Work Life Balance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Work Life Balance - Essay Example From the research a work-life balance is a metaphor through which work is understood in terms of life. However, what constitutes a balance between work and rest of life to one individual may not be the same for another. As employers and policy makers are pressured to respond to the work-life challenges that today’s workforce is facing, it will become more and more important to understand what these individuals are looking for in terms of work-life balance. A major driver that has led to the increased interest in work-life balance is the changing face of the Workforce. There are a number of significant demographics changes taking place in the workforce today, changes that will also continue well into the future. Those organisations that understand how today’s workforce is changing will be better able to adapt. Furthermore, those organisations will become the leaders in attracting, hiring, and maintaining good employees. Although this is a relatively overlooked phenomenon in business arena, evidence will come from current research and case study example that demonstrate new ideas in practice and show the benefits of what is already being achieved. This ethnographic study will give a voice to employees who are struggling to balance their work and personal lives, but it is only a beginning. The meaning of work-life balance is elusive. In one sense, it describes â€Å"the relationship between the institutional and cultural times and spaces of work and non-workâ€Å". In another sense, it describes a state of equilibrium, in which the demands of both a person's job and personal life are equal. Although the focus is different, what these descriptions have in common is that they highlight the importance of the relationship between work and life. In particular, the first description focuses primarily on the relationship between work and non-work time and space, whereas the second focuses on the relationship between the demands associated with work and li fe. Of course, if we consider examples of such demands, we may also find ourselves back to the notion of time and space. What this raises is the importance of understanding how people describe the relationship they are seeking between work and life. In order for employers and policy makers to put strategies in place to promote a healthy work-life relationship there needs to be an understanding of what that means to employees. It may be that a continuum of work-life relationships exists throughout various stages of an individual's life and/or career. Furthermore, it might not matter what people call it, but rather how well they are able to articulate the relationship between work and life that works for them, and whether or not they are capable of managing that relationship. The type of balance sought by many individuals may not imply equal emphasis in both areas. Furthermore, it is important to recognise that individuals may