scholarly journals Meeting the challenge of the work-life balance in the South African workplace

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
GF Mageni ◽  
AD Slabbert
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
South African ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
The South ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Insight Into

The work-life balance (WLB) construct as a business imperative has been of growing concern in organisations outside South Africa for the past two decades, particularly given the pressure to create a sustainable global competitive advantage through human capital. Within the last decade this aspect has been prominent in various forums. However, no studies as yet provide insight into the applicability of WLB models to the South African workplace. The present article therefore explores the composition of a WLB system, and analyses constraints on its application under the conditions of the South African labour market.

scholarly journals Influence of sense of coherence on work-life balance at the South African public service

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 206-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abe N. Ethel ◽  
Ziska Fields ◽  
Atiku O. Sulaiman
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
The South ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Life Balance

The inability of workers to achieve balance between work and family responsibilities has led to heightened incidence of illnesses associated with stress. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the role of Sense of Coherence (SOC) on the achievement of work life balance by focusing on individual managers at a municipality in the South African public service. These individual managers often struggle with work-life balance (WLB) challenges like HIV/AIDS, relational tension, single parenthood, child and elder care, alcohol and substance abuse, debt and financial issues, absence of job autonomy, function vagueness/role conflict and job stress. A sequential transformative mixed methods research design is adopted. Data were collected using self-report questionnaire administered to 364 individual managers; additional eleven members of top management were interviewed. Quantitative data gathered are analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 to test the reliability and validity of the instrument as well as the bivariate association between the variables. NVIVO is used in organizing qualitative data for ease of content analysis. The findings indicate that SOC should be considered when designing strategies to address employee work-life needs. Furthermore, it confirmed that the presence of strong SOC does not lead to achievement of WLB

scholarly journals The Efficacy of Wellness Programmes as Work-Life Balance Strategies in the South African Public Service

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (6(J)) ◽  
pp. 52-67
Author(s):  
Ethel N. Abe ◽  
Ziska Fields ◽  
Isaac I. Abe
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
The South ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Work And Life

Abstract: This paper aimed to evaluate the wellness programs adopted by the South African Public Service to ascertain their efficacy at addressing work-family challenges and aiding employees to achieve work-life balance. Understanding the effectiveness of wellness programmes as work-life balance strategies is necessary especially when the cost of implementing such strategies is considered exorbitant. Many institutions have put in place work-life balance strategies, but discrepancies concerning definitions, formulation and implementation could make it impossible for them to fully reduce work-family challenges and assist employees in achieving the envisaged work-life balance. A sequential transformative mixed-methods study design was adopted. Data was collected using self-report questionnaire administered to 307 individual managers. Additionally, 11 top management members were interviewed. The major findings are as follows; (a) significant relationship exists between the wellness programmes and work-life balance strategies (b) wellness programmes qualified to be addressed only as life strategies because they did not address work challenges faced by employees. (c) work-life balance strategies predicted only 7.1% of the variations in wellness programmes in the South African Public Service. The peculiarity and value of this article lies in the discovery that work and life balance strategies adopted by organisations may not address employee work and life challenges and assist them in achieving work-life balance. Summarily, wellness programmes are not work-life balance strategies, and the South African Public Service should endeavour to adopt strategies that could assist employees in balancing work and family needs.Keywords: Wellness Programmes, Work-Life Balance Strategies, Work-family challenges, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)

Confronting the Challenges to Equipoise: A Study on Wompreneurs’ Work-Life Balance

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (i) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Role Conflict ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Emerging Issues ◽  
The Government ◽  
Insight Into

The study explores the adversities faced by wompreneurs (Women Entrepreneurs) of Odisha and talks about their work-life balance issues. The paper presents the viewpoint (motivation) of wompreneurs as to why they think of starting an enterprise of their own. Focus is also laid onthe supportive factors of wompreneurs and factors that disrupt maintaining their work-life balance.The present exploratory paper is the outcome of a pilot study that has been performed using thematic investigation & analysis to find out solutions for the above-mentioned issues. For this paper, Qualitative research is used, which is conducted by assimilating data from personal interviews and thematically analyzing it. Suggestions for better work-life balance are given at the end. The area of work-life balance is devoid of studies in India, where wompreneurs are expected to have a better work-life balance as they are their own “boss”, the paper tries to explore the authenticity of such assumptions. The model has been devised with the above research objectives to provide insight into motivating factors and work-life balance issues of wompreneurs, which can help the Government, policy-makers, research fraternity and other training counselling institutions to emphasize such emerging issues that would lead to empowered women as well as an empowered Nation. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Wompreneurs, Case study, Work-life balance, Role conflict

scholarly journals The competitive status of the South African Wheat Industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Van der Merwe ◽  
Philippus Cloete ◽  
Herman Van Schalkwyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
South African ◽  
Wheat Flour ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
The South ◽  
Wheat Market ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Trade Partners

This article investigates the competitiveness of the South African wheat industry and compares it to its major trade partners. Since 1997, the wheat-to-bread value chain has been characterised by concentration of ownership and regulation. This led to concerns that the local wheat market is losing international competitiveness. The competitive status of the wheat industry, and its sub-sectors, is determined through the estimation of the relative trade advantage (RTA). The results revealed declining competitiveness of local wheat producers. Compared to the major global wheat producers, such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and the USA, South Africa’s unprocessed wheat industry is uncompetitive. At the same time, South Africa has a competitive advantage in semi-processed wheat, especially wheat flour. The institutional environment enables the importation of raw wheat at lower prices and exports processed wheat flour competitively to the rest of Africa.

scholarly journals Squaring the Circle: Registrar Training and Experience in an EWTR - Compliant Rota

2013 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
RD Ramiah ◽  
J M Owen ◽  
DM Williamson ◽  
RA Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Continuity Of Care ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Working Time ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Surgical Experience ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Rest Periods ◽  
Registrar Training

The European WorkingTime Regulations (EWTR) have been introduced over the past five years despite opposition from the surgical community. The stated aim of EWTR-compliant rotas for all staff is to reduce fatigue by having adequate rest periods and shorter working time, thereby improving patient safety as well as work–life balance. Concerns have been voiced that reduction in working periods for trainee surgeons will impair surgical experience and continuity of care for patients.

scholarly journals Depression in the South African workplace

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Marthinus P. Stander ◽  
Margreet Bergh ◽  
Helen Elizabeth Miller-Janson ◽  
Janetta C. De Beer ◽  
Frans A. Korb
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
South African ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
The South ◽  
Anxiety Group ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and can be costly, having a significant impact on the individual and employers. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in partnership with HEXOR, with the support of Lundbeck, undertook research into depression in the workplace, because South African information is not available on this topic. It provides insight into the prevalence of depression within the workplace in South Africa, as well as the impact of depression on the employees and employers in terms of sick leave and levels of productivity, especially when the symptoms include cognitive impairment. It is apparent that stigma plays a pivotal role in the reasons for non-disclosure to employers. It further highlights the magnitude of awareness, early detection and the provision of a holistic support system within the work environment, free from bias, to ensure that optimum benefit can be achieved for both employer and employee.

scholarly journals An evaluation of the income tax treatment of client loyalty programme transactions by South African suppliers

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-164
Author(s):  
Sophia Brink
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
International Literature ◽  
Financial Loss ◽  
The South ◽  
The Past ◽  
Loyalty Programme

The popularity of client loyalty programmes has increased drastically over the past few years, with more than 100 suppliers in South Africa currently making use of them. Despite the fact that client loyalty programmes have been prevalent in South Africa since the 1980s, the South African Revenue Service has issued no specific guidance on the income tax treatment of client loyalty programme transactions. The main objective of the research was to determine whether South African client loyalty programme suppliers treat client loyalty programme transactions correctly for income tax purposes. In order to meet this objective, available local and international literature were analysed to determine the proposed income tax treatment of a client loyalty programme transaction expenditure incurred by supplier for purposes of the client loyalty programme. The proposed correct income tax treatment was compared with a survey circulated to a population of client loyalty programme suppliers in South Africa. The comparison indicated that in practice the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 is treated differently from the proposed treatment. This incorrect tax treatment could result in possible financial loss to the client loyalty programme supplier as taxpayer.

scholarly journals Being on top of your game at the bottom of the pyramid

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pravina D. Oodith ◽  
Sanjana Brijball Parumasur
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
South African ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bottom Of The Pyramid ◽  
Collaborative Effort ◽  
South African Context ◽  
The South ◽  
African Context

This paper analysed the viability of Prahalad’s Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) proposition within the South Africa context as a mechanism to eradicate/minimize poverty by ensuring a joint collaborative effort by government, NGOs, large domestic firms, multinational corporations (MNCs) as well as the poverty stricken citizens themselves. It conceptualized the BOP proposition and, having reviewed statistics on the extent of poverty globally and in South African in particular, confirmed that the BOP is a lucrative market in the South African context. From the paper, it is evident that the BOP proposition, if effectively implemented, has the potential to reduce poverty in South Africa and increase the profits of MNCs. It then reviewed Prahalad’s twelve Principles of Innovation and strategically divided these into six differentiation and six low-cost strategies. The paper concludes by articulating creative strategies (based on Prahalad’s 12 principles of innovation) for active participation and competitive advantage at the bottom of the pyramid, which are vividly presented in a model for strategic partners especially multinational corporations (MNCs) to adopt when expanding their scale of operations to incorporate the BOP market.

scholarly journals Nursing Education and the Black Nurse ... An Overview

Curationis ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Samson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Final Examination ◽  
The South ◽  
Professional Nurse ◽  
Black Nurses ◽  
The Past

In 1907, Cecilia Makiwane passed the final examination for general nurses of the Cape Colonial Medical Council, and on 7 January 1908 became the first Black registered professional nurse in South Africa (1:269). On 31 December 1977 there were 18 362 Black nurses on the registers of the South African Nursing Council3. At the time when a new Health Act (63/1977) and a new Nursing Act (50/1978) have been promulgated, and “Curationis” makes its début, it is well to look at the highlights of the development of nursing education for Blacks during the past 70 years.

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