Work and Family Nexus

Employees are more likely to be able to work from anywhere and at any time thanks to flexible work arrangements. It is generally accepted that individuals perceive work-life balance as an ideal situation where work and non-work activities are compatible with one another and contribute to the development of the individual by taking into consideration his or her current priorities. Therefore, organisations have been able to provide their employees with a variety of flexible work arrangements that have created opportunities for them to develop their careers.

Leadership Behavior and Work-Life Balance

People who have flexible work arrangements may find it difficult to set boundaries between their personal and professional lives, which may make it difficult to maintain a healthy balance between the two. Several studies have suggested that leadership behaviour plays a significant role in determining an employee’s work-life balance. It has been reported that all three leadership behaviours – affiliative style of leadership (socialising, consideration), structure-oriented leadership (having clear goals/ instructions), and change-oriented leadership (focusing on new methods) may enhance efficiency, job satisfaction, and health among workers.

Negative Factors Affecting Work-Life Balance

There is also evidence that poor working environments, such as high demands on employees, time pressures, and expectations that employees will be able to meet, significantly adversely affect work-life balance. As a result of excessive workloads, some work may be required outside of normal working hours in certain situations in order to complete tasks. There is a possibility that a poor work-life balance is a result of not having time and energy for private activities outside of work. Having an unhealthy workplace social environment and a lack of support can also contribute to employee stress. Unless these objectives are met, there may be conflicts between the work environment and personal life. There are several health-related consequences associated with a poor work-life balance, including self-reported sick days, dissatisfaction at work and at home, fatigue, job burnout, depression, and stress eating for instance.

Factors Influencing Work-Life Balance and the Need for Interventions

The degree of work-life balance is determined by both the occupational status and the poor psychosocial behaviours of the employee. To develop interventions that can assist organisations with flexible work arrangements in preventing poor work-life balance and promoting good work-life balance for their workers, it is imperative that the trade-off between negative and positive factors of work-life balance is considered for the development of interventions that can assist organisations. As a successful worker, a sense of accomplishment comes from work, and love and care come from family. It is imperative that both factors work together in harmony to achieve a successful professional career.