“Work-life balance” is an elusive concept, and very few of us are satisfied with our experience of it. In a recent report, Deloitte Global reported that younger workers are particularly dissatisfied: only 31% of millennials and 34% of Gen Z workers report being satisfied with their employer’s practices around work-life balance.
For companies, knowing exactly how to embody people-first atmospheres that value and respect employees can be a challenge. Benefits packages that include ample PTO and sick leave certainly make a difference, but company culture also plays a role. Meeting structure, workflow processes and modes of collaboration all have an impact on how employees manage to balance work life and personal life.
Built In sat down with Israel Orbach, Engineering Manager at Melio, to learn about how internal processes and procedures are creating a healthy culture of work-life balance. At Melio, respecting employees’ time is a multi-faceted endeavor. Orbach says that everything from purpose-driven meetings to involving developers and engineers in workflow development contributes to a healthy culture; this creates “a balanced environment where engineers can thrive without feeling overwhelmed.” And thriving without feeling overwhelmed sounds a lot like that elusive work-life balance.
Melio streamlines B2B payments and makes financial management easier for small businesses.
How have you set up your team to encourage a good work-life balance for individual contributors?
In our internal tools group at Melio, we believe that collaboration and personal growth are key. We actively involve developers in sprint planning, letting them influence tasks and priorities. This not only fosters empowerment but aligns work with personal interests and goals.
We encourage continuous learning through workshops, technology exploration and side projects. We follow Agile methodologies to provide flexibility, responsiveness and regular feedback.
We also value personal time and flexibility, striving to find the right work-life balance for each individual. Lastly, our meetings are efficient and purpose-driven, designed to enhance collaboration while respecting focused work time.
What role does open an open door policy play in making sure team members can speak candidly about their work-life balance — and position you to respond accordingly?
Our open-door policy is an essential part of Melio's culture, fostering continuous communication and trust. Regular one-on-one meetings provide a platform for open discussions about work-life balance, personal growth and challenges.
Additionally, we conduct performance review cycles twice a year. These reviews provide an opportunity for reflection, feedback and setting new goals, aligning with both individual and team objectives.
This combination of regular check-ins and bi-annual reviews ensures that our developers feel supported, heard and valued, creating a transparent and collaborative environment that encourages growth and empowerment.
How do you protect your engineers' time to ensure they accommodate — but aren't overwhelmed — by the needs of cross-functional collaborators?
At Melio, protecting our engineers' time is multifaceted. We establish clear boundaries with collaborators to minimize interruptions, allowing developers to concentrate on their core tasks.
Protecting our engineers' time is multifaceted. We establish clear boundaries with collaborators to minimize interruptions, allowing developers to concentrate on their core tasks.”
Our CI/CD tooling and automation, developed with direct input from our engineers, streamline workflows and maintain focus. Our developers also actively contribute to creating these tools, enhancing their skills and ensuring tailored solutions.
We're fortunate to have great PMs who work closely with the development team, ensuring that tasks are clearly defined and aligned with our goals. Our engineers also play a vital role in planning and prioritizing, which ensures alignment with business objectives and fosters ownership within the team. Together, these practices create a balanced environment where engineers can thrive without feeling overwhelmed.
