Work-life balance

Work-life balance is a state of well-being that allows people to effectively manage multiple responsibilities at work, at home, and in their community.

The City of Vancouver recognizes the many challenges that individuals face in trying to achieve work-life balance. We encourage our managers, supervisors, and staff to be responsive to work-life issues and to work together to attain this goal.

The city provides further encouragement and support by offering the following programs:

Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management.

Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.

- Betsy Jacobson

• Car Pooling – Sharing your commute means sharing the costs, getting to use HOV lanes, and being eligible for preferred parking. The COV will register you for free with our automated ride matching service so you can share your commute with a co-worker or with someone else who lives and works close by.
• CityLearn – our internal training department offers workshops and seminars on personal finances, retirement planning, stress management, career development, and more.
• Earned Days Off (EDO) - employees eligible to participate in the city's EDO plan work an additional 30 minutes per day and earn 18 days per year to take as time off over the course of the calendar year.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - most of us at some point in our lives, have difficulty solving a personal problem. EAP is available to all City of Vancouver employees and their immediate family members to assist during these times. EAP counsellors work full-time to provide this free and confidential service.
• Fit City – promotes healthy living through fitness and wellness workshops, events and newsletters.
• Health & Safety – offer a variety of programs to create and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
• Gym equipment, shower facilities and bike racks – many city sites offer on-site facilities or access to discounted membership at local gym facilities – see Fit City.
• Job Sharing – the city may offer a working arrangement that splits responsibilities and pay of a position between two people (job sharing may not be possible in all positions).
• Leaves of Absence – the city may offer leaves to assist staff with family obligations, jury duty, educational pursuits, and other issues (leaves of absence may not be available for all positions).
• TransLink Passes – makes riding transit your "Way to Go." The Employer Transit Pass Program provides a discount on your transit pass and saves you from continually having to buy tickets or passes. It's cheaper than driving your car everyday and you'll be helping to improve the environment by reducing greenhouse emissions. TransLink passes are offered to all regular full-time and part-time employees of the City of Vancouver.