Hello Bindu Varma,
You have raised some valid points.
Perhaps the clue lies in the last para SHIFTING IN VALUES.
The author mentions that individualism has displaced family values.
Consequently at times of distress they are left to themselves to manage it.
Technological and economic advancements have catapulted to great heights.
Living and work are interlinked. There are shifts in socio cultural relationships.
It is a challenge to be faced.
Traditionally in work life balance one considers SELF,JOB, FAMILY,FRIENDS and SOCIAL network.
Many of us would agree, for many people some of the bold words as above would be missing.
One point I would like to stress is that it is a pity that we have
started comparing work with life. The fact remains that work is a part of life.
I would like to view the current situation from two popular approaches to work life balance.
First is from a Time perspective.
Obviously the chunk of the time in 24 hours would go towards ones job.
Time for ones own activities like brushing the teeth, washing, eating, sleeping etc is compulsory.
That would leave barely 3 to 4 hours for the others
( on a typical working day - festivals, occasions, holidays are exempted).
If a person spends these three to four hours wisely,
then we can say that it is a balanced life.
One important thing to be observed here is at no point of time
(barring exceptions as above within brackets) all the five will have equal weightage.
Second is from importance point of view.
Theorists have given a view that all the five ( and in addition if someone has other
activities like spiritual, sports etc the respective ones to be included) have to be given
equal importance. They compare the different categories to the spokes of a wheel.
For a wheel to run smoothly the spokes have to be of equal length and strength.
Equal length is not to be mistaken with equal time.
Requirement is equal importance.
Perhaps the above would provide some clarity.
As work life balance varies from person to person please see the material
already posted by others in Cite HR.
V.Raghunathan
Navi Mumbai