Work/life support has more benefits than you know. You probably know companies that have work/life support policies see increased productivity and reduced turnover while employees benefit from improved mental and physical health. But did you know that work/life support also increases diversity and inclusion?

This was the stunning result reported in the Sept-Oct 2022 Harvard Business Review magazine article “The Surprising Benefits of Work/Life Support.” The two authors, Alexandra Kalev and Frank Dobbin, discovered when companies added more work/life support it increased the representation of women and people of color in management and leadership positions.

According to the authors, companies that implement the work/life support policies of flexible scheduling, family leave time, and childcare support will see increased diversity benefits.

Flexible Scheduling 

Flexible scheduling helps boosts the recruitment and retention of women and people of color. As business owners know too well, turnover increases costs and decreases productivity. Employees often have to quit jobs when their life demands need to be met during work hours. Flexible scheduling, on the other hand, allows people to keep working and take care of their life obligations.

When The Gap experimented with flexible scheduling in 2015, they found it not only improved work/life balance for the employees, but it also increased sales by 7% and productivity by 5%.

If you would like to learn of more great diversity policies to boost your sales and productivity, consider DEI keynote speaker Risha Grant. Risha is a consultant and author of the book That’s B.S. How Bias Synapse Disrupts Inclusive Cultures. Risha can show your organization how to attract and keep diverse talent, communicate with diverse audiences, and capture new markets.

Family Leave Time

Another challenge for employees is taking care of family and health issues, such as newborns, ailing family members, or their own medical problems. The authors found when companies introduced 12 weeks of unpaid leave, it benefited all employees, but especially women and people of color.

While many companies feel family leave can be disruptive to the work environment, it’s actually more disruptive when employees quit the company job to take care of family issues. When companies supported family leave, they were able to reduce turnover. Moreover, women and people of color increased their representation in management positions.

If you would like to get more help with increasing diversity and inclusion in your workplace, consider DEI keynote speaker Wema Hoover. Wema is a consultant who has worked with many Fortune 500 companies, including her time as Chief Diversity Officer at Google. 

Childcare Support

Finally, the cost of childcare can sometimes be an insurmountable obstacle for many workers. The result is many employees end up changing or quitting jobs to find time to care for children, especially women and people of color.

However, when companies offer referral services, childcare vouchers, or company childcare centers, they found it was easier to recruit and retain employees.

Work/life support is not just great for mental health and wellbeing, it also helps companies reduce turnover and increase productivity. But more importantly, it benefits the organization by providing a more representative and inclusive workplace.

For more ways to improve work/life support at your organization, consider work and engagement expert Eric Termuende. Eric provides a refreshingly unique take on leadership, culture, and the future of work.

If you would like to book a work/life or diversity keynote speaker to help your company, contact BigSpeak Speakers Bureau today.

For more on Work/Life and Diversity See:

The Surprising Answer to Increasing Innovation and Revenue

Top 10 Work-Life Keynote Speakers

The Power of Diversity

Here Are the Best Diversity Speakers to Bring a New Perspective to Your Company

Lessons on Work-Life Balance From High Achievers

Every Story We Tell Ourselves About Work Is Wrong. Here’s How to Change the Narrative