Today we reveal Top Employer Secret #2: promoting work-life balance. It's good for employee morale and productivity, and it’s also good for business. As Courtney Pratt, the former CEO of Toronto Hydro said, "This (facilitating work-life balance) is not corporate social work. It’s a business imperative."

Work-life balance is no longer “just an HR issue”; it’s a competitive advantage for organizations who want to attract and retain the best talent. According to the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), research shows that work-life balance is linked to reduced absenteeism and enhanced productivity. With summer vacation season gearing up, it’s the perfect opportunity for employers to show they value and respect work-life balance.

A wake up call

This week Expedia released the results of its annual Vacation Deprivation Survey that measures the growing trend of employees who feel vacation deprived and do not take their full vacation days. The survey is conducted in 11 countries - United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The factors that contribute to vacation deprivation should be a wake up call to employers. According to the survey, one of the main reasons employees feel vacation deprived is work overload. When they do take vacation, many feel guilty taking time off work and more than one-fourth of employed U.S. adults (30%) often have trouble coping with stress from work at some point during the vacation cycle. Here are other alarming statistics:

* About one in five employed adults reported that they’ve cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work (19%).
* 42 per cent of employed Canadians say that they are vacation deprived, up from 33 per cent in 2008.
* Approximately one-third of employed U.S. adults reported feeling better about their job and feeling more productive upon returning from vacation.

Remove the barriers that stop employees from taking vacation!

Have a clear vacation policy
A good vacation policy outlines how long employees have to use their vacation days, the notification and approval process, how vacation accumulates and any special clauses or exceptions. Make sure to communicate the policy to all employees and reiterate it when employees are most likely to take vacation, like the summer and holiday season.

When they are out of the office…
They are out of the office! Expecting employees to stay connected at all times is counter-productive and will lead to resentment and frustration. Assure employees that work will not follow them on their vacation. Time off is meant to rejuvenate and refresh an employee’s determination and drive at the office.