Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/11916
Appears in Collections:Management, Work and Organisation Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Lacking balance? Work-life employment practices in the modern economy
Author(s): Hyman, Jeff
Summers, Juliette
Contact Email: j.c.summers@stir.ac.uk
Keywords: Working patterns
Workforce planning
Responsibilities
Hours of work
Lifestyles
Work-life balance
Quality of work life
Issue Date: 2004
Date Deposited: 15-Apr-2013
Citation: Hyman J & Summers J (2004) Lacking balance? Work-life employment practices in the modern economy. Personnel Review, 33 (4), pp. 418-429. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480410539498
Abstract: The UK has operated a lightly regulated approach to help employees balance their work and domestic obligations, an approach which employers have welcomed and which they and Government consider to be successful. On the basis of empirical studies this paper challenges these assumptions and outcomes. Apart from definitional difficulties, seven major problems associated with current UK practice over work-life balance are identified. The first problem concerns unevenness of adoption across different sectors and organisations. The second is a lack of formalisation of policies at organisational level, with largely untrained line mangers having discretion over policy application. Third, there is restricted employee voice over the introduction and implementation of policies. Fourth, policies are introduced primarily to meet business needs, rather than those of employees. Fifth, there is no evidence of reductions in working hours. Sixth, tangible and intangible work intrusions into domestic life have been identified. Finally, domestic responsibilities are still conducted primarily by women irrespective of their employment status. The researchers conclude that many employees continue to face difficulty in reconciling their work and domestic responsibilities.
DOI Link: 10.1108/00483480410539498
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