An empirical study of work and family life spheres and emergence of work-life balance initiatives.pdf

In the last six decades, work life and family life spheres of employees have undergone various changes. This paper presents an empirical study of major factors which have influenced employee work-life balance and popular work-life balance tools initiated at organisational level to help an employee balance different life segments such as work, family, personal finances, career and health. Current work-life balance approach, tools and programmes at organisational level primarily address those issues of work and personal life which got highlighted between the 1950’s and later years of the 20 th century. Current global recession in the 21 st century has created an uncertain economic scenario in which employers and employees are facing new challenges and earlier work-life balance research might not be sufficient enough address the new issues. This calls for further research on work-life balance, for a wider applicability of work-life balance programmes at organisational level. Introduction Major changes in the recent past have influenced composition of work and family life of employees and have resulted into conflict between work and family related demands. Negative spill-over from work to family and family to work translates into employee work-life imbalance and increased stress levels at workplace and at home. Multiple reasons contribute in creating the conflict between work and family. Figure one lists important such changes which have influenced the work and family life spheres of an employee. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * Senior Lecturer, Waljat Colleges of Applied Sciences, Muscat, Oman ** In-charge, Birla Institute of Technology Extension Centre, Lalpur, Ranchi, India