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Work-Life Balance does not mean an equal balance. Trying to schedule an equal number of hours for each of your various work and personal activities is usually unrewarding and unrealistic. Life is and should be more fluid than that.
We want to make sure you have the resources, services and tools you need to get the balance that is right for you and to help you in your personal and professional endeavors.
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Work-life Balance Benefits the University
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Work-life Balance Benefits You
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- We see measured increases in individual productivity, accountability and commitment
- We experience better teamwork, communication and work relationships
- Our collective morale improves
- We reduce overall organizational stress
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- You have a healthier balance in your daily life you are more productive
- You have a more satisfying work experience
- Your relationships are improved, both on and off the job
- You don't feel as stressed
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Your department and colleagues can contribute to your work-life balance
Managers play an important role in helping faculty and staff achieve the right work-life balance. When you create and promote a work atmosphere that makes it easier for your team to achieve a better work-life balance, you have happier, healthier employees who are more productive and satisfied in their work and a less stressful work environment overall for your team. Being flexible and understanding the needs of each of your employees will help you to build a more positive and successful work environment.
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Tips for helping your team achieve a better work-life balance:
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- Consider flexible schedules, alternate work arrangements or job sharing where appropriate and be supportive of these arrangements (they shouldn't have a negative impact on career growth and success) For more information on these options, contact Employee Relations at 645-4466
- Be flexible, considerate, and respectful of personal or family responsibilities
- Allow for time to pursue professional development and community service opportunities
- Promote a positive work environment through your leadership and support of employees
- Promote a "disconnect from work" atmosphere when employees have scheduled time off (no cell phones or lap tops) where possible
Remember, work-life balance is not just a slogan but must be part of our work culture
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You can contribute to your own work-life balance
It is important that you, as an individual, find ways to create the right work-life balance for yourself. The best work-life balance for you may be different than that of your coworkers or your manager. For some, working long hours creates value and balance in their lives. For others, it is not a routine they can productively or enjoyable maintain. The best work-life balance also changes for each individual over time and is usually different for someone just starting in their career than someone who is retiring. A good work-life balance for someone who has no children may be different than that of someone with children, and many people are caregivers to older family members as well. Your best work-life balance will change, and while we strive to help create an environment that allows you to integrate your personal and professional lives, you must find ways to create the right balance for your self.
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Suggestions for getting a better work-life balance that is right for you:
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- Define and create your own work-life balance
- Be accountable for balancing your personal and professional commitments
- Help your manager understand the right balance for your life and help to work out an arrangement that supports your needs
- Strive for meaningful achievements and enjoyments in work, family, friends, and self each day
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Learn more about how you can find the right work-life balance for you
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Resource
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What You Will Find |
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Warning signs for women living life out of balance |
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Information on achieving well being and reducing stress and staying healthy |
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Find out if you need a better work-life balance and find ways to achieve it |
We understand how important convenient, quality child care options are, and that finding the right child care can make your life easier and can help you achieve a better work life balance. Whether you are looking for high quality child care on campus or prefer arrangements off campus, we can help you find the child care that fits best in your life.
Child care on campus
UB offers high quality child care for members of our campus community. The University at Buffalo Child Care Center (UBCCC) is a service for faculty, staff, and students and provides care, Monday through Friday, 7:15 AM to 5:45 PM for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. UBCCC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. (accreditation details)
The ECRC (Early Childhood Research Center) Preschool is administered by the Department of Learning and Instruction of the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. It is one of the few preschool programs in the country to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Enrollment in the Early Childhood Research Center (ECRC) is open to the community and the University students and staff. The ECRC has both a morning and an afternoon program for children ages 2-5.
For Further Information Contact
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UBCCC
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ECRC
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Christine Ellington-Rowe, Executive Director
E-mail : cellingt@buffalo.edu
(716) 829-2226
North Campus
100 St Rita's Lane, Amherst
(716) 645-6509
South Campus
3435 Main Street, Butler Annex A
(716) 829-2226
website
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Kelly Ross Kantz Roy, Ph.D
Email: kellykan@buffalo.edu
North Campus
15 Christopher Baldy Hall
(716) 645-2379
website
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Other Child Care Options
You may also be interested in child care resources in the Western New York area outside of UB. You have a variety of options to choose from, and there are local resources available to help you find child care that works for you.
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What You Will Find |
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Child Care Resource Network |
Information, resources and referrals for quality child care options in Western New York. |
UB is committed to promoting the Health and Wellness of our UB family through supporting our working women who want to continue Breastfeeding after returning to work.
For many new mothers, the return to work signifies a barrier to continuing to breastfeed their baby. UB wants new mothers to return to work when they are ready, without sacrificing the optimal health of mom and baby. The return to work can be professionally satisfying and productive, without giving up this healthy option. To this end UB supports Breastfeeding at Work.
If you are an employee beginning Maternity Leave or returning from Leave and are interested in this program, please contact your supervisor, preferably 30 days prior to your return or sooner if possible, so he/she may properly prepare for your smooth return to work.
The University at Buffalo is working with to offer you the additional support you need for a successful experience. You may log onto www.careconnectiononline.com for more information. For questions related to Breastfeeding at Work, you may also contact Michele Reno, Assistant Director Employee Relations at 645-4464.
Leave Benefits
When you become a new parent, we offer you the time away that you need with your family during this exciting time in your life. As a UB faculty or staff member, we want you to take full advantage of our leaves because we know how important that time with your new baby is. We offer up to seven months of leave for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. This benefit may vary based on your UB affiliation, so please click here for details on the particular kind of leave you are eligible for.
Dependent Care Advantage Account Benefit
At UB we make it easier for you to cover the costs associated with child care and dependent care. We know care can be costly for you, and we want to help reduce your costs. As part of the UB family, you may be able to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars for use for child, elder, or disabled dependent care expenses you incur. You may even qualify to receive a matching contribution to your account. Click here for more details on the Dependent Care Advantage Account enrollment and eligibility.
Caring for children, other relatives, or friends in need can be a very difficult job. Juggling work and caring for children and others can make it a challenge to achieve an effective work-life balance. Caregivers often feel stretched while coping with the physical, emotional, and financial demands of caring for and supporting others. UB supports you in these efforts and offers tools and resources to make it easier for you to provide care for those in need. There are resources that can help you deal with these responsibilities and help you to be the best provider of care or parent you can be while still taking good care of yourself.
Resources for parents
Learn more about how you can find the right work-life balance for you:
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RESOURCE
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WHAT YOU WILL FIND |
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Helpful resources and articles on raising children and free parenting advice
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Advice and support for juggling career and family-get tips for a better balance, recipes, or join in discussions with other working moms |
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Check out advice, tips for child rearing and family activities, and information for kids of all ages |
Resources for families of caregivers
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RESOURCE
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WHAT YOU WILL FIND |
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Find out about local services and information on home care, assisted living, health care, meal and grocery delivery, and a number of other senior needs |
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A helpful questionnaire and tool to provide you with customized local resources for senior care |
We recognize that our faculty and staff are people first and are subject to stress and pressures that impact their ability to be effective at work. Another way UB promotes a better work-life balance is through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is available to employees, retirees, and their families.
Our EAP provides referrals, tailored for individual employee needs, to community resources. The program tries to offer a choice of resources which are low-cost or no-cost to our UB family.
The UB EAP is a confidential assessment and referral service that provides the following to all employees, family members, and retirees:
- Assistance with family-related concerns: children, elders, step-parenting, adoption, and others
- Assistance with illness: physical, psychological or emotional
- Assistance with substance abuse issues
- Assistance with managed care/insurance changes
- Information on legal and/or financial resources
- Workplace/personal well-being programming
- Critical incident stress management services
- Supervisory consultation
- Resources for veterans and their families
To learn more about our EAP, please click here.
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