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The role of life friendly policies on employees' work-life balance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Colleen Yuile ,
Artemis Chang ,
Amanda Gudmundsson  and
Sukanlaya Sawang
Colleen Yuile
Affiliation:
School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Artemis Chang
Affiliation:
School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Amanda Gudmundsson
Affiliation:
School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Sukanlaya Sawang
Affiliation:
School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Abstract

An employee's inability to balance work and non-work related responsibilities has resulted in an increase in stress related illnesses. Historically, research into the relationship between work and non-work has primarily focused on work/family conflict, predominately investigating the impact of this conflict on parents, usually mothers. To date research has not sufficiently examined the management practices that enable all ‘individuals’ to achieve a ‘balance’ between work and life. This study explores the relationship between contemporary life friendly, HR management policies and work/life balance for individuals as well as the effect of managerial support to the policies. Self-report questionnaire data from 1241 men and women is analysed and discussed to enable organizations to consider the use of life friendly policies and thus create a convergence between the well-being of employees and the effectiveness of the organization.

Keywords

work-life balancelife friendly policiesHRM policiesworkplace practices
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 53 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2012

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