their work environment. Questions should focus on the physical environment, atmosphere, and resources available to employees. This survey can help employers understand how employees view the workspace and identify any areas of improvement.

Pulse survey

Pulse surveys measure employees’ current sentiments about the workplace. The survey questions focus on job satisfaction, engagement, morale, and other areas that affect employees’ opinions of their job. This employee pulse survey can help employers understand how employees feel in the moment and identify any areas of improvement.

Empowerment surveys

These help measure how empowered employees feel in their job. The survey often focuses on autonomy, decision-making, and other areas of employee empowerment. This survey can help employers understand how empowered employees feel in their roles and identify any areas of improvement.

Surveys can help gauge the work-life balance of remote employees

Even though a growing number of leaders are accommodating the idea of encouraging a work-life balance, it remains a difficult job. It is not easy for leaders to identify whether employees can maintain a work-life balance. It’s quite easy to lose oneself in meetings, daily tasks, and emails often forgetting to check in on one’s employees. This has been even more difficult with the onset of the pandemic.

Teams that used to brainstorm ideas together and share lunches together have to work remotely now. While this has been a boon for many reasons, a lot of employees admit work from home has taken a toll on their work-life balance. And it’s quite difficult for leaders to measure the temperament of each of their employees via a 30-minute video call while trying to finish a high-profile project.

It is under such situations that surveys come in handy. Employee surveys are basically questionnaires that are designed to gauge various factors in an employee’s life cycle in the company. The surveys are generally used to track different metrics like job satisfaction, employee wellness, etc.

CultureMonkey, for instance, makes it extremely easy for leaders and HR professionals to monitor their workforce by providing an entire library of surveys. In case the leader or HR member wants to check the work-life balance in their employees’ lives, they can customize surveys just for that or use the template dedicated to work-life balance from the vast survey template library offered by the platform.

27 work-life balance survey questions that you should ask in 2023

Curating a list of questions for a survey that is specifically dedicated to a particular driver of engagement, say work-life balance, can be cumbersome if one does not have access to an employee engagement platform. To make things easy, we have listed down 15 work-life survey questions that leaders and HR professionals can ask their employees.

1. How often do you work beyond your specified working hours?
2. Are you satisfied with your current work-life balance?
3. Can you cope with the current workload assigned to you?
4. Does your work schedule allow you to spend quality time with your friends and family?
5. Are you suffering from burnout or work-related illnesses?
6. Does your manager/team leader respect your work-life balance?
7. Do you have enough time to destress from your work schedule?
8. Have you ever disregarded your personal commitments due to work?
9. Do you have time to pursue personal interests and hobbies?
10. How much time do you spend with your friends and family on a daily basis?
11. Do you think your teammates have a healthy work-life balance?
12. Can you set strict boundaries between work and life?
13. Do you need extra help to complete your work tasks?
14. Is the company’s overall culture empathetic to your needs?
15. How often have you worked during vacations?
16. How often do you take breaks throughout the day to move or exercise?
17. Do you practice self-care and maintain your physical health?
18. How do you prioritize physical activity in your daily routine?
19. On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your current mental well-being?
20. How often do you take breaks from work to reduce stress and anxiety?
21. Do you feel supported by your employer in maintaining positive mental health?
22. Do you think your workplace needs changes to help promote emotional well-being?
23. Do you find that your emotional well-being is taken into account when making decisions and setting goals at work?
24. How could your employer better support your professional development goals?
25. Have you taken advantage of any professional development opportunities this past year?
26. How often do you feel socially connected with the people around you?
27. Are there barriers preventing you from having a healthy social life?

Choose a survey for your company

It is important to remember that every company functions differently because no founder or leader functions the same. That is why policies and culture vary from company to company.

Leaders (at all levels) must remember that employee engagement survey questionnaires must be customized as per their company’s needs while pursuing an employee-first approach because the purpose of conducting surveys is to understand the employees while offering actionable solutions for the growth of the employees as well as the company.

Modern employee survey tools like CultureMonkey facilitates people leaders like you to listen, analyze, and act on work life balance concerns of your employees with ease to ensure that your organization has greater retention rates.

So, without further delay, ensure your employees balance their work and personal life through CultureMonkey.