Exploring Work-Life Balance: Can You Help Me Understand and Develop My Project?

Hi Padma,

I am Padma, currently pursuing my final year MBA in HR. I am working on a project in an IT company with the project title "Work-Life Balance." As I am new to this topic, I would appreciate a detailed explanation of what work-life balance entails and a thorough description of the concept.

I would also like guidance on the types of questions that can be included in the questionnaire for this project. Additionally, I would appreciate recommendations for other relevant websites related to this topic.

Thank you,
Padma.

A few good subjects would be:

1. Should flexitime be made applicable in your company?

2. What are your company's official hours, how many hours do people put in? What is the cultural impact of employees leaving on time? How often do people come in to work on holidays?

3. What are the industry best practices in terms of work-life balance - try to procure the Hewitt survey report - it generally outlines a few. Can you adopt some of them in your company?

I think work-life balance is going to be the biggest challenge HR is going to have in India in the near future. If employees spend over 12-15 hours in the office every day, how do you think this impacts their family life? Will they have time for their children? How fast will they burn out, etc.

In the near future, I predict that along with salary, people will start considering health, family, personal life, etc., when selecting a job. I myself know someone who left a job and joined one that pays 1/4th less than the earlier one because that person found a life of 14-hour days, 6 days a week too hectic.

There is a lot that you can do.

A

Hi Padma,

Maintaining a balance between work life and personal life is called Work-Life Balance. How it is related to HR is:

1. Employee motivation and productivity levels go up if they are given enough time to spend with their family.
2. Performance levels go up, leading to organizational development.
3. The problem of attrition lessens.
4. Brings in more good employees through referrals of current employees.

The above can happen when:

1. Enough leave is given to the employees.
2. Family get-togethers are organized, and families are made to identify themselves with the company.
3. When appraisals are performance-based with clear-cut objectives given and achieved.
4. Work-life is made to be filled with fun.

Split the above 4 points further and find out down-to-earth activities that will help achieve the work-life balance.

All the very best,

Ram Ram
HR Trainer/Consultant

Hi Padma,

I join my other friend in discussing the subject. Yeah... he is right in bringing out certain facts about working hours, which play a predominant role in deciding our priorities. However, I have a few suggestions:

1. What is the structure of the Organization/Department?

2. How best is the job description defined for each responsible executive?

3. What methodology is adopted to make one accountable for his/her job?

4. What preventive methodologies exist to avoid crisis management?

5. How concerned is the management about workforce welfare activities?

When we analyze the concept of "Vital few in Useful many," certain activities that affect a group of people can negatively impact the work culture, thus hindering equal proportions for work-life balance. It can be due to any reason as suggested above, causing a detrimental impact and keeping one tied to the workplace until the target is achieved, which requires correction in the system. The typical hierarchical structure also negatively affects one's work-life balance.

I request the forum members to comment on the above and add further insights if any.

Regards,

Srinivaskvmk

Hi, I received your valid information. Could you please suggest good websites for obtaining exclusive information and questionnaire patterns on the same topic?

Thank you.

Hi Padma,

General websites can only provide general practices that might not always be suitable for your organization. Please delve into the grassroots of the HR practices within your organization.

Classify them as suitable or not suitable for the organization.

For those practices deemed not suitable for the organization, explore alternative options.

For any new innovations, refer to search engines for insights.

Above all, clearly defining the job roles and quantifiable objectives for each associate for a specific period is crucial for both individual and organizational success.

Ram Ram,
HR Trainer & Consultant

Hi Padma,

I have gone through your questionnaire, and it's good. Do you know of any unique and innovative policies regarding work-life balance? If yes, then please let me know.

Regards,

Work-life balance
Work-life balance to be the greatest challenge for HR.
Raghuram Reddum, director, HR, Motorola India, talks about the cell phone major's journey in India and HR challenges that the country faces today.
Work-life balance would be the greatest challenge. It will not be limited to the traditional definition of ‘work' as we know, but it will be a challenge to get a balance for working professionals, school kids, college-goers as well as house wives who spend a major portion of their waking hours working for the family.
Stress levels will be higher....

Greetings to all,

I am in my final year of my MBA project and I have chosen "work-life balance" as my topic. I would like to gain more information about it and also what kind of questionnaire should one prepare?

Regards,
Roshni

Hello Padma,

I am also doing my MBA in HR, and my project topic is work-life balance. I have written about work-life balance, and here is an attachment of the same for easy understanding of the topic. I think we can work on the questionnaire together. What do you say?

Awaiting your reply,

Subha

Hi,

Have you done your research on work-life balance? Or do you have any materials that include research studies on it? Please do share, as it will be very helpful to me.

Regards

Hi, I need some information on WLB (Work-Life Balance). I'm doing a 100-mark project on it. Can you help me in this regard?

Hi Subha,

I have looked at the synopsis. Kindly do a bit more literature survey and also do not use "mobile chat" expressions like "u" for "you". Also, see my posts on Literature Review at citehr. Best wishes,

Simhan
A retired academic.