Racing to a staffing solution: an investigation into the current staffing crisis within the UK horseracing industry

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Juckes ◽  
J.M. Williams ◽  
C. Challinor ◽  
E. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Staff Turnover ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Labour Shortage ◽  
High Staff Turnover ◽  
Media Portrayal ◽  
Job Conditions ◽  
The Uk

The British Horseracing Industry has been experiencing a labour shortage since the 1970’s and despite recent improvements reported in staff retainment, the industry still reports high staff turnover. We investigated staffing challenges experienced by UK horseracing employers and employees, to formulate strategic targets to address any issues identified. Thirty UK trainers and staff (12 staff, 9 senior staff, 9 trainers) participated in semi-structured inductive focus groups lasting on average 39±9 min. Questions explored staff background in racing, perceptions of the current staff challenges, retention and recommendations for improvement. Thematic analysis revealed four higher order themes; (1) lack of skills, (2) differences in perceived work ethic, (3) job conditions, and (4) media portrayal. This study concluded that there are dedicated staff working in the industry, but significant skills gaps, high workloads, poor work-life balance and a lack of training and career progression negatively influence retention in the horseracing industry.

Things I wish I’d known: desiderata for early career psychiatrists

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lillian Ng ◽  
Richard Steane ◽  
Emme Chacko ◽  
Natalie Scollay
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Career Plans ◽  
Zealand College

Objective: The objective of this study was to disseminate advice imparted to early career psychiatrists by a panel of senior colleagues at a Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists symposium, reflecting on things they wished they had known at the earlier stage in their careers. Methods: Key themes were extracted from notes taken at the symposium, where opinions were expressed by three senior psychiatrists. Results: There are components in building a sustainable career as a psychiatrist, which include considering one’s work environment and relationships with colleagues; self-care, mentorship and reflective practice; and seeking opportunities to teach and research for career progression. Conclusions: The mentorship and advice from senior colleagues can be highly influential. In order to sustain a career that has reward, meaning and longevity, psychiatrists would do well to pay attention to aspects of self-care, stay connected to their loved ones, seek an optimal work–life balance and take an interest in their long term career plans.

scholarly journals Beyond ‘Juggling’ and ‘Flexibility’: Classed and Gendered Experiences of Combining Employment and Motherhood

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Interview Research ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Uk

This paper proposes that there is a need to push beyond the popular discourses of ‘flexibility’ and ‘work-life balance’. Developing a feminist-Bourdieuian approach and drawing on three illustrative case studies from my interview research with 27 mothers in the UK, I show the importance of maintaining a focus on class and gender inequalities. In the first part of the paper the concepts of capitals, dependencies and habitus which shaped, and were shaped by, this interview research are discussed. An analysis of three women's accounts of their experiences across work and family life is then used to illustrate that although these women all used terms such as ‘flexibility’ and ‘juggling’ in describing their work, the experience of that work was crucially influenced by their histories and current positioning. Tracing each of these women's trajectories from school, attention is focused on the influence of differential access to capitals and relations of dependency in the emergence of their dispositions toward work. Overall, the paper points to the significance of examining the classed and gendered dimensions of women's experiences of employment and motherhood.

scholarly journals Gender, Flexibility Stigma and the Perceived Negative Consequences of Flexible Working in the UK

2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 521-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heejung Chung
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Working Time ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThis study examines the prevalence and the gender differences in the perceptions and experiences of flexibility stigma—i.e., the belief that workers who use flexible working arrangements for care purposes are less productive and less committed to the workplace. This is done by using the 4th wave of the Work-Life Balance Survey conducted in 2011 in the UK. The results show that 35% of all workers agree to the statement that those who work flexibly generate more work for others, and 32% believe that those who work flexibly have lower chances for promotion. Although at first glance, men are more likely to agree to both, once other factors are controlled for, women especially mothers are more likely to agree to the latter statement. Similarly, men are more likely to say they experienced negative outcomes due to co-workers working flexibly, while again mothers are more likely to say they experienced negative career consequences due to their own flexible working. The use of working time reducing arrangements, such as part-time, is a major reason why people experience negative career outcomes, and can partially explain why mothers are more likely to suffer from such outcomes when working flexibly. However, this relationship could be reverse, namely, the stigma towards part-time workers may be due to negative perceptions society hold towards mothers’ commitment to work and their productivity. In sum, this paper shows that flexibility stigma is gendered, in that men are more likely to discriminate against flexible workers, while women, especially mothers, are more likely to suffer from such discrimination.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Work-Life Balance: What about Supervisor Support and Employee Proactiveness?

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Rajendra Kumar ◽  
Uma Mohan Mokashi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Supervisor Support ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Behavior ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
The Uk

The authors attempted to investigate how to resolve the growing work-life balance issue occurring due to COVID-19 Pandemic in the higher education sector. On the premise of prominent literature, the study conceptualized a framework to test if supervisor support and employee`s proactive work behavior could help address the work-life balance issue. Through applying the quantitative approach, the study collected data from employees working in a higher education institution in the UK. Results of the structural equation modeling found significant association and influence of supervisor support and work-life balance. The study also found a strong affiliation between proactive work behavior and work-life balance. However, proactive work behavior did not moderate supervisor support and work-life balance relationship. The study concluded that both supervisor support and proactive work behavior could be vital in helping employees to achieve their work goals effectively and efficiently without compromising their work-life balance. The study forwards prominent implications to guide practitioners, policymakers and researchers in this domain.

British doctors’ work–life balance and home-life satisfaction: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. postgradmedj-2021-141338
Author(s):  
Swati Parida ◽  
Abdullah Aamir ◽  
Jahangir Alom ◽  
Tania A Rufai ◽  
Sohaib R Rufai
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Home Life

PurposeTo assess British doctors’ work–life balance, home-life satisfaction and associated barriers.Study designWe designed an online survey using Google Forms and distributed this via a closed social media group with 7031 members, exclusively run for British doctors. No identifiable data were collected and all respondents provided consent for their responses to be used anonymously. The questions covered demographic data followed by exploration of work–life balance and home-life satisfaction across a broad range of domains, including barriers thereto. Thematic analysis was performed for free-text responses.Results417 doctors completed the survey (response rate: 6%, typical for online surveys). Only 26% reported a satisfactory work–life balance; 70% of all respondents reported their work negatively affected their relationships and 87% reported their work negatively affected their hobbies. A significant proportion of respondents reported delaying major life events due to their working patterns: 52% delaying buying a home, 40% delaying marriage and 64% delaying having children. Female doctors were most likely to enter less-than-full-time working or leave their specialty. Thematic analysis revealed seven key themes from free-text responses: unsocial working, rota issues, training issues, less-than-full-time working, location, leave and childcare.ConclusionsThis study highlights the barriers to work–life balance and home-life satisfaction among British doctors, including strains on relationships and hobbies, leading to many doctors delaying certain milestones or opting to leave their training position altogether. It is imperative to address these issues to improve the well-being of British doctors and improve retention of the current workforce.

A Thematic Analysis of the Challenges and Work-Life Balance of Women Entrepreneurs Working in Small-Scale Industries

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-472
Author(s):  
Purvi Pareek ◽  
Chaya Bagrecha
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Exploratory Report ◽  
Small Scale Industries

The purpose of this research is to understand the various challenges and the work–life balance of women entrepreneurs working in small-scale industries (SSI), and to develop models for the same. The paper discusses the various viewpoints of women entrepreneurs of SSI given by them in personal interviews and explores in detail the difficulties and problems they face from generation to setting up of enterprise and making it run successfully. It also talks about the difficulties they face from society and the kind of anxiety and fear they have to overcome to reach this stage. This exploratory report is the result of a pilot study that has been conducted using thematic analysis to discover solutions for the same. Qualitative research method is being used for the pilot study conducted using thematic analysis by gathering data from personal interviews. The two most important challenges faced by women entrepreneurs managing small scale industries relate to socio-personal issues and managing relationships. Identification of challenges and work–life balance issues faced by women entrepreneurs in SSI and development of models for the same, that can be used for further research by academicians & by various Government and academic institutions for training and development, contributing to the growth of women entrepreneurs in India. The research is an honest attempt to realize the various challenges and work–life balance issues an Indian woman entrepreneur faces in SSI, so that models can be developed, leading to more woman participation and contributing to entrepreneurial growth.

scholarly journals Women’s employment patterns after childbirth and the perceived access to and use of flexitime and teleworking

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heejung Chung ◽  
Mariska van der Horst
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Large Household ◽  
Family Demands ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Right

This article sets out to investigate how flexitime and teleworking can help women maintain their careers after childbirth. Despite the increased number of women in the labour market in the UK, many significantly reduce their working hours or leave the labour market altogether after childbirth. Based on border and boundary management theories, we expect flexitime and teleworking can help mothers stay employed and maintain their working hours. We explore the UK case, where the right to request flexible working has been expanded quickly as a way to address work–life balance issues. The dataset used is Understanding Society (2009–2014), a large household panel survey with data on flexible work. We find some suggestive evidence that flexible working can help women stay in employment after the birth of their first child. More evidence is found that mothers using flexitime and with access to teleworking are less likely to reduce their working hours after childbirth. This contributes to our understanding of flexible working not only as a tool for work–life balance, but also as a tool to enhance and maintain individuals’ work capacities in periods of increased family demands. This has major implications for supporting mothers’ careers and enhancing gender equality in the labour market.

scholarly journals The Intersection of Reproductive, Work-Life Balance and Early-Education and Care Policies: ‘Solo’ Mothers by Choice in the UK and Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Ana Bravo-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Early Education ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

This article focuses on women who have opted to be mothers on their own by choice in the UK and Spain, and how their access to assisted reproductive technologies in the National Health Service was affected because they were 35 years old or older, forcing them to go to private clinics for their treatment. Having given birth to their children, the participants face a second obstacle: the lack of policies that support work-life balance. A third obstacle also arises, in the form of a lack of childcare and early-education provision, particularly in the UK. The last two obstacles affect the whole population, but they are intensified in the case of solo-mother-families where the mother is responsible for simultaneously being the caregiver and the sole economic provider. Solo motherhood by choice highlights the impact of the absence of these policies, and the inequalities that result from current contemporary conceptualizations of family, woman and early-childhood-care and education. This article draws on ethnographic research that took place in the UK and Spain where I conducted 60 in-depth interviews and participant observations. The aim is to provide an analysis capable of capturing and confronting how inequalities affect women-mothers-workers and their children.

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