WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Work-life balance



Work-life balance

INTRODUCTION

Many Americans are experiencing burnout due to overwork and increased efforts. This condition is seen in almost all occupations from blue-collar workers to upper management. Over the past decade, the rise in the massacre of workplace, increase in levels of absenteeism as well as applications for compensation for improving the workers' will be all the proof of an unhealthy work life balance (Yeandle, Crompton, Wigfield & Dennett, 2002). Employee assistance professionals say there are many reasons for this situation ranging from ambition and pressures of family obligations to the accelerating pace of technology. According to a recent study for the Center for Work-Life Policy, 1.7 million people consider their work and their working hours because of excessive globalization. These difficult and exhausting conditions have a negative influence (Lewis, Kagan & Heaton, 2000). This paper will shed light on the role of work-life balance for the employee and the organization. The paper will explore the relevance of work-life balance while attempting to elaborate on the factors that influence an employees' work-life balance. This will be done by exploring why it is important to managing people, the main themes on the topic in the literature and the implications for HRM in organizations pertaining to the issue.

DISCUSSION

In order to adequately understand the relevance of the work-life balance it is important to clarify on the context of the issue. The work-life balance issues that are present in the today's modern day corporate environment are caused by the fact that the modern day economy is a market based economy. As a result, employees realize that they will receive remuneration only if they engage in hard work and contribute to the growth of the organization. Their growth of the employee is tied to the growth of the organization (Premeaux, Adkins & Mossholder, 2007). This has affected the structure of the modern day family as well. Women in families where women had never worked before are now employed in full time jobs. Youngsters are beginning to grow concerned about their professional careers and similar changes are taking place in the modern day family. The need for bringing in money has increased to levels that had never been observed in the past (Wood & Menezes, 2008). The national infrastructure demands hard work and consistent effort from the employed class. As a result, sons, daughters and wives now work alongside the fathers.

Employees begin to feel the pressure on their work-life balance when they come to terms with the aggressive nature of modern day business conduction. The technological developments that enable employees to perform their work with increasing ease allow employers to keep the employees working around the clock (Rapoport, Bailyn, Fletcher & Pruitt, 2002). Business management principles are designed to personalize tasks for employees; drawing employees in and encouraging them to perceive their own interests in the organization's processes.

Employers can help create an environment encouraging work-life balance by offering flexible arrangement, such as working with a shorter working day, flexible hours, generous parental permission or ...