With all the changes in today’s workplaces, most people are struggling to balance work and family. People are working longer hours, doing more with less, and finding themselves stretched to their very limits by the demands of their jobs. As a result, those who matter most to us may feel left out, or wonder what it is you do when you go away for so many hours each day. Here are ten ways to share your work with your family:
- Videotape the place where you work.
Do a “walking tour” showing the reception area if you have one, the cafeteria or breakout room, and most importantly, your office, cubicle, or work area. (Make sure you have a family picture or family momentos visible in your workspace. Include “hello’s” from some of your colleagues if you feel comfortable.
- Invite your family members, perhaps one at a time, to join you for lunch.
Some parents allow their children to each have a special “Dad or Mom” (or Grandma/Grandpa, Aunt/Uncle) day when they get to take a day off from school to visit their family member’s workplace.
- Help organize a “Bring Your Family to Work” day or an Open House Expo
in which families come to learn more about what their relatives do.
- Give your family members logo gifts from your organization
so that they feel like they are a part of your work life. By creating a feeling of partnership with your family, you are helping to stop feelings of jealousy that you care more about your job than you do about them.
- Ask your family members to help you with a work project.
It may be as simple as stuffing envelopes, or stapling papers, or filing and sorting; however, if it is done as a family, it brings closeness rather than separation.
- Start contests at your workplace that involve families.
The DMV at Virginia sponsored a wonderful contest in which they asked family members to draw pictures of what their Mom/Dad/Grandpa/Grandma/Aunt/Uncle did at work all day. The pictures were then framed and now hang in the hallways and reception areas. The customers enjoy them and the atmosphere they create, and the children love to come in and see their drawings hanging where their family member works.
- Bring home articles about your work, pictures of your boss and co-workers, and samples of your marketing materials.
If you help create a product, bring home examples to show your family. Children also love the fun little “gimmicky” things we often get at trade shows or from vendors.
- When you receive a reward at work, make sure you share it with your family.
Invite them to the ceremonies, if possible.
- Invite colleagues to your home
, particularly the person to whom you report, so the family members can get to know them.
- When you’re involved in a long project, give your family a calendar
so they know exactly the extent of your commitment. Each night at the dinner table they can check off a day, and you can report on your progress.
SOURCE: Barbara Glanz, Barbara Glanz Communications, Inc. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved.