scholarly journals Equity Issues in Work/Life Balance Programmes

Author(s):  
Avette Kelly

In the past 10 years there has been an increasing number of works published detailing the positive impact of family-friendly and work/life balance programmes on workplace culture and performance. While this study does not attempt to refute this body of literature, it does address all issue which has been largely ignored thus far. That is, that work/life programmes with an emphasis on family-friendly initiatives can leave some staff members feeling disadvantaged and create a subculture of dissatisfaction. This paper examines whether these feelings exist ill a small sample of New Zealand companies. Staff from two groups within Auckland City Council were surveyed and an email questionnaire was sent to a non-random sample of childless employees from 10 other firms. These results of these surveys did notified evidence to support the idea that many childless staff feel disadvantaged by family-friendly initiatives especially where the programmes were flexible and could be used by anyone who needed them.

Author(s):  
Tatjana Kepic ◽  
Mojca Bernik ◽  
Jasmina Žnidaršič

The fast paced lifestyle in the technologically advanced era, brings many challenges in the field of work-family balance. For a good business performance, customer satisfaction and a positive impact on the environment, it is important for a company to have satisfied employees. Many successful companies are aware that the key to having productive and satisfied employees is also to understand and promote workfamily balance. This awareness is slowly growing in Slovenian companies and therefore the acquisition of the Family-Friendly Company certificate has been actively pursued since 2006. With the help of the Family-Friendly Company certificate, companies are able to retain the best talents and gain the moral loyalty of employees. Based on the study of literature and previous research, the article presents the situation in the field of work-life balance in Slovenia. The results of a survey conducted in a selected company are presented in the following article. The results of the analysis showed that the employees of the studied company are on average satisfied with the familyfriendly measures and that there is a difference in the success of work-life balance according to gender. Based on the results, possible improvements in the studied area are also suggested.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Christianne M. Eason

Context:  An organizational climate is largely based on an employee's perceptions of the working conditions in which he or she engages regularly. A multifaceted concept, the organizational climate is often formed by perceptions of employee welfare, rewards, and support. Achieving work-life balance is also a part of the climate. Objective:  To learn collegiate athletic trainers' perceptions of organizational climate and specifically how it may pertain to their work-life balance. Design:  Phenomenologic study. Setting:  Collegiate practice setting. Patients or Other Participants:  Thirty athletic trainers working in the collegiate athletics setting took part in 1-on-1 phone interviews. The participants were 30.5 (interquartile range [IQR] = 7.75) years old and had been certified for 7 (IQR = 5) years and at their current position for 4 (IQR = 3) years. Data Collection and Analysis:  Participants completed a phone interview that followed a semistructured framework. All transcribed interviews were analyzed using a phenomenologic approach. Researcher triangulation, expert review, and data saturation were used to establish credibility. Results:  Athletic trainers working in the collegiate athletics setting who had positive perceptions of their work-life balance described their organizational climate as family friendly. Our participants' supervisors allowed for autonomy related to work scheduling, which provided opportunities for work-life balance. These athletic trainers believed that they worked in a climate that was collegial, which was helpful for work-life balance. In addition, the importance of placing family first was part of the climate. Conclusions:  The perceptions of our participants revealed a climate of family friendliness, supervisor support, and collegiality among staff members, which facilitated the positive climate for work-life balance. The mindset embraced the importance of family and recognized that work did not always have to supersede personal priorities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 779-791
Author(s):  
Tara Tavassoli ◽  
Albert Sunyer

Purpose of the study: This research explores the effects of Work-Life Balance (WLB) on job and life satisfaction, and burnout in Iran and Spain. Besides, this research investigates the impact of WLB on organizational commitment and the mediating role of this factor on the studied outcomes. Methodology: This study uses confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling in AMOS to analyze a sample of 263 full-time employees. The sample includes employees from various sectors and firms. The same measurement scales, factors, and structural models were used in both studied countries. Main Findings: The results of this study confirm that there are positive relationships between WLB and job and life satisfaction and negative relationships between WLB and burnout in both countries. Furthermore, results confirm the partial mediating role of organizational commitment on WLB and the studied outcomes in a way that WLB has a positive impact on the organizational commitment which is, in turn, positively associated with job satisfaction and negatively related to cynicism in both country samples. Applications of this study: These findings involve that WLB has a positive impact on employees' outcomes. Therefore, organizations should implement and promote WLB policies as a means to increase their employees' satisfaction while reducing job burnout. Employers' attention to WLB should be prominent. Novelty/Originality of this study: This research is one of the first studies to investigate WLB outcomes in Middle-Eastern societies like Iran and compare them with western societies. The results show more similarities than differences between the two studied country samples, although few differences are found.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 97-115
Author(s):  
Olufemi Aladejebi

As part of the response to Covid 19, working from home (WFH) was enforced by governments of more than 150 countries in order to curtail the transmission of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic had brought new business ideas, making organizations change how they conduct their business. This study aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of working from home in the scientific literature, using questionnaires, how employees feel about WFH in the aspects of family values, increase of performance, isolation and disrupts work-life balance, how workers cope with WFH. Data was collected from the primary source by using a structured questionnaire completed through google form. The target respondents were employers and employees both from the private sector of the economy . Data was gathered from 504 respondents. SPSS and Excel were used to analyse the data. The majority of the respondents were employees (76.98%), while 23.02% were employers. An inquiry was also made about the marital status of the respondents, and the majority (71.83%) were married while 28.17% were single. The study showed that respondents were still able to connect with their teammates despite working from home, frequently communicate with leaders, and have clarity on working from home policies. It can also be seen that the majority of the respondents enjoyed working from home, although they still look forward to returning to the office. Findings on working from home on family values show that this work style positively influences availability at the home front. Findings on the effect on work performance show average agreement on the positive impact of working from home. Agreement on the negative impact of working from home on office/social interaction and work-life balance was also seen to be on average. It can be inferred from this study that working from home is a work style that employees would prefer to continue post-COVID-19.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-71
Author(s):  
Sushma Manandhar

The paper aims to provide empirical evidence on impact of family domain (family support and spouse support) on work-life balance of full time professional working mothers in telecommunication and academic sectors. The structured questionnaire was administered among 90 working mothers representing from both sectors in Kathmandu Valley. The study followed descriptive and analytical research design. Correlation and regression analyses were carried on to test the proposed hypotheses. The statistically significant positive impact of family support and spouse support was found on work life balance of professional working mothers under the study. Family support and spouse support enhance the professional working mothers to become highly committed to their job or work devoting considerable time and effort to their career role and work-life balance.


2022 ◽  
pp. 200-214

This chapter looks at several approaches to improving teleworking through increased trustworthiness and performance. Any combination of these methods should be beneficial. Some of the methods deal with analyzing LMX and improving its use. One of the ways to do that is to mitigate “distance” in LMX. “Distance” is a disconnect in the work relationship at times that are important. It concerns accomplishments that are crucial to recognition and promotion. Organizations need collective agreements that guide teams and foster shared understanding, collaboration, and innovation. Another valuable approach is an asynchronous one with work characterized by flexibility. Asynchronized working creates a situation where employees work a schedule without fixed hours. This is said to promote constant feedback and deep-thinking by freeing employees to manage necessary contacts with managers and other employees while self-managing their work-life balance in the process. The need for meetings is minimized and, when meetings are necessary, they may be more effective if they allow participant flexibility.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 866-879
Author(s):  
Galina Boiarintseva ◽  
Julia Richardson

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to theorize men’s experiences of work-life balance in male-dominated, high-performance industries.Design/methodology/approachThis study provides an in-depth qualitative study comprising interviews and informal conversations with male lawyers in Canada.FindingsThis study highlights the socially constructed nature of male lawyers’ experiences of work-life balance and the recursive impact of industry, professional and societal expectations and norms.Research limitations/implicationsA relatively small sample size, suggesting the need for further study with a larger and more diverse sample. The study was conducted in Canada – other national contexts may furnish different results.Practical implicationsThis study identifies the need for greater awareness of how institutional, professional and societal expectations and norms impact on men’s experiences of work-life balance in male-dominated, high-performance industries.Social implicationsThis paper indicates that greater attention needs to be paid to work-life balance among men in male-dominated, high-performance industries.Originality/valueThis paper explores men’s experiences of work-life balance in a male-dominated industry within an interpretivist paradigm.


2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 668-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Ashley Goodman

Context: Researchers studying work–life balance have examined policy development and implementation to create a family-friendly work environment from an individualistic perspective rather than from a cohort of employees working under the same supervisor. Objective: To investigate what factors influence work–life balance within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I clinical setting from the perspective of an athletic training staff. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Web-based management system. Patients or Other Participants: Eight athletic trainers (5 men, 3 women; age = 38 ± 7 years) in the NCAA Division I setting. Data Collection and Analysis: Participants responded to a series of questions by journaling their thoughts and experiences. We included data-source triangulation, multiple-analyst triangulation, and peer review to establish data credibility. We analyzed the data via a grounded theory approach. Results: Three themes emerged from the data. Family-oriented and supportive work environment was described as a workplace that fosters and encourages work–life balance through professionally and personally shared goals. Nonwork outlets included activities, such as exercise and personal hobbies, that provide time away from the role of the athletic trainer. Individualistic strategies reflected that although the athletic training staff must work together and support one another, each staff member must have his or her own personal strategies to manage personal and professional responsibilities. Conclusions: The foundation for a successful work environment in the NCAA Division I clinical setting potentially can center on the management style of the supervisor, especially one who promotes teamwork among his or her staff members. Although a family-friendly work environment is necessary for work–life balance, each member of the athletic training staff must have personal strategies in place to fully achieve a balance.


Author(s):  
Ariane Ollier-Malaterre ◽  
Natalia Sarkisian ◽  
Sarah Stawiski ◽  
Kelly M. Hannum

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