Work-Life Balance
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 08:34PM 
I'm a huge fan of work-life balance! Mostly everyone works their asses off all week...not all, but most. To promote this mentality, some companies, likened to the old start-up days, have inserted fooz-ball and ping-pong tables in the lunchroom, cater breakfast and lunch in everyday, set-up a mini putting green somewhere in an atrium-like area, or have invested in a full service gym for employees with no contract or monthly fees. Some have even contracted with Starbucks so that they're on-site. The idea behind this was to bring "life" into "work." Doesn't sound like such a bad deal. But don't be fooled! It's all a ploy to keep you imprisoned in the workplace. They have made it such that you never have to leave the workgrounds if everything you need is brought to you or within arms length. Where's the work-life balance now?
Really, the only way out of this is to take up interests, activities, hobbies, etc...that would be absolutely impossible to deploy into the workplace.
I've advised others on this idea previously but it backfired. One guy decided he was now a cyclist training for the Tour de France. What do they do? They give him a spin bike fully equipped with varying levels of resistance and incline. They went as far as installing some digital contraption that simulates all sorts of weather conditions! Go figure. Another guy joined a local basketball league, thinking the company wouldn't want to be held responsible for non-employees. Wrong again...the company decided to be the primary sponsor of the league, provided uniforms, facilitated tournaments, oh, and did I mention provided a full indoor basketball court that met NBA standards? Foiled again! I know what most of you may be thinking...something related to alcohol and completely against company policy. Not so fast my friends. One woman suggested she was President of some Imported Beer and Vintage Wine Club where she hosts monthly tastings at her residence to try and get out of working late one Friday night. Instead, the company authorizes a monthly Beer & Wine Fest for employees plus they get to bring one non-employee guest. And a DJ was supplied too!
Get my point? You've got to think extreme; like learning to be a helicopter pilot or going white water river rafting. Everyone has a right to a healthy work-life balance. The point is, you've got to get away from the workplace at some point. But the real point of this post is to justify my decision to play hookie from work tomorrow and not feel guilty about it. Thought I'd hit the slopes and ride one last time since it's warming up quick out here! And I'd say snowboarding qualifies as extreme. Besides, I doubt the company can bring me a 5-6ft. snow base and a 75 degree angle mountain side. (Can they? Nah....)
Ready to ride double-blacks baby!!!!! Woohoo!!!!! 
Reader Comments (3)
Take me with you!!!!!
Where you going? I'm going up tomorrow and through the weekend. Can't wait.
"Besides, I doubt the company can bring me a 5-6ft. snow base and a 75 degree angle mountain side. (Can they? Nah....)"
Well Disneyland brought us the Matterhorn. I know you work for an Ent. Company and if it's Disney, they can make anything happen! (Be careful with what you ask for...they make magic;>)