To retain employees, support their passions outside work

Harvard Business Review — 30 March 2022

Written by

Prof. Dr. Lauren Howe, Prof. Dr. Jon Jachimowicz, and Prof. Dr. Jochen Menges

Summary

What we found: When it comes to the most attractive jobs of the future, one important factor is being overlooked – jobs that are designed to enable employees to pursue their out-of-work passions, or activities outside of work that make employees’ lives meaningful.

Why it matters: Passions require time, and with the hectic pace of modern life, employees may feel that they simply do not have time for out-of-work pursuits. Yet pursuing out-of-work passions can give employees the energy they need to engage with their work and promote employee well-being.

What next: To attract and retain top talent, employers can take steps to ensure that their people are able to embrace their out-of-work passions. This means providing the resources that employees need to pursue passions outside of work, including allowing flexibility in work hours and location, leading by example to ensure employees feel comfortable pursuing their passions, and even offering financial support.