Europeans’ work and life – out of balance? An empirical test of assumptions from the “acceleration debate”

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine M Schöneck
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Test ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Level Data

Advanced modernity is regarded as an era of time obsession and people in modernized societies seem to live harried lives. Leading time sociologists like Hartmut Rosa adopt a modernization–critical stance and ascribe an accelerated pace of life and frequent time scarcity to socioeconomic and technological advancement. According to these protagonists of the “acceleration debate,” time becomes increasingly precious due to severely changed conditions of work and private life. Against this background it can be assumed that many people may suffer from an unsatisfactory work–life balance. This study uses individual-level data from the fifth round of the European Social Survey (fielded in 2010/11) as well as suitable country-level data capturing key features of advanced modernity to empirically test assumptions arising from the “acceleration debate.” Results from multilevel analyses of 23 European countries provide some confirmation of these assumptions. While most macro indicators for 2010 reflecting a certain stage of development are uninfluential, a country's degree of globalization matters, and moreover growth rates of crucial macro indicators signaling paces of development exert an impact on people's work–life balance in the assumed direction: In countries with accelerations in terms of economic development, coverage of households with internet access and numbers of new cars working people show a significantly greater inclination toward an unsatisfactory work–life balance. Aside from results at the country-level individual-level determinants and group-specific differences of work–life balance under different conditions of advanced modernity are presented. This study's two main findings—(1) paces of development matter more than stages of development and (2) assumptions arising from the “acceleration debate” receive some empirical support—are thoroughly reflected on and discussed.

Work–life balance in Europe: institutional contexts and individual factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 366-381
Author(s):  
Rumiana Stoilova ◽  
Petya Ilieva-Trichkova ◽  
Franziska Bieri
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Unpaid Work ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Level Data

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how individual and macro-level factors shape the work–life balance of young men and women across European countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines macro-level data from the official statistics with individual-level data from the Work, Family and Wellbeing (2010/2011) module of the European Social Survey. The study uses multilevel modelling to explore the factors which shape the work–life balance of men and women aged 15–34 across 24 European countries.FindingsThe findings show both differences and similarities between young men and women in how education shapes work–life balance. Higher education increases the likelihood of considering work–life balance as important in work selection for men, while lower education decreases the odds of considering this balance for women. More education is associated with lower acceptance of the traditional norm, for both men and women, and less time spent on housework. Higher share of family benefits decreases the importance of work–life balance, more so for men than for women. Work–life balance is more important for men living in conservative, Mediterranean and post-socialist welfare regimes compared to those from social-democratic regimes.Social implicationsThe policy implications are to more closely consider education in the transformation of gender-sensitive norms during earlier stages of child socialization and to design more holistic policy measures which address the multitude of barriers individuals from poor families and ethnic/migrant background face.Originality/valueThe study contributes to existing literature by applying the capability approach to the empirical investigation of work–life balance. The analytical model contains three dimensions – norms about paid/unpaid work, considering work–life balance in the choice of employment and time spent on unpaid work. Through this approach, we are able to uncover the agency inequality of young people taking into account individual level characteristics, including gender, education, ethnicity and macro-level factors.

scholarly journals Conditions necessary to maintain work-life balance of employees - in the light of the research results

Management ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 326-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janina Stankiewicz ◽  
Hanna Bortnowska ◽  
Patrycja Łychmus
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Family Friendly ◽  
Remedial Actions

Summary The article presents the results of research concerning worklife balance of employees of enterprises located in lubuskie voivodeship. The working conditions provided by employers were analyzed. The authors of research checked whether they favor, according to the respondents, the homeostasis between work and private life. The results showed some deficits in this area. This led to reflection on the potential remedial actions which can be applied in the organization, such as a policy of „family friendly employment”.

scholarly journals Work–life balance of German gynecologists: a web-based survey on satisfaction with work and private life

2013 ◽  
Vol 289 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Hancke ◽  
Wilmar Igl ◽  
Bettina Toth ◽  
Astrid Bühren ◽  
Nina Ditsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Web Based

scholarly journals Tools for Reconciling Professional and Personal Roles in Poland. Challenges and Barriers

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Sienkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Cultural Character ◽  
Barriers And Challenges ◽  
Constant Improvement ◽  
Life Work

One of the key challenges faced by today’s workers is to live at an ever-increasing pace, which creates a conflict between professional and private life. This results from the extension and intensification of working time, the need for constant improvement of competences and, as a result, lack of free time for family life or rest. More and more companies are opting for specialised programmes to prevent imbalances between professional and private life (Work-Life Balance – WLB). However, the scope of solutions applied by Polish employers is not systematically examined. Therefore, the article reviews and analyses the applied solutions in the field of reconciliation of professional and personal life (including family life) in enterprises operating in Poland, as well as barriers and challenges of their implementation. Identified challenges of financial, legislative, organisational and cultural character limit the practical use of such mechanisms.

A Study of Employee's Work-Life Balance in Indonesia: The Effect of Human Resources Practice and Perceived Organizational Support

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
Arif Partono Prasetio ◽  
Romat Saragih ◽  
Bachruddin Saleh Luturlean
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Perceived Organizational Support ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
The Impact

This empirical research was conducted to examine the impact of effective human resource practice and perceived organizational support in improving employee work-life balance in Indonesia. The study sample consisted of 363 employees worked in Bandung and Jakarta. Sample was selected using nonprobability method. We testing the mediation role of perceive organizational support between effective HR practices and work-life balance at individual levels. This study helps explain the work and life interaction among employees by analyzing the level of suport from organization. SPSS with Macro Process was used to test the relation. Participants presume that organization already practice effective HR policies and gave adequate support to do the job. Employee also develop higher balance between work and private life. It seems such balance was formed by the organization involvement. Our findings support the statement that the relation of effective HR practices and work-life balance is mediated by employee's regarding organizational support. Management should focus on developing human resources policies that regards as promoting support for employees. Keywords: Human Resources Practice, Perceived Organizational Support, Work-Life Balance

scholarly journals His or her work–life balance? Experiences of self-employed immigrant parents

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Camilla Munkejord
Keyword(s):  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Immigrant Parents ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Dual Earner ◽  
The Individual

The question of how to achieve ‘work–life balance’ has been a central debate for several decades. Hitherto, this subject has primarily been explored in organizational contexts; less is known in the context of self-employment. This article advances our understanding of work–life balance by analysing the everyday stories of self-employed immigrant parents in Norway. In this study, work–life balance is constructed in contrasting ways between mothers and fathers on the individual level and simultaneously in binary and potentially competing ways on the couple level. Hence, through an analysis of the participants’ work and family availabilities, this study sheds light on how gender relations may be shaped at the micro level within the Nordic dual-earner family model.

scholarly journals Working time flexibility and work-life balance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Wöhrmann ◽  
Nicola Dilchert ◽  
Alexandra Michel
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Working Time ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Working Time Flexibility

Abstract Based on border theory (Clark 2000), we aim to investigate the relationship between individual-oriented and organization-oriented working time flexibility and employees’ work-life balance, as well as the moderating role of segmentation preference. We use data from around 18,000 employees from the 2015 Working Time Survey of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Germany. Survey data were collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that individual-oriented working time flexibility was positively related to employees’ work-life balance, whereas organization-oriented working time flexibility had a negative effect. Employees’ individual preferences regarding the segmentation of work and private life only played a minor role. Those with a higher segmentation preference profit only marginally more from individual-oriented working time flexibility and suffer only marginally more from organization-oriented working time flexibility demands. Practical Relevance: Taken together, the study’s findings highlight the importance of the design of flexible working time arrangements for improving employees’ work-life balance. Employers should grant their employees a certain degree of working time autonomy while keeping organization-oriented working time requirements, such as changes of working time at short notice to accommodate operational demands, to a minimum. This applies to all employees, not only those with a strong preference for separating work and private life.

Let me go to the office! An investigation into the side effects of working from home on work-life balance

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 771-790
Author(s):  
Rocco Palumbo
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Working From Home ◽  
Home Based

PurposeThe disruptions brought by COVID-19 pandemic compelled a large part of public sector employees to remotely work from home. Home-based teleworking ensured the continuity of the provision of public services, reducing disruptions brought by the pandemic. However, little is known about the implications of telecommuting from home on the ability of remote employees to manage the work-life interplay. The article adopts a retrospective approach, investigating data provided by the sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) to shed lights into this timely topic.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical, quantitative research design was crafted. On the one hand, the direct effects of telecommuting from home on work-life balance were investigated. On the other hand, work engagement and perceived work-related fatigue were included in the empirical analysis as mediating variables which intervene in the relationship between telecommuting from home and work-life balance.FindingsHome-based telecommuting negatively affected the work-life balance of public servants. Employees who remotely worked from home suffered from increased work-to-life and life-to-work conflicts. Telecommuting from home triggered greater work-related fatigue, which worsened the perceived work-life balance. Work engagement positively mediated the negative effects of working from home on work-life balance.Practical implicationsTelecommuting from home has side effects on the ability of remote workers to handle the interplay between work-related commitments and daily life activities. This comes from the overlapping between private life and work, which leads to greater contamination of personal concerns and work duties. Work engagement lessens the perceptions of work-life unbalance. The increased work-related fatigue triggered by remote working may produce a physical and emotional exhaustion of home-based teleworkers.Originality/valueThe article investigates the side effects of remotely working from home on work-life balance, stressing the mediating role of work engagement and work-related fatigue.

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