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.
I love talking about this subject. It's a great topic for discussion! It's always good to add some numbers behind it and really go into detail. While reading an article published by NBI I learned that 80% of companies have adopted remote working or some remote working policies.
While other data points have published that tech employees work around 42 hours per week on average, however those with flexible working hours have reported to have a better work-life balance. Which is something I could have guessed very easily. Even when talking to different candidates out in the market one of the questions is “how flexible are the hours?”
I think anyone can easily experience burnout at work. There are many contributing factors but when reading some articles on the topic I found that at least 30% of tech workers have experienced burnout due to high performance and constant connectivity which can particularly relate to startups (Deloitte - Tech Trends 2024)
From past and current conversations I am having with both employees and employers on the topic of work-life balance I'm noticing some new tactics and different approaches to talk about the topic but also some tangible actions by some companies.
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Flexible work arrangement - A common policy that a lot of companies have started doing. A great way to fit personal arrangements in and release pressure.
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Right to Disconnect Policy - This policy enforces boundaries between personal and work time. Email may be discouraged after working hours to promote employees' right to disconnect.
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Wellness days/ Volunteers Day/ Mental Health Days - All 3 approaches are examples i've been hearing about in the market. Wellness programmes have been there for quite some time but it needed improvements in which many companies have stuck by and implemented the changes to provide a more beneficial programme to employees. Some examples of volunteer days that we have participated in, here in GemPool are; Cooking4Families, Food and clothing donations, canal lean ups and helping at the homeless shelter.
During a conversation with one of my former candidates, he shared his company's approach to promoting work-life balance. At his monthly one-on-one meetings, they would regularly address employee well-being, discussing ways to enhance it within the workplace. This practice struck me as an effective way to keep the topic of well-being top of mind, fostering open communication between management and staff. It not only creates space for important conversations but also shows a proactive commitment to employee health and satisfaction.
What Are Examples Of Good Work-Life Culture?
Image by pch.vector on Freepik
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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 of my candidates agree that a positive workplace culture and a good work-life balance can significantly boost productivity. Key factors include flexible working hours and the option to work remotely. Also, a large majority of them have noted that not being contacted by managers or team leaders outside of working hours is highly valued. This respect for personal time allows employees to fully disengage from work, reducing the pressure to complete tasks beyond their regular hours.
Candidates highly appreciate employers who prioritise their employees' well-being. Such as wellness programs, mental health workshops, and physical health subsidies.
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.
As we make our way through 2024, I can see candidates' expectations regarding work/life balance increasing and the demand for flexibility being more and more common in the IT market. In a recent survey we carried out with some software professionals, healthcare emerged as the most valued benefit, followed by pension plans, which ranked second. This insight is particularly relevant as we approach Q1 of next year, providing employers with a valuable opportunity to reassess and potentially restructure their benefits packages to better align with employee priorities.
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 our careers page to see the roles I have open at the moment.
Cover image credits: Image by Freepik
