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1 - Strategic human resources and work–life balance

from Part I - Describing different work–life policies, policy development, and pitfalls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2009

Paula Caligiuri
By
Nicole Givelekian
Edited by
Steven A. Y. Poelmans
Paula Caligiuri
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, New Jersey
Nicole Givelekian
Affiliation:
Research Fellow Rutgers University, USA
Steven A. Y. Poelmans
Affiliation:
IESE Business School, Barcelona
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Summary

Ways to improve the firm's financial success and market competitiveness are a top priority for business executives. Ways to improve employees' work–life balance, unfortunately, tend to be much lower on the priority lists of most executives. Today, however, two trends in combination have pushed the need for greater work–life balance further up the priority list: the changing demographics of today's workforce and the increase in incidences of stress and burnout. Work–life imbalance and the associated conflict have been shown to be related to decreased feelings of well-being (Kinnunen & Mauno, 1998), increased psychological and physical complaints (Frone, Russel, & Cooper, 1992), and increased job and life dissatisfaction (Netemeyer, Boles, & McMurrian, 1996). Maintaining the work–life balance of key employees helps reduce the risk of stress and burnout (Bacharach, Bamberger, & Conley, 1991) and can ultimately improve firms' overall success (Arthur, 2003; Konrad & Mangel, 2000; Meyer, Mukerjee, & Sestero, 2001; Perry-Smith & Blum, 2000). The effects of burnout from extreme stress not only encompass physiological, psychological, and behavioral consequences for employees, but may also include decreased job satisfaction, occupational commitment, and overall work success. Together, these negative factors can directly affect a firm's bottom line, especially when present among a firm's key employees.

Over the past twenty years, workforce demographic shifts have been profound, with some of these shifts having the potential for a negative influence on work–life balance.

Type
Chapter
Information
Harmonizing Work, Family, and Personal Life
From Policy to Practice
 , pp. 19 - 38
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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