Whether you're a small non-profit or a 25,000-employee organization, chances are your management will sleep better if your staff is productive, healthy, engaged, satisfied, committed to your organization and focused on their work. If your executives are at all concerned about the need for more productivity, the need to cut health care costs, the need to serve customers or the impending shortage of skilled workers, work-life policies and practices are an important part of the solution.

Studies have shown that by implementing flexible and supportive policies and practices, employers can actually attract and retain a talented workforce, lower health care costs, reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and help workers be more focused, engaged, and loyal. Such employers are seen as "employers-of-choice" and have been found to have substantial financial and performance advantages. For a business, this can mean higher than average stock return, better operating performance and higher return on average assets.

In addition, these policies and practices strengthen Minnesota families and communities and help to build a strong, competitive future workforce.

Research continues to pour in confirming the bottom-line benefits for implementing programs and practices that help employees meet personal needs as well as get the job done. For a quick summary of that research and more details about the payoff for being a flexible, supportive employer, see a detailed "business case" for becoming a Minnesota Work-Life Champion.

See a PowerPoint presentation you can use to tell others on your staff or in your community how work-life initiatives can strengthen your organization and make it a Minnesota Work-Life Champion.

© 2008 Minnesota Work-Life Champions