Work life balance is finding an equilibrium between a career and home life. Many workers who are new in their careers struggle finding this balance as they work to move up in the ranks.

More than 50 percent of employees consider work-life balance “very important” when they are considering whether to take a new job, according to a Gallup’s State of the American Workplace report.

A career in HVAC with one of New Jersey’s four union Locals offers better work life balance than careers in the private sector. Working for a contractor that employs technicians from one of New Jersey’s four union Locals ensures work life balance with regular work hours, overtime compensation for extra hours worked, regular work weeks and holidays.

Among the top three decision makers for employees is work life balance, after salary and long-term job security (58 percent and 46 percent, respectively), according to the 2017 Randstad Employer Brand Research report. At 45 percent his balance is nearly equal to job security in gauging the attractiveness of a potential employer.

Work-life balance was number two in priorities among male and female workers aged 25-44 around the world, which is attributed to childbearing years. It is the third priority among workers 18-24 and fourth among workers 45-65.

The Randstad study showcases the increased importance of work-life balance for employees. For 25-44 year olds, work-life balance has moved up from fourth to second place in terms of priorities in an employer while long-term job security moved from second place in 2016 to third place in 2017. This is very similar to 18-24 year olds, where work-life balance moved from fifth up to third place and long-term job security moved down from third to fourth place in 2017. This reflects how both groups are placing a greater importance on their personal lives and expecting their employers to recognize their desire for personal growth outside the workplace.

Employers with unions are more likely to implement work-life balance practices, according to research by Professor Alex Bryson (UCL Institute of Education) and John Forth from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), who undertook research for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to evaluate the benefits that unions provide.

The pair’s research also shows that collective bargaining significantly reduces the number of hours employees work and changes the employees’ perception of a long-hours culture, perpetuated by the belief that one has to work long hours to progress at work.

Find your nearest Local to learn how union life can help you find work-life balance and more time with you family.