Ken Raymie: Why a Healthy Work-Life Balance Matters for Today’s Workforce

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Ken Raymie built a nearly three-decade banking career culminating in his role as president and chief executive officer of San Antonio’s Generations Federal Credit Union, a position he held from 2019 to 2024 after joining the organization in 2014. During his tenure as CEO, he grew the credit union’s assets from $500 million to more than $750 million while increasing loan and deposit growth by over 40 percent each, helping the organization achieve its highest annual net income in its 83-year history. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at KeyBank, Transpecos Bank, and Broadway National Bank. Away from the office, he enjoys basketball and golf. As workplace demands continue to evolve, many professionals recognize that sustaining a healthy balance between career responsibilities and personal life is essential to long-term success and well-being.

Per Randstad’s Workmonitor 2025 report, nearly 85 percent of American workers rank work-life balance as their top career priority, ahead of both job security and salary. Meanwhile, a study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that most workers view health as important as family when it comes to work-life balance. Gen Z employees are especially keyed into health and wellness, with many rating mental health services as more important than pay.

Work environments that provide employees with opportunities to maintain a healthy work-life balance benefit their workers in many ways, while enjoying several advantages in areas of profitability and productivity.

To start, business owners and employees need to have a baseline understanding of work-life balance as a general concept. Broadly speaking, work-life balance means that a professional has established an equilibrium between their job responsibilities and their personal goals.

To achieve such a balance, a person needs to develop time management skills and learn to set boundaries, though they must also have a flexible attitude when it comes to prioritizing pressing work duties or important moments in their personal lives.

For employees, a strong work-life balance often translates to fewer health complications. Employee absenteeism hit a record high in 2025 across numerous industries. This absenteeism not only speaks to the various mental and physical health problems experienced by American workers, but also costs employers in the United States upwards of $225 billion in lost productivity every year.

By encouraging workers to look after their health, employers not only build trust and improve employee satisfaction rates, but also benefit from fewer absences.

Supporting a healthy work-life balance improves the employer-employee relationship in several ways, especially when it comes to employee burnout, a major issue in the US. The World Health Organization and American Psychological Association both recognize workplace burnout as an occupation-related syndrome characterized by deep physical and emotional exhaustion that leads to decreased motivation at work.

Widespread burnout often leads to higher rates of employee turnover. Replacing a single employee can cost a company anywhere between 50 and 400 percent of the worker’s annual salary, to say nothing of the loss of productivity.

Evidence indicates that supporting a healthy work-life balance does not just contribute to employee health and improved relationships, but also enables employees to enjoy optimized productivity and performance. The stronger a person’s work-life balance, the better they perform at their job, in terms of both productivity and efficiency.

Higher rates of employee satisfaction also result in more passionate, connected employees who go above and beyond employer expectations and serve as proactive brand advocates. Helping employees maintain their work-life balance also builds an employer’s reputation among top talent, leading to improved recruiting results.

While individuals must take steps to balance their professional responsibilities and life goals, employers can offer support in several ways. Flexible work arrangements, such as adaptable schedules and remote work opportunities, allow people to get their work done without spending excessive time at the office.

Paid time off is critical to keeping workers happy and motivated. Perhaps most importantly, workplace leaders need to clearly communicate the importance of employee health and wellness and let employees know that they will not be penalized simply for taking care of themselves.

About Ken Raymie

Ken Raymie built a nearly three-decade banking career, most notably serving as president and chief executive officer of San Antonio’s Generations Federal Credit Union from 2019 to 2024. Under his leadership, the credit union grew assets by 50 percent and achieved its highest annual net income in 83 years. He holds an MBA from Northeastern University and an economics degree from Boston University, and he serves on several community boards, including the American Heart Association

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