If you type the phrase ‘work-life balance’ into a search engine, you will be swamped with articles telling you how important it is to leave work at work and make the most of your free time. However, many people may need or even want to take their work home with them.

Whether working towards a promotion, seeking a pay rise, working to a tight deadline or they genuinely love what they do, there’s many motivations for an employee to work more than they are contracted to do so, and very often the people who invest more time into their work will in turn reap the rewards.

Some may argue that our education system promotes homework and out of hours studying without disputes, so what makes the work place any different?

This is where the controversy raises its head. Some people may not be in a situation that allows them to work outside office hours. Perhaps they have young children, personal commitments or simply enjoy their free time too much to take work home. They likely still want to progress and be successful within their profession, but an employer may favour someone who is happy to sacrifice their personal life for their job.

Many high achieving businessmen and women will admit later in life that they regret missing their children growing up because they put their career first. However, it is very hard to find a balance between wanting to achieve a successful career alongside a thriving personal life and they will very often conflict with one another, forcing you to make sacrifices and difficult decisions.

A lot of articles online focused on creating a work-life balance may be simply unrealistic. If your boss is demanding outside the office, switching your phone off and ignoring them is not going to go down well. Similarly, if you are approaching a deadline, the clock striking home time is not an excuse to hand in work unfinished or late and could potentially jeopardize your job.

Our consultants have commented on the matter, claiming that generally employees who are ambitious, engaged and passionate about their work will proactively take it home without prompting. However, businesses should always ensure their employees willingness to work hard is balanced with maintaining their health and wellbeing – everyone is entitled to a life outside of work.

Written by Jess Weller