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An analysis of work-life imbalance in the IT
and BPO sectors requires an
understanding of work-life balance. Work-life balance is an employment practice that
is concerned with providing scope for employees to balance their work with the other
responsibilities and interests they have besides their work.
The `balance' relates to reconciling the competing claims of work and personal life by meeting
their own needs, as well as those of their
employers. The principle of work-life balance is that,
"there should be a balance between an individual's
work and his life outside work (family
commitments, leisure time activities, etc.) and that this
balance should be healthy."
Work-life balance initiatives are not the modern-day extensions of the traditional
social security measures, such as sick leave,
maternity leave, etc. They are far more fundamental
in nature, when it comes to understanding and responding to employees'
individual, professional, familial and societal needs.
Research has shown that improved work-life balance
leads to enhanced employer satisfaction and
contented employees contribute to the organization in
terms of productivity and positive work culture. Underpinning work-life balance are:
appropriate employment provisions, organizational
systems and supportive management.
The study of work-life balance has given rise to
the concept of `work-life conflict'. The
conflict takes place when collective demands of job and non-job life
roles are incompatible. The involvement in one role is
made difficult by participation in the other.
Considerable work-life conflict results in job-associated stress.
Job conditions, such as intense workload, lack of participation in decision-making, health and
safety hazards, job insecurity and stretched time limits,
are related to workplace stress.
Work-life conflict impacts the psychological
and physical well-being of the workforce,
influences the quality of their personal relationships
outside work and enhances the cost to business.
Personnel with high levels of work-life conflict are
more inclined to experience poor health. Work-life conflict has adverse impact on
employees' relationships with their kids and spouse. It
also has consequences for the firm's bottom line. Employees who experience work-life
conflicts tend to miss more working days annually and
are less loyal to the company. They are less
satisfied with their job and likely to leave the firm.
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