Work-life Balance in the Digital Age

• Citation: Vol. 50 No. 1
• Publication year: 2024

Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age Vol. 50 No. 1 Pg. 20 Vermont Bar Journal March 2024

BE WELL Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age

by Julia Guerrein, Esq.

What is work-life balance?

Someone achieves work-life balance when they are able to satisfactorily engage in both work and nonwork roles.^[1] This requires minimal conflict between work and nonwork roles.^[2] These nonwork roles can be related to family, friends, community, or other important facets of someone's life and identity.

Awareness of work-life balance can allow everyone to live a more meaningful and intentional life. Research has shown that better work-life balance contributes positively to work, such as increasing job performance and decreasing job burnout.^[3]Work-life balance also contributes positively to nonwork parts of life, such as improving marriages, increasing family satisfaction, increasing leisure activity time, and decreasing conflict with family members.^[4]

How the digital world influences work-life balance.

The ability for employees to work in-person, at home, or a mix of both has altered the workplace. Depending on the person, this could bring benefits or drawbacks. According to an American Bar Association survey conducted in 2022, most attorneys have the option to work remotely. About 30% of attorneys work from home all the time, about 30% work in the office all the time, and the other approximately 40% do both.^[5]

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