Improving work-life policy and practice with an intersectionality lens

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-547
Author(s):  
Ann Marie Ryan ◽  
Caitlin Q. Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Identity ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
Single Identity ◽  
Work Family

Purpose Work-life research has been critiqued for focusing on the experiences of middle and upper class, younger, White, western and heterosexual women. The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical lens to conceptualizations that take an intersectionality approach, or at least consider multiple identities, in examining work-life conflict and balance. Design/methodology/approach A brief review of the current status of intersectionality research within the work-life realm is provided before discussing the implications of primarily using a single-identity approach to work-life issues. The advantages and challenges of adopting a multiple identity approach are discussed. Findings This paper highlights the problems of a lack of an intersectional focus in terms of unidentified needs, ignored values, unresolved conflicts and unhelpful advice. Tensions inherent in trying to adopt an intersectional perspective when dealing with practice and policy issues, particularly with regard to visibility and authenticity, are noted. The paper concludes with a discussion of how considerations of identity and power in work-family research connect to the broader concept of inclusion in the workplace, noting the possible challenges of stereotyping and ambiguity in doing so. Originality/value Applying an intersectionality lens to efforts to promote work-life balance in organizations can increase inclusivity, but there are tensions and pitfalls associated with this that are particularly of note for practitioners and policy. A research agenda is outlined as a starting point for addressing these issues.

Family-supportive organizational environment and turnover intention

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Taheri
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Turnover Intention ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Organizational Environment ◽  
Staff Retention ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Work Family Enrichment ◽  
Family Enrichment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test a model in which family-supportive organizational environment is associated with lower levels of turnover intention through higher levels of work-family enrichment and job satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 300 employees, the bootstrap procedure for estimating indirect correlations in multiple mediator models was used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results suggest that employees experiencing high levels of family-supportive organizational environment are likely to report lower intention to leave their profession by virtue of their higher levels of job satisfaction and work-life enrichment.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to public organization and sample size. Further research is needed to make comparison between large/state-owned and small/private organizations.Practical implicationsIn the Iran context, work-family enrichment and job satisfaction are effective in reducing the employees' turnover intention. Organizations should show concerns for the employees' work-life enrichment and job satisfaction to reduce their turnover intention.Social implicationsTurnover is one of the problems of organizations in many countries throughout the world including Iran, which has negative consequences through increasing the cost of organizations. The results of this study suggest ways in which staff retention could be improved.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to supportive organizational environment literature by addressing the relationship between family-supportive organizational environment and employee-related outcomes. Given some commonalities between Iran and other developing countries, the findings might be of potential interest in comparative studies dealing with the employees' turnover issue.

scholarly journals The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals: insights from a developing country

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 999-1015
Author(s):  
Babatunde Akanji ◽  
Chima Mordi ◽  
Hakeem Adeniyi Ajonbadi
Keyword(s):  
Health Sector ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Family ◽  
And Coping

PurposeGiven the limiting conditions of the gender roles confronting professional working women and drawing on spillover theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of work-life balance with an emphasis on the causes of the imbalances, perceived stress, and coping techniques experienced by female medical doctors in an African context – Nigeria, a geographical location that is considered under-researched.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative data is based on one-to-one in-depth interviews with 52 Nigerian female medical doctors.FindingsBased on the findings of the thematic analysis, it is clear that time squeeze, as a well-known factor in the medical profession, exacerbates negative work-home interference. However, other themes, such as patriarchal proclivities and task-pay disparity, that affect female doctors but are rarely considered in studies on work-life balance also emerged as sources of stress and work-family conflicts, leaving these doctors to devise individual coping methods as mitigating strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the limited literature on the implications of stress and work-family incompatibilities facing women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian, with an extremely pronounced culture of masculine hegemony that is contrary to western cultures. The article unveils the socio-cultural difficulties of the work-life demands facing women specific to the Nigerian society and experienced with a different level of intensity.Originality/valueThe majority of the research on work-life balance has been undertaken in western countries and has focused on various professional groups and organisations, including the health sector. Nevertheless, work-life balance is a novel concept within the Nigerian work environment, where female medical doctors, as a professional group, are rarely studied. The article also provides valuable insights into the macro-contextual features influencing the work-life balance of Nigerian professional women.

scholarly journals Engineering project networks: providing “sustainable work systems” for construction knowledge workers

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Reza Hosseini ◽  
David John Edwards ◽  
Tandeep Singh ◽  
Igor Martek ◽  
Amos Darko
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Engineering Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Networks ◽  
Life Issues

Purpose The construction industry faces three emergent developments that in all likelihood will transform the industry into the future. First, engineering project networks (EPNs), in which teams collaborate on projects remotely in time and space, are transforming global construction practices. Second, as a major consumer of resources and significant producer of green-house gases, construction is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Third, the construction industry presents as one of the least socially sustainable work environments, with high job dissatisfaction, skewed work–life balance and over representation of depressive and mental disorders. It is incumbent on the industry to reconcile these issues. Specifically, what scope is there to shape the evolution of EPNs towards a configuration that both promotes sustainability generally, and enhances quality of work-life issues, while at the same time continuing to apprehend the economic dividends for which it is adopted? As salient as this question is, it has not been broached in the literature. Therefore, this study aims to survey the extent to which EPNs align with the sustainability agenda, more broadly, and that of employee work-place satisfaction, more specifically. Design/methodology/approach A literature review of current knowledge of these concerns is explored and a summative assessment presented. Findings To the best of the authors’ knowledge, as the first in its kind, the study brings to light that EPNs go a long way towards facilitating economic objectives, part way towards realising ecological and sociological objectives but make hardly any impact on improving employee work satisfaction. Originality/value This paper examines an entirely novel area that has not been studied yet. Future research should take up this finding to determine how EPNs may be further adapted to accommodate these wider necessary objectives.

Exploring the differential impact of work passion on life satisfaction and job performance via the work–family interface

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1100-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheryl Chummar ◽  
Parbudyal Singh ◽  
Souha R. Ezzedeen
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Family Relationship ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Differential Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Family ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Work Passion

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of work passion on life satisfaction and job performance through a work–life conflict path and a work–life enrichment path. The authors also consider individual and contextual factors under which these relationships are affected. Implications for researchers and HR practitioners are highlighted. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual paper draws mainly on conservation of resources theory to explore the differential impact of work passion on the work–life interface and, consequently, on life satisfaction and job performance. Findings The authors theorize how two types of passion – harmonious and obsessive – relate to both work–family conflict and work–family enrichment. Given the emphasis on resources in these relationships, the authors also consider the moderating effects of psychological detachment and a supportive work–family organizational culture. Finally, the authors demonstrate the significant impact of studying the passion/work–family relationship by illustrating its effects on two important outcomes for individuals and organizations, namely life satisfaction and job performance. Originality/value Although the study of work passion is gaining attention from management scholars, little research has examined its influence on job performance and the work–life interface. This paper advances the authors’ knowledge in these areas. Furthermore, the authors argue the importance of considering both the individual and organizational contexts wherein the experience of work passion plays out.

Work-family balance of female parliamentarians in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ummu Markwei ◽  
Michael Kubi ◽  
Benedicta Quao ◽  
Esther Julia Attiogbe
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Political Careers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Policies ◽  
Family Balance ◽  
Healthy Work ◽  
Female Employees ◽  
Work Family

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the challenges female parliamentarians in Ghana face in their attempt to balance their professions and families. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative study which explores the nature of strain female MP’s in Ghana encounter in their struggle to achieve a work-life balance. Findings It is concluded that most female parliamentarians in Ghana go through tough times in trying to juggle career with family life. The study revealed that the MPs adopt strategies such as prioritizing roles, limiting official duties at home and using social support to help them cope with the pressures of their roles. The organizational policies put in place to aid female employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance did not yield much result for the participants in this study. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in it being the first study that qualitatively explores the complex challenges female parliamentarians face in their political careers and family lives in Ghana.

Direct and indirect effects of work‒family enrichment: role of gender role ideology

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 873-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidhi Bansal ◽  
Upasna A. Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Gender Role ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Decision Latitude ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gender Role Ideology ◽  
Family Culture ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Work Family Enrichment ◽  
Family Enrichment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents (i.e. work‒family culture and decision latitude) and outcome (innovative workplace behavior (IWB)) of work‒family enrichment (WFE). The study also examines the moderated mediation hypothesis between WFE and outcome, considering work‒life balance (WLB) as a mediator and gender role ideology (GRI) as the moderator. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were collected through a questionnaire survey from 426 Indian dual working parents, working in various sectors, through purposive sampling technique. Findings The study found that work‒family culture and decision latitude are positively related to WFE, which, in turn, results in increased IWB, with WLB acting as its mediator. Further, the study also found a moderating effect of GRI between WFE and WLB relationship; more specifically, the relationship between WFE and balance is stronger for egalitarian employees (high GRI). Research limitations/implications Using self-reported questionnaire data and a cross-sectional research design is the limitation of this study. Originality/value The study examines a relatively less focused phenomenon of work‒life interface, that is WFE in one of the underrepresented contexts like India; further, the study extends the range of antecedents and outcomes of WFE. Additionally, it contributes to understand the enrichment‒balance relationship, whereby it explains the role of GRI in developing a balanced perception.

Taming travel for work-life balance in global careers

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Lirio
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Select Group ◽  
Travel Decisions ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Global Work ◽  
Gen X

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how global managers from the generation born 1965 to 1980 (“Generation X”) manage demands of international business travel with desires for family involvement. A portrait evolves of how travel within a global career might be optimized for both business and family life. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative methodology was used as little research has focussed on alternative forms of global work or work-family issues in a global context. The author conducted in-depth interviews with 25 Gen X global managers in dual-career families (“Global Gen Xers”) pursuing global careers from the USA and Canada. Findings – The author uncovered how Global Gen Xers experienced “work-life balance” through executing personal discretion over travel and substituting in technology. The construct of travel discretion reveals these approaches. Mutual flexibility on the part of global managers and organizations tamed the demanding nature of work spanning divergent locations and time zones. Research limitations/implications – The findings represent experiences from a self-select group of global Gen X managers interviewed at one point in their careers. The author did not obtain reflections from their families on work-family functioning. Practical implications – The findings encourage companies to foster flexibility among their global managers around travel decisions. The author can consider how and when international travel can be replaced through technology in order to control costs and sustain global workforces. Originality/value – This study provides one of the first examinations of work-life balance among younger global managers. It also highlights experiences of those not on expatriate assignments, but performing global work through international travel and technology.

Supporting early learning for children under three: research and practice

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mathers ◽  
Kathy Sylva ◽  
Naomi Eisenstadt ◽  
Elena Soukakou ◽  
Katharina Ereky-Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Effective Practice ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expert Review ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Early Childhood Settings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on young children's learning at home and in early childhood settings, in order to identify key caregiving practices which support the learning and development of children under three. Design/methodology/approach – Starting with well-known reviews carried out in England, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, the authors searched the literature for evidence of the developmental needs of babies and toddlers. They then drew on the psychological and educational literatures to identify key practices supporting physical development, learning and communication, using expert review to build on the scientific research in areas where evidence was sparse. Findings – The review explores three key areas of practice: play-based activities and routines; support for communication and language; and opportunities to move and be physically active. Research limitations/implications – This review is not systematic or exhaustive, but aims to integrate current evidence within these three key areas in a succinct and accessible manner. The authors recognise that there are many other dimensions of effective practice, many of which are addressed elsewhere in this special edition, as well as myriad other influences on children's development, including social, family and environmental factors. Originality/value – Worldwide, growing numbers of children under three are experiencing non-parental care in early childhood settings. In comparison to evidence for preschool children, the literature on effective practice for under-threes is sparse. Given the urgent need for information to guide policy and practice, this paper provides a starting point and calls for a multi-source approach to strengthening the evidence base.

Characterizing Work-Life for Information Work on Mars

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (GROUP) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Rhema Linder ◽  
Chase Hunter ◽  
Jacob McLemore ◽  
Senjuti Dutta ◽  
Fatema Akbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Life On Mars ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
Information Work ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Design Fiction ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Narrative Account

We present a design fiction, which is set in the near future as significant Mars habitation begins. Our goal in creating this fiction is to address current work-life issues on Earth and Mars in the future. With shelter-in-place measures, established norms of productivity and relaxation have been shaken. The fiction creates an opportunity to explore boundaries between work and life, which are changing with shelter-in-place and will continue to change. Our work includes two primary artifacts: (1) a propaganda recruitment poster and (2) a fictional narrative account. The former paints the work-life on Mars as heroic, fulfilling, and fun. The latter provides a contrast that depicts the lived experience of early Mars inhabitants. Our statement draws from our design fiction in order to reflect on the structure of work, stress identification and management, family and work-family communication, and the role of automation.

Work-family state support for the self-employed across Europe

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Annink ◽  
Laura den Dulk ◽  
Bram Steijn
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
National Level ◽  
The Self ◽  
European Countries ◽  
State Support ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Family State

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to map and understand work-family state support for the self-employed compared to employees across European countries. Design/methodology/approach – To map state work-family support policies for the self-employed, an overview of public childcare, maternity, paternity, and parental leave arrangements across European countries is created based on databases, local government web sites, and local experts’ country notes. Secondary data analyses are conducted in order to compare support for the self-employed to support for employees and across countries. Differences across countries are analysed from a welfare state regime perspective, which explicates assumptions about the role of the government in providing work-family state support and which is often used in research on work-family support for employees. Findings – Results show that, in general, the self-employed receive less work-family state support than employees or none at all. The extensiveness of work-family state support varies widely across European countries. Patterns of welfare states regimes, which explain variation in work-family support for employees, can also be found in the context of self-employment. Practical implications – Findings result in practical suggestions for policy makers at the European and national level to monitor policy compliance considering maternity leave for the self-employed, to increase childcare support, and to rethink the European Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan. Originality/value – Work-family state support for the growing number of self-employed has never been mapped before, although this is a very topical issue for (European) policy makers. This paper offers a starting point to contextualise and understand the way self-employed experience the work-family interface in different country contexts.

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