scholarly journals Working Hour and Intention to Have Children in Hong Kong Full-Time Workers

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Fanny Yuk Fun Young
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Long Working Hours ◽  
Prolonged Fatigue ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Working Hour

This study investigated the working hour, work-life balance and intention to have children of full-time workers in a place without Standard Working Hour legislation and with very low birth rate, Hong Kong. Method used a questionnaire survey with 200 below 35, married, full-time workers. Results showed these workers had longer working hour (49.3 hours/week) than many other places in the World (40 hours/week). Most participants (around 70 percent) reported prolonged fatigue level, sleepiness and extreme tiredness and did not have time staying with their partner and family. The mean intention to have children score was 2.045 out of 5. Correlation analysis was performed between working hour and intention to have children. There exist an inverse relationship between working hour and intention to have children (r= - 0.779). A plotting of the working hour against intention to have children showed some linear relationship between the working hour and intention to have children. Therefore, in general the workers with longer working hour were having lower intention to have children. To conclude, workers in Hong Kong, without Standard Working Hour legislation, had long working hours, poor work-life balance and low intention to have children. 

WORK–LIFE BALANCE IN THE CURRENT JAPANESE CONTEXT

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Akizumi Tsutsumi
Keyword(s):  
Working Hours ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
Long Working Hours ◽  
Family Work ◽  
Overtime Work ◽  
Work Style

Background: Work style reform in Japan is under way in response to a predicted shortfall in the workforce owing to the country’s low birth rate and high longevity, health problems due to excessive working hours, and the need for diversification of employment. A legal limit for physicians’ overtime work will be introduced in 2024. Objectives: This study examines the work–life balance among Japan’s doctors in the context of ongoing work style reform. Methodology: The study applied included selective reviews of demographic shifts, legislation against long working hours, and trends in doctors’ participation in the labor force. Results: Japan’s doctors work long hours, which creates a conflict between their working and private lives. The proportion of female doctors in Japan is the lowest among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Employment trends among women doctors by age group show an M-curve: many quit their jobs upon marriage or childbirth. Gender role stereotyping has led male Japanese doctors to devote themselves entirely to their professions and working excessively long hours: they leave all family work to their female partners. This stereotyping obliges female doctors to undertake household chores in addition to their career tasks, which makes it difficult for them to re-enter their careers. Because of the harsh working conditions (including long working hours), there has been a decline in newly graduated doctors in some medical specialties. Conclusions: For sustainable, effective health care in Japan, it is necessary to improve the work conditions for Japan’s doctors towards achieving work–life harmony.

scholarly journals Working conditions of retail industry workers in Hong Kong

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Fanny YF Young
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Retail Industry ◽  
Retail Sales ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
Working Hour

This study investigated the relationship of working hour, work-life balance and mental health conditions in full-time retail industry workers in Hong Kong, an area without standard working hour legislation, in a follow up study during reduction in retail sales. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted, one in 2014 and the other one in 2015. Each survey comprised 100 retail industry workers in the same retail industry area in an anonymous basis.  In 2014 the working hour was long (51.92 hours per week). During this reduction in retail sales there was a significant reduction in the originally long working hours (from 51.92 hours to 47.25 hours, p<0.0001), an increase in daily hours of personal or private activities (3.06 hours to 3.606 hours, not statistical significant), a significant increase in self-perceived work-life balance (from 3.76 to 4.51, p=0.0009), a decrease in number of workers having problems due to disturbed work-life balance, and a significant decrease in the high mental health score (from 18.93 to 15.36, p=0.0003) indicating improvement in mental health conditions. The findings provide scientific evidence for policy making, the working hour in an area without standard working hour legislation could be long. Reduction in working hour resulted in an improvement in work-life balance and mental health conditions.

Organisational Culture and the Use of Work–Life Balance Initiatives: Influence on Work Attitudes and Work–Life Conflict

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 54-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mardi Webber ◽  
Aspa Sarris ◽  
Max Bessell
Keyword(s):  
Working Hours ◽  
Work Attitudes ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Long Working Hours ◽  
Managerial Support ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Work Life Conflict

AbstractThe study examined attitudes toward work–life balance (WLB) using survey data from 292 employees in an Australian university. Organisational culture, as it relates to how and when employees can use WLB initiatives, was investigated. In particular, the study examined employees' differing perceptions of organisational culture within a single organisation, with particular reference to: managerial support of WLB initiatives, career consequences of using WLB initiatives, organisational time expectations that may interfere with non-work activities, and the level of employee control over workload and when employees can take time off. As predicted, perceptions of managerial support of WLB initiatives were related to initiative use; however, overall initiative use was not related to perceived career consequences (e.g. using initiatives will damage one's career progress), organisational time expectations (e.g., long working hours), or levels of employee control (e.g., employee control over workload). Results showed that perceptions of a supportive organisational culture were positively related to organisational commitment and negatively related to work–life conflict and employees' intentions to leave. Further, the study results show that employees' perception of organisational culture was more strongly associated with the outcomes (e.g., work attitudes, work–life conflict) than the number of WLB initiatives used by employees.

scholarly journals Part-Time Work and Gender Inequality in Europe. A Comparative Analysis of Satisfaction with Work–Life Balance

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Beham ◽  
Sonja Drobnič ◽  
Patrick Präg ◽  
Andreas Baierl ◽  
Janin Eckner
Keyword(s):  
Working Hours ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Part Time Work

Part-time work is an increasingly common strategy for handling work and family—but is it an effective strategy everywhere and for everyone? To answer this question, we examine the satisfaction with work–life balance of workers in 22 European countries included in round five of the European Social Survey. Our results show that part-time workers are more satisfied with their work–life balance than full-time workers; the more so, the fewer hours they put in. Yet, we find an important gender difference: Women in marginal part-time work (&lt; 21 hours/week) are more satisfied than men in a similar situation, and conversely men in full-time work are more satisfied than women working full-time. Further, the societal context plays an important role: substantial part-time work (21–34 hours/week) is more conducive to satisfaction with work–life balance in more gender-egalitarian countries than in countries with low gender equality. Hence, a supportive gender climate and institutional support may entice workers to reduce working hours moderately, which results in markedly increased levels of SWLB.

scholarly journals Work-Life Balance versus Work-Life Merge: a Comparative and Thematic Analysis of Workplace Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sharkey ◽  
Barbara Caska
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Traditional Concept ◽  
Significant Difference

The aim of this mixed-methods research study was to test the traditional concept of work-life balance, which suggests workers can experience better well-being by being able to psychologically switch on and off. Participants were 133 full-time workers, split into two groups according to where their job was performed strictly at their place of business, or from a combination of workplace and home. Each participant completed quantitative online surveys that measured their perceived stress, life satisfaction and job satisfaction. Results indicated participants who worked from a combination of the workplace and home had significantly greater job and life satisfaction levels than their workplace-based counterparts. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups on perceived stress. Participants also answered qualitative questions about how their job impacted their personal life, how their job might be changed to improve personal time, and what motivated them to work. A strong emergent theme centred around time. Many complained of long working hours, giving them very little time to spend with family, friends or on personal pursuits. For some, stress and worry about their jobs bled into their home life, culminating in moodiness and difficulty in psychologically switching off. Whilst others were happy with the balance between their working and private lives, many wished for fewer and more flexible working hours. Conclusions drawn suggest there is real merit in offering flexible constructs to today’s workers in order to harvest better psychological well-being in the workplace.

scholarly journals Überstunden, Ausgleichsmöglichkeiten, Gesundheit und Work-Life Balance

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Brauner ◽  
Anne Marit Wöhrmann ◽  
Nils Backhaus ◽  
Anita Tisch
Keyword(s):  
Working Hours ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Overtime Work ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Negative Relationships

Überstunden sind in Deutschland weit verbreitet. Repräsentative Daten von 7.765 Befragten der BAuA-Arbeitszeitbefragung 2017 zeigen, dass Beschäftigte im Durch-schnitt 3,9 Stunden pro Woche länger arbeiten als vertraglich vereinbart, wobei sich Unterschiede nach Geschlecht, Vollzeittätigkeit, Qualifizierung und Berufen zeigen. Über die Hälfte sind transitorische Überstunden, die durch Freizeit ausgeglichen wer-den. Ein Viertel wird ausbezahlt und jede fünfte Überstunde wird nicht abgegolten. Regressionsanalysen deuten auf einen negativen Zusammenhang von Überstunden mit Gesundheit und Work-Life-Balance hin. Dies gilt sowohl für transitorische Überstunden als auch bei Überstunden ohne Freizeitausgleich, für Teilzeit- und Vollzeitbeschäftigte und unter Kontrolle von Alter, Geschlecht, Bildungs- und Anforderungs-niveau, dem ausgeübten Beruf sowie der vertraglich vereinbarten Arbeitszeit. Overtime is widely spread in Germany. Representative data from 7.765 respondents from the BAuA-Working Time Survey 2017 show that employees work an average of 3.9 hours per week longer than contractually agreed, with differences according to gender, full-time work, qualification levels and occupations. More than half of these are transitory overtime hours, which are compensated by free time. A quarter is paid and every fifth hour of overtime is not compensated. Regression analyses point towards negative relationships with health and work-life balance. This applies to transitory overtime hours as well as for overtime hours without compensatory time off, full time and part time employees, and controlled for age, gender, qualification level, occupations, and contractual working hours. Stratified analyses show some different patterns for employees in night and shift work and for those with mainly private reasons for overtime work.

scholarly journals Surgical leadership within rapidly changing working conditions in Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Schmitz-Rixen ◽  
Reinhart T. Grundmann
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Surgical Department ◽  
Chief Physician

AbstractIntroductionAn overview of the requirements for the head of a surgical department in Germany should be given.Materials and methodsA retrospective literature research on surgical professional policy publications of the last 10 years in Germany was conducted.ResultsSurveys show that commercial influences on medical decisions in German hospitals have today become an everyday, predominantly negative, actuality. Nevertheless, in one survey, 82.9% of surgical chief physicians reported being very satisfied with their profession, compared with 61.5% of senior physicians and only 43.4% of hospital specialists. Here, the chief physician is challenged. Only 70% of those surveyed stated that they could rely on their direct superiors when difficulties arose at work, and only 34.1% regarded feedback on the quality of their work as sufficient. The high distress rate in surgery (58.2% for all respondents) has led to a lack in desirability and is reflected in a shortage of qualified applicants for resident positions. In various position papers, surgical residents (only 35% describe their working conditions as good) demand improved working conditions. Chief physicians are being asked to facilitate a suitable work-life balance with regular working hours and a corporate culture with participative management and collegial cooperation. Appreciation of employee performance must also be expressed. An essential factor contributing to dissatisfaction is that residents fill a large part of their daily working hours with non-physician tasks. In surveys, 70% of respondents stated that they spend up to ≥3 h a day on documentation and secretarial work.DiscussionThe chief physician is expected to relieve his medical staff by employing non-physician assistants to take care of non-physician tasks. Transparent and clearly structured training to achieve specialist status is essential. It has been shown that a balanced work-life balance can be achieved for surgeons. Family and career can be reconciled in appropriately organized departments by making use of part-time and shift models that exclude 24-h shifts and making working hours more flexible.

scholarly journals Comparing burnout and work-life balance among specialists in internal medicine: the role of inpatient vs. outpatient workplace

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix S. Hussenoeder ◽  
Erik Bodendieck ◽  
Franziska Jung ◽  
Ines Conrad ◽  
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Keyword(s):  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Physician Mental Health ◽  
Outpatient Settings ◽  
Subsequent Patient

Abstract Background Compared to the general population, physicians are more likely to experience increased burnout and lowered work-life balance. In our article, we want to analyze whether the workplace of a physician is associated with these outcomes. Methods In September 2019, physicians from various specialties answered a comprehensive questionnaire. We analyzed a subsample of 183 internists that were working full time, 51.4% were female. Results Multivariate analysis showed that internists working in an outpatient setting exhibit significantly higher WLB and more favorable scores on all three burnout dimensions. In the regression analysis, hospital-based physicians exhibited higher exhaustion, cynicism and total burnout score as well as lower WLB. Conclusions Physician working at hospitals exhibit less favorable outcomes compared to their colleagues in outpatient settings. This could be a consequence of workplace-specific factors that could be targeted by interventions to improve physician mental health and subsequent patient care.

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