Balance Begins With Trust The best workplaces believe employees can do great work without sacrificing the rest of their lives. By Mason Linn, CAS WORK/LIFE BALANCE is one of those concepts that nearly every company says it values, but it’s truly evident in the best workplaces. This was far and away the most beloved feature among employees of firms on this year’s PPAI Greatest Companies to Work For list. In the merch business, work/life balance appears in job postings, employee handbooks and conversations about team cultures. Organizations offer flexible schedules, paid time off, wellness benefits and hybrid work arrangements, all intended to help employees manage the demands of their jobs alongside the rest of their lives. Those things matter. But they are only the beginning. A company can have generous policies on paper and still create an environment where employees feel guilty using them. People may technically be allowed to take vacation yet believe they need to monitor email the entire time. They may have flexible hours but worry that arriving later or leaving earlier will be interpreted as a lack of commitment – a sales call that could’ve been made, or an email that could’ve been responded to more quickly. Real work/life balance is not simply a collection of benefits. It is a reflection of trust. afry_harvy / Shutterstock.com 22 • SEPTEMBER 2026 • Voices | Your Business
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