Work-Life Balance in the Irish Tech Industry
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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights
Having a good work-life balance is something that is imperative for both employers and employees. For an employer's side, the better the work-life balance culture the easier it is to attract talent. From an employee’s point of view, it is more attractive to engage with a company that really prides itself on its culture and sets a standard throughout.
What Are Examples Of Good Work-Life Culture?
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Flexible work arrangements
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Remote work option
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Employee well-being
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Wellness programs
These are some of the common examples of what constitutes a structure for a good work-life culture in the tech industry here in Ireland. These are individually important in how they affect the employer-employee relationship.
In the tech industry in Ireland if a company is seen as well-cultured it gains a credible reputation among its network and connections. Word-of-mouth will spread very fast as well as positive reviews from past and current employees.
Speaking specifically about the examples listed above, these are the most common traits a candidate is looking for when applying for new roles. From conversations I have with software professionals the majority of them would want to find an employer that allows remote working or flexible working arrangements. Given that we are now three years post-pandemic, these preferences are increasingly prevalent in the market.
Other Benefits Of Work-Life Balance
It's important to highlight some of the other subtle benefits that can come with a good work-life balance in the tech industry, and these are some examples that are from candidates I speak to on a daily basis.
Many candidates express that a positive workplace culture and a healthy work-life balance significantly enhance their productivity. The value of flexibility, be it in working hours or the option to work remotely, is emphasised by these candidates. Intriguingly, some note that not receiving communication from managers or team leaders outside of working hours is impactful. This practice allows them to disengage when necessary, alleviating the pressure to complete tasks after regular working hours.
Candidates highly appreciate employers who prioritise their employees' well-being. Such as wellness programs, mental health workshops, and physical health subsidies are examples of what some companies do to ensure their staff is being looked after in all aspects of their well-being.
Throughout my professional experience as an IT recruiter, I have spoken to many candidates seeking new opportunities and companies looking for talent. This topic is becoming more and more popular from both sides and I enjoy discussing it.
Looking forward to 2024, I can see candidates' expectations regarding work/life balance increasing and the demand for flexibility being more and more relatable in the IT market. In a recent survey we carried out with some software professionals we asked them what their top most important benefit they hoped to receive were and the winner of that was healthcare by a fine margin while pension was second most important. It's interesting to see these, especially when going into Q1 of next year. It can give employers a better outlook and perhaps an opportunity to restructure their benefits package.
If you are looking for opportunities or you want to discuss the IT talent market here in Ireland feel free to reach out to me on my LinkedIn page or visit the careers page to see the roles I have open at the moment.
Cover image credits: Image by Freepik
