Why Better Work-Life Balance Is Better For Business
- Reach CPA
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
ESTABLISHING A MORE EVEN WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR EMPLOYEES IS NOT MERELY AN EMPATHETIC MOVE TO ATTRACT BETTER TEAM MEMBERS—IT IMPROVES YOUR BOTTOM LINE.
Recently in a team meeting our discussion turned to why we’re grateful for the environment we get to work in every day. As we celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, it feels like the right time to share what our team is truly thankful for—and how it impacts our business for the better.
This post is a little different from our usual content. We hope it gives you a clearer view of how gratitude drives better outcomes. At Reach, a stronger internal culture leads to smarter decisions, happier clients, and healthier margins (theirs and ours).
Flexibility, Trust and Remote-Work Real Life
For us, work is part of life, not all of it. Balance fuels better work. We sprint through a project and promise to slow down “after,” but the next one lands and the cycle continues—heading straight for burnout.
Think about profitability. When people aren’t stressed, they think more clearly, serve better and spot issues sooner. That shows up in the bottom line. The structure we use ourselves is the same one we advise for our clients and really any firm.
Our Better Balance Philosophy
For owner, Fabian Gendron, work is part of life—not the headline—and Reach CPA is built with that in mind. We run the firm around systems that support people and the business: clear roles, solid tools, predictable rhythms, and room for real life.
It’s the same way we coach our AEC clients: align your structure to both your personal goals and your business goals, so you don’t have to choose between them. When the foundation is right, teams operate with calm, clarity, and trust. And calm execution always beats constant urgency—for your people, your clients, and your profit.
Our Team Take-Aways
Naomi—Bucket List Adventure, We’ll Make It Work
Is grateful to work where she is “seen as human and is supported both in our careers and our personal lives. I am grateful to work with a firm that supports our career goals, and helps us develop in those areas as much as possible! On the personal side, I was lucky enough to take the opportunity to travel Europe for six months with my daughter. That was only a possibility because I had the support from Fabien to figure out ways to keep working while I traveled.”
Why this matters: retention, energy, perspective that benefits clients.
Danielle—Young Baby + A Surprise Move
Welcomed a flexible schedule that would meet her needs as a new mother for her young baby. This is not something she has experienced before. She welcomes the shift from being viewed as just another number to being valued as an individual who brings something more to our small team. When she undertook an unexpected move across the province earlier this year, the support throughout this process was invaluable. To have space and time for this transition was immeasurable.
Why it matters: helps prevent burnout; views loyalty as earned, not demanded.
Joanna—Big Move, No Panic
During a cross-province move, Joanna leaned on the Reach team. Flexible hours and remote work gave her space to handle the logistics while keeping momentum. “Even with so much up in the air, I could stay consistent at work and at home. The team covered my absences and picked up tasks when I was offline.” She also felt welcomed by out-of-work gatherings: “I’m forever grateful for Fabien’s support and understanding during the weeks around my family’s move.”
The result was stability for herself, her family and the clients she supports.
Why it matters: stability for employers, employees and for clients.
Lauren—Childcare Shuffle, No Problem
She’s supported to put family first. If a child gets sick or childcare calls, she can step away immediately—no stigma around kid interruptions. When she’s online, she’s all-in; when family needs arise, she logs off with confidence and backing from the team.
Why it matters: fewer frantic schedules, better focus when online.
The common thread?
Moves and family logistics are stressful enough, work shouldn’t pile on just because life happens. We consciously built remote-work into our practice. The perks of this—autonomy, fewer commute hours, deeper work windows—deepen the roots our team has.
How Balance Improves the Business (For Us and Our AEC Clients)
Personal gains are not the only benefit though. Put simply, firms with balance enjoy:
Retention & recruiting: great people choose places that respect real life.
Client satisfaction and service continuity: flexible, documented processes & cross-training reduce single points of failure.
Profitability: fewer fires, better use of expert time, proactive project management.
Sharper execution: rested teams see the big picture, minimize errors, and are better placed to identify opportunities to improve our clients' and firm's operations.
The Systems That Make It Possible
Balance doesn’t happen by accident—it’s designed into how we work. We run on a remote-friendly structure: async updates, clear owners, and crisp deadlines, so everyone knows what matters and when. Our back office is integrated end to end, so the tech handles the repetitive work—payroll integrations, project tracking, time and cost capture, bookkeeping, and automated reporting—while our people focus on higher-value thinking.
Because the data is clean and flows where it should, clients get real decision support: stronger margins, smarter bids, and realistic capacity planning. Bottom line: fewer fires, more flow, and more energy for the work—and the life—outside of it.
Most owners want better profits, more free time, and peace of mind about their books. By putting empathetic, documented, tech-forward processes in place, you attract the right team and keep them. It’s a win-win-win for your team, your clients, and the health of the firm.
Our Balanced Takeaway
Gratitude isn’t fluffy—it’s how we operate. Balance lets us show up fully when we’re online and switch off fully when we’re not. Having better balance empowers employees while strengthening your business' bottom-line. That only works when the systems support it: clear roles, the right tools, and a lot of trust. It’s the same setup we build for Canadian architects, engineers, and contractors—so they can earn more, stress less, and plan smarter.
We’re genuinely thankful for a team that lives these values and for clients who share them. Here’s to firms—and lives—that stay balanced all year long.
Curious how to work balance into your firm without denting profits? Let’s talk, please reach out today!
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