9 Companies That Champion Work-Life Balance: Which Would YOU Work For?

There are many factors to consider while job-hunting. Beyond salary, location and advancement opportunities, it's important to determine how your work will affect your life outside the office.

Although many find it increasingly difficult to juggle both home and career responsibilities, the following companies encourage their employees to strive for a balanced life.

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Zappos.com

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Wondering how to quit smoking, or how to get on the management track? This online shoe retailer employs a full-time, on-site life coach to guide its employees through both personal and professional concerns.

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Wondering how to quit smoking, or how to get on the management track? This online shoe retailer employs a full-time, on-site life coach to guide its employees through both personal and professional concerns.

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Comments

[frontrowdiva]

01:44 AM on 05/14/2011

This paradigm of spirituality in the workplace will become more common once the current economic crisis is over. The really cool thing is that young entrepreneurs have the freshest ideas and the money to implement them. Productivity is increased when employees feel relaxed, appreciated, and have outlets for expression.

[Trupanion PetInsurance]

12:33 PM on 04/26/2011

I would just like to respond to this comment on behalf of Trupanion. This employee left the company a number of months ago and since that time, we have developed an in-office pet team that has developed a formal pet policy and procedures for accepting new dogs into the office as well as handling incidents. It is true that our employee population is quickly outgrowing our office spaces which is why we are moving to larger offices within the next few months. Pet owners here at Trupanion greatly appreciate the privilege to bring their dogs to work.

[Cassie Rothenberg]

12:53 AM on 04/25/2011

I used to work for Trupanion. They haven't had a dog walker for almost a year. And the part about bringing your dog to work? Not so great if you work in customer service or claims. They consolidated the two departments' working areas, essentially giving everyone 75% less space than they had before. People literally have to tie their dogs to their desk. Also, they don't have a employee-pet policy, which means that misbehaving dogs are a constant distraction and I have witnessed several dog fights, one in which the employee had to leave to the emergency. You really just can't put so many dogs and people in such a tiny space. It wasn't even worth bringing your dog in to work there. Seriously, that place is a mess.

And no, I did not get fired. I just couldn't stand data entry.

[Terri Lorz]

03:12 PM on 03/29/2011

I would love to work for a company that pays for me to go to Europe. Wow, that is fantastic! Terri Jo Lorz

[menmykoko]

12:29 AM on 03/24/2011

Never heard of any of these comp[anies. It's interesting thaqt none of the big companies have made the list though. GE, Coca cola, etc.

[T Pol]

07:13 PM on 04/09/2011

Google made the list. Surely you have heard of them.

But your point is taken. Either the usual giants just offer run-of-the-mill benefits or nothing that compares with these, hard to say. This may not have been intended to be an all-inclusive list, just a sampling of some creative offerings. Some of these are regional companies, too.

[menmykoko]

03:32 PM on 04/17/2011

Yes, you got the point.

[eva07]

05:17 PM on 03/23/2011

The six weeks "sabbatical" is almost the norm in Europe. They get between 4 and 6 weeks paid vacation every year, paid maternity/paternity leave and sick leave. They don't work more than than the 35-40 hours depending on the country. I have programmer friends in Germany, who actually have to take the extra days off when they worked more than that. Of course they have real and strong unions that achieved all this.

[Pippen]

01:00 PM on 03/23/2011

The paradigm that exists today will not change as long as old fat bald white men run the place.

Status quo = I was here first so get your ass in the office while I'm out on the golf course.

Put young people in charge and vote for very very young people into office. They'll change everything.

I have a friend who came from India to work here temporarily. He is Muslim but Turkish descent. He's well studied and educated and we hit it off right away.

When we talk about the differences in countries he is sad that Americans have traded their love of life and their souls for power and glamour. He said its painfully obvious to all foreigners that visit the U.S. They are not happy (Americans). They are busy, powerful, materialistic and sad, terribly sad. They have forgotten what life is all about. How to slow down and just be. Be with family, eat outside, take care of the kids together, swing, swim, play ball and just lay in the sun or enjoy a rocking chair with the grandparents.

What good is all this money and jet life if you lose who you are to people who you value. They know of you but they only see you twice a year and you live far apart.

Go to work at 6am, your personal life is your working life. There's no distinction. As though thats whats valued.

We need an employees bill of rights.

[eva07]

05:23 PM on 03/23/2011

It is not the question of old fat bad men versus young people, it is a question of employee's right and we have practically nothing. Every civilized country has better health care and more vacation time than we do. You can't slow down if you are expected to work 10-12 hours a day, and take practically no vacation. We don't have unions, and nobody is representing the employees, never mind that overworked and tired people are less innovative and effective..

[Laura w]

12:33 PM on 04/09/2011

Bear in mind that we work hard, not so we can have a grand lifestyle, but that we can live at all. Average American workers are not powerful, and are often so overworked, with very little vacation time, that we no longer have the time or energy to lay in the sun, or enjoy a rocking chair with the grandparents.

You're absolutely right, we do need an employees bill of rights, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Mister Grumpy]

05:09 PM on 03/22/2011

Chesapeake Energy........... they poison the environment with their Haliburton fracking process...........

[glamajama]

03:05 PM on 03/22/2011

Ahhh...the elusive work/life balance! I think it's struggle no matter where -or who you work for. I'm an entrepreneur with my own schedule and still have situations like this http://glamalife.com/2011/03/the-power-of-a-promise/ threaten to derail me. Finding work/life balance is far more complicated than just finding a "life balance freindly" employer.

[1Woman4Obama]

04:19 PM on 03/21/2011

Unlimited vacation days is a trap -- with highly motivated, competitive co-workers, that means you get no vacation..... and lactation rooms? this is required by law in most states.

[notmytime]

09:34 PM on 03/22/2011

I live near the Amgen facility in CA, they really are a very family life friendly company. They have a 'compound' and offer childcare, preschool, cafeterias etc. I don't believe with all of the companies goals, but they have many great perks.

[1Woman4Obama]

03:00 PM on 03/23/2011

I think that is probably the best way to be family friendly (childcare, preschool etc.) My comment was about the "unlimited vacation days" at Netflix -- I have a friend who worked there and I know what it means. Same with "paternity leave" at many companies -- at my old company, it was a badge of honor *not* to take the 3 weeks. The perception was that those men were more dedicated to the company. These types of perks depend on company culture but can be much worse than a company that strongly encourages employees to take 3 weeks of vacation a year -- sure the time is limited but it is also real.

[dbishop76]

07:57 AM on 03/21/2011

And I bet their employees are loyal to the companies too. I can't figure out why management doesn't understand that when you treat your employees with respect, they will return it.

[SonyaInTx]

04:45 AM on 03/21/2011

I hope this becomes the trend of the future.....instead of having to take sick days to care for personal business.....to leave the vacation days for a vacation....

[Frizzle Fry]

03:50 AM on 03/21/2011

zappos! the irony. they were bought by amazon.com (my former employer) two years ago. the only reason they are on this list is that amazon promised to not interfear with the way they treated their employees. amazon is notorious for ZERO work/life balance.

[HufferDave87]

01:25 AM on 03/21/2011

Where are Budweiser, RooR, or the entire federal government on this list?

[Mister Grumpy]

05:10 PM on 03/22/2011

The company that made Budwiser no longer exists............

[stape45]

11:15 PM on 03/20/2011

Businesses today, do what is in their own best interest, whatever that may be.