Download - A STUDY ON ART OF BALANCING WORK AND LIFE – AN INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE

SAJMMR Volume 2, Issue 3 (March, 2012) ISSN 2249-877X

South Asian Academic Research Journals http://www.saarj.com

- 64 -

Published by: South As ian Academic Research Journals

SAJMMR:

S o u t h A s i a n J o u r n a l o f

M a r k e t i n g & M a n a g e m e n t

R e s e a r c h

A STUDY ON ART OF BALANCING WORK AND LIFE –

AN INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE

BALAKAMAKSHI T Y*

*Assistant Professor,

Department of Commerce (SFS),

S.D.N.B. Vaishnav College for Women,

Chromepet, Chennai 44, India.

INTRODUCTION

A concept involving balancing work which includes career goals and vision on one hand and life

including health and family on the other.

STRESS AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Balancing work and life is an art which can be mastered only by practice. In zeal to strike the

balance many end up stressing themselves. The short run resultant of stress is physical and

psychological issues of lesser intensity. It leads to the same of larger intensity in a long run.

Today Darwin’s theory of “Survival of the fittest” is applicable in every walk of life. We have no

choice but to keep ourselves updated. The fear of being left out is always there in the back of our

mind. The fear in a pessimistic mood triggers stress and leads to depression.

HYPERTENSION THREAT FOR WORKFORCE

Due to globalization and a stressful working environment, hypertension threatens to wallop the

workforce in India, according to a study made jointly by ASSOCHAM and PWC. 65 million

were affected by hypertension in 2008 and by the year 2015, the number is likely to double. The

consumption of tobacco in India is more, the country accounted for the highest number of oral

cancer patients.

According to James Campbell Quick, a professor of organizational behavior at the University of

Texas-Arlington, "The average tenure of presidents at land-grant universities in the past ten years

has dropped from approximately seven to three-and-a-half years Perceptions of work-life balance

and gender differences



- 65 -

Research conducted by the Kenexa Research Institute (KRI), a division of Kenexa,

evaluated how male and female workers perceive work-life balance and found that women are

more positive than men in how they perceive their company’s efforts to help them balance work

and life responsibilities. The report is based on the analysis of data drawn from a representative

sample of 10,000 U.S. workers who were surveyed through Work Trends, KRI’s annual survey

of worker opinions. The results indicated a shift in women’s perceptions about work-life balance.

In the past, women often found it more difficult to maintain balance due to the competing

pressures at work and demands at home. (www.kenexa.com/getattachment)

WORK AND LIFE WILL BE PLEASURE ONLY WHEN IT DOESN’T BECOME YOUR

BURDEN!

Work-life balance is a subject of priority for both men and women alike. Any person

whether male or female is surrounded with abundant amount of duties and responsibilities in

there work and life. Each one of us has varied capabilities to perform. It is preferable to allocate

or take up duties and responsibilities as per once capabilities and expertise. This will ensure the

person is not burdened leading to better work and life balance.

Working Women make tough choices every day,

Bread and Cheese or Idly and Sambar.

A new Sari or an electric bill.

A sick child or a demanding boss.

A parent-teacher meeting or important conference at the office.

Whether your top concern is equal pay or flexible hours, childcare or elder care, training for a

new job or respect for the one, one thing is certain-working women face a challenge.

RECOMMENTATIONS

List your duties and responsibilities.

Imbibe team spirit.

Share and Care for each other.

Prioritize what you know best and thereafter.

Practice to make work as if repetitive and partially done through subconscious

mind.

Practice healthy multi-tasking pertaining to your potential.

Meditate to improve concentration.

http://www.kenexa.com/getattachment



- 66 -

Refresh yourself at regular intervals to overcome stress.

Last but not the least, be positive.

WHY DOES WORK LIFE BALANCE MATTER TO EMPLOYER’S?

Work life balance has an impact on the productivity of the organization.

It creates better hierarchy and good team spirit.

Helps create a professionally managed company and a smooth sail to the next

generation.

Relationship Building. (Within and outside the organization)

PART II RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

A survey was conducted by circulating questionnaires among the staff members of a

leading women’s college regarding their mothering responsibilities. Due to time constraints, we

were able to collect only 100 samples. The following analysis were obtained,

With regard to staff perceptions of work life balance, 78.3% of those who took part in the

survey indicated that they strongly agree and 19.3% that they agree to the statement that is

important to them to achieve a balance between paid work and personal work. This shows the

importance of staff work life balance and how it helps them to work more efficiently.

TABLE 1: AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS

Strongly agree

Balance their work and life

Nuetral



- 67 -

Age of children %

Below 2 years 5

2-5 years 30

6-10 years 35

11-14 years 15

15-18 years 10

Over 18 years 5

Majority of the respondents fall under the age group 26 Years- 55 years. Almost 75% are

married and they are to be living with their partners and 60% of them with their dependent

children.

25-30 Years 30

31-40 Years 40

40-55 Years 20

56-60 Years 10

Married 58.1%

Living with partner 15.4%

Separated 2.4%

Divorced 6.5%

Widower 0.7

Single 16.6%



- 68 -

GRAPH SHOWING AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS

Graph showing the Dependant Child of the Respondents

TABLE 2 SHARING OF CHILD CARE RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Care Responsibilities %

Child Care 24.2

Elder Care 5.1

Caring for sick child 2.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

25-30 Years 31-40 Years 40-55 Years 56-60 Years

5%

30%

35%

15%

10%5%

Below 2 years 2-5 years 6-10 years 11-14 years 15-18 years Over 18 years



- 69 -

Caring for disabled adult 2.2

Caring for disabled child 0.4

Caring for sick adult 1.2

Most of the respondents are sharing 24.2% of child care and almost 11 % for sick and disabled

child and adult.

TABLE 3 COMMON INTEREST

Interest outside work %

Sport 27%

Training 20 %

Social Activities 40%

Listening to music 13%

Refreshing yourself between work and life engagements helps reduce stress.

Suggestion: HUMOUR AS A STRESS REMEDY

Humour is a wonderful stress-reducer. Doctors say a good laugh reduces tense muscles, speeds

more oxygen into our system and reduces blood pressure. Various ways in which a person can

reduce stress by way of humour are;

1. Watch your favourite programme or comedy shows on television.

2. Share funny episodes with your mates or with your spouse that can relieve stress and can

improve communication skills.

Based on article “Humour Therapy” published on www.holisticoline.com.

NEED OF BALANCE

Use of policies organized by

organization

%

Yes 52%

No 48%

Able to balance work and family

life

%

Yes 64%

No 36%

http://www.holisticoline.com/



- 70 -

Majority has been able to balance work and life. Similarly, they use the policies provided by the

organization.

WORKING HOURS

7. Do any of the following help you balance your work and family commitments?

Yes No Not available

to me

Not applicable to

me

Flexible starting times 53 37 3 7

Flexible finish times 52 35 10 3

Flexible hours generally 80 10 Nil 10

Time off for family

emergencies & events

90 7 Nil 3

Identifying the right tool and techniques to simplify helps balance your work and life.

SUPPORT FROM OTHERS

8. Do any of the following help you balance your work and family commitments?

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Yes No Not available to me

Not applicable to me

Chart Title

Time off for family emergencies & events

Flexible hours generally

Flexible finish times

Flexible starting times



- 71 -

Nature of support

Yes

No

Not available

to me

Not applicable

to me

Support from principal/Head of

Incharge

90 Nil 3 7

Support from colleagues 64 22 8 6

In a professional environment, an effective team is formed with proper delegation of authority

and delivering once duties and responsibilities

9. Does any of the following hinder you balance your work and family commitments?

Yes (%) No (%) Not applicable to me (%)

Negative attitude of Head of

the department

64 26 10

Negative attitude of

colleagues

76% 24% nil

There is a saying “Boss is always Right”. This of course doesn’t exist in a healthy team.

Negative attitude of the superiors is either out of insecurity, or dictatorship.

Negative attitude of Head of the department

Yes (%)

No (%)

Not applicable to me (%)



- 72 -

CONCLUSION

Work and life balance is the essence for a healthy living. It can be attained only by

practice. Identification of easy methods and tools to perform duties and responsibilities in an

effective manner is the only solution to strike it.

Organisations should undertake work-life balancing programmes like,

Childcare at or near

the workplace

Flexible work

scheduling

Job sharing



- 73 -

REFERENCE

1. Questionnaire taken from

www.eeotrust.org.nz/content/docs/.../Fathers%20Sample%20questionnaire.doc –

2. An Audit Report of Work Life balance from

www.brookes.ac.uk/services/hr/eod/wlb/wlb_report.pdf -

3. Quotes : Human resource Management by L.M.Prasad

4. Stress Management and work Life balance: stressinstitute.com/work_life_balance.asp

5. Gender, Work and organization - www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=0968-6673

6. Human Resource Management, Text and cases K Aswathappa Sixth Edition.

http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=0968-6673