Work-Life Integration Julie Welch, MD Department of Emergency Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine IU Health - Methodist Hospital EMTC jlwelch@iupui.edu
Why does it matter? • Defining “Work-Life” • Developing your Work-Life Integration Strategy • Tips and Tools Work-Life Integration Outline:
Work-Life “Balance” & “Integration” “Balance” “Integration” Feeling derived from being whole and complete Avoid viewing it as a scale of taking from one to give to another Creating harmony in your life Cultivating the areas of your life that are truly important Mixture of…
Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Major recruitment and retention issue • Research: Work Life Balance is a Priority
Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Gender divide is narrowing : workforce 50% women • More dual-career couples • Shared child/family care responsibilities • Generational issue no longer • Early career physicians want predictability • Phased retirement
Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Major recruitment and retention issue • Flexibility is #1 issue to keep good talent • Schedules • Work Life Policies (Family leave, childcare, elder care, benefits…)
Why does it matter? • Workplace culture is changing • Major recruitment and retention issue • Work Life Balance is a priority • Theme of needs assessments of students, residents, faculty
Do physicians succeed at work-life balance? • Failure of work life integration leads to: STRESS • Spillover • Crossover • Physicians are at higher risk of: • Divorce • Substance abuse • Depression/ Anxiety • Domestic Violence
Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48%
Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% Factors that were NOT strong predictors of career satisfaction, work-life balance, or burnout: • Gender • Age • Specialty
Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% • + predictors: • Income • Academic career • - predictors: • Working > 50hr/wk • Full owner practice • Reliance on managed care • Uncontrollable lifestyle
Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% • + predictors: • Control over schedule • Working part time <40 hr/wk • Married, partnered • Having children • - predictors: • Working full time >40 hrs/wk • Divorced/separated
Career/ Life Satisfaction (3 studies of 8,094 physicians total) Career Satisfaction: 79% Work-Life Balance Satisfaction: 37-48% • + predictors: • Income • Academic career • - predictors: • Working > 50hr/wk • Full owner practice • Reliance on managed care • Uncontrollable lifestyle • + predictors: • Control over schedule • Working part time <40 hr/wk • Married, partnered • Having children • - predictors: • Working full time >40 hrs/wk • Divorced/separated
What does “Work-Life” mean to you? “WORK” • Career Activities • Consider areas of: • Patient care • Education • Research • Service “LIFE” • Relationships • Personal well being • Physical • Mental • Spiritual • Hobbies/ Passions
WORK: My Emergency Medicine Career • EM physician level one trauma center • Academic faculty at a medical school • Primary patient care • Educate • Scholarship • Service • Mentor • Fellowship • Dean’s Office of Faculty Development
WORK: My Emergency Medicine Career • Other EM opportunities during my career:
LIFE: My Other “Career” • Relationships • Dual physician marriage (to an EM physician) • Mother of 2 busy boys • Sister, aunt, and daughter • Network of friends, mentors, mentees • Personal well being • musician, exercise, travel, cooking, church
“Work Life Integration” factors: Work- Life
Understand what motivates you? 3 elements: • Autonomy • Mastery • Purpose
Individual Development Plan & Work-Life Integration Strategy Tools for Planning, Inspiring, and Integrating your Professional & Personal Goals Develop your own plan:
Complete annually • “SMART” (assess viability) • Share with mentor/ spouse • Reflect on advice • Actively implement • Follow progress and revise IDP &Work-Life Integration Strategy
“Opportunity is Knocking” Tool to objectively evaluate a new opportunity Planning worksheet exercise:
10 Work Life Integration Tips
Work-Life Integration Tips • Focus on your values and priorities. • Make an Individual Development Plan • Set and know your limits and boundaries • With a new opportunity – don’t say “yes” immediately • Protect your time
Work-Life Integration Tips 2. Hone your time management skills. • Find your time wasters • Utilize all available time (listen to audio CME on drive)
Work-Life Integration Tips 3. Get ORGANIZED! • Keep a “TO DO” list, Prioritize, Retrograde plan • Email Strategy • Empty inbox (4 D’s – do, delegate, delete, decision) • Schedule time vs on-the-go phone/ipad(limit 2-3x day) • Turn off interrupting dings
Work-Life Integration Tips 4. Find a “usable” calendar system. • Easy, sharable, real-time, integrative • Share it with family and caregivers • Plan your vacations/ personal/ family time in advance • Schedule time for yourself (exercise, spa, writing)
Work-Life Integration Tips 5. Establish a mentor network. • At work • Career guidance, advice, sponsorship, skill acquisition • At home • make friends with other families in your neighborhood.
Work-Life Integration Tips 6. Double Dip. • With every project, find a second goal it could satisfy. • Turn a lecture or program into scholarship • Combine the activities you love with your family/friends.
Work-Life Integration Tips • Know the Work-Life Policies of your employer. • Family Leave policies • Part-time policies / flexibility in scheduling • Childcare options (on-site, back-up sick care) • Academic center – promotion and tenure clocks
Work-Life Integration Tips • Cultivate relationships with family and friends. • Family time, date-night, & “no electronic” times • With your partner : communication is the key! • Be accountable to someone in your life (mentor, spouse, friend)
Work-Life Integration Tips 9. Invest in Family/Home Responsibilities. • Foster teamwork – coordinate/ delegate activities and chores. • Find reliable childcare and have backup. • “Hire it done!” (house cleaning, yard work, food delivery) • Keep numbers for home/car repairs accessible.
Work-Life Integration Tips • Build Healthy Personal Habits. (physical, mental, spiritual well-being) • Exercise, eat healthy, sleeping habits • Read, relax, hobby, music • Let go of guilt & maintain a sense of humor!
Questions: jlwelch@iupui.edu
