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Work-life balance is the act of having a positive balance between one’s personal and professional life. In this challenging and demanding era it is very difficult to maintain balance between the two. In our culture women face more challenges to strike balance between personal and professional life. The issue of work-life balance is also increasingly becoming important as families are increasingly becoming nuclear and dual earners. Achieving work life balance is thus a necessity for working women to have a good quality of life.
This paper is an attempt to know perception of working women about their work life balance. This study is based on primary data collected from 100 working women in Thane city using simple random sampling. The study finds out that the attainment of the work life balance is found difficult by them presently although they are aware about its significance.
The fast developing knowledge economy has given place for more number of women to be enlightened by higher education.
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Education has not only empowered them but also has given them robust careers. With brain power being the requisite skill in this knowledge era, rather than endurance or physical strength, the women workers seem to flood into every industry on par with men. But this has indeed become a tough challenge for women as they have to perform a lot of duties in home and office as well. The attempt of working women to integrate, organize and balance the various problems and activities in their different roles simultaneously puts them under tremendous pressure.
The knowledge economy has created greater access for women coupled with factors such as changes in marital patterns and smaller families. This has led to an increase in the number of working women and, hence, working mothers (Grossman, 1981).
In the renowned book, ‘Work and Family: Allies or Enemies’, Friedman and Greenhaus (2000) argue that conflict between work and family has real consequences. It significantly affects the quality of family life and career attainment of both men and women. The consequences for women may include serious constraints on career choices, limited opportunity for career advancement and success in their work-role, and the need to choose between two apparent opposites—an active and satisfying career, or marriage, children, and a happy family life. Work and family balance, in a way, deals with the role balance of an individual both at home and work. Previously, the female workforce in India was mainly employed in non-managerial, subordinate or low-profile positions. Now, they occupy almost all categories of positions in the workplace. These changes in work culture have added to women's duties and responsibilities to their family as well as to society (Mathew & Panchanatham 2009). The conflicts between competing work demands and personal and family needs seem to be the most probable reason for this scenario of work-life conflicts. Research conducted by Rout, Lewis and Kagan (1999) finds that women in India experience considerable pressure, in the morning before going out to work and after work, to do all that is necessary for the family. According to Peeters, Montgomery, Bakker and Schaufeli (2005), pressures from the job and family domains are often incompatible, giving rise to imbalance. Therefore, the concept of Work Life Balance, along with its implications, is a core issue that must be investigated.
Soi and Massey (2011) studied the concept of work life balance and its impact on employment relations and productivity of the employees. Study illuminated the dissymmetry between the work and life that today’s fast-paced working generation is experiencing. It was observed that majority of the respondents weren’t happy with the shape that their lives have taken recently due to imbalance that has crept in their work and life.
Vittal (2003) observed that the dropout rates of women have increased with their marriage and childbirth as childcare and housework remain women’s responsibilities, irrespective of her income, educational level or employment. Study also reflected that there is great burden on women which restrict her choices in terms of better job opportunities
Reddy Krishna N and Ahmed Atiq (2010) states that family–work conflict (FWC) and work–family conflict (WFC) are more likely to exert negative influences in the family domain, resulting in lower life satisfaction and greater internal conflict within the family. Variables such as the size of family, the age of children, the work hours and the level of social support impact the experience of WFC and FWC.
This study is based on primary data collected from 100 working women in Thane city using simple random sampling. Data is analysed using simple statistical tools. Secondary sources are also referred. Checklist Manual on Work-Life Balance: The checklist manual developed by Daniels and McCarraher for the Industrial Society (2000) was also referred.
Out of the 100 surveyed working women in Thane city 60 percent are from age group 40-50 years, followed by 20 percent in the age group 20-30 years and 15 percent in the age group of 50-60 years. 40 percent of the surveyed women are graduates and 40 percent are post graduates. 75 percent of the surveyed women are doing job followed by 25 percent self-employed. Of the surveyed sample 60 percent of the women are working in education sector, 15 percent are in food and food processing, 15 percent in private sector and 10 percent are working in banking sector. The position which they hold varies from being clerk at junior level to being director.
45 percent of the surveyed women work for less than 6 hours at work place followed by 40 percent for 6-8 hours. Only 10 percent reported their working hours as more than 10 hours. 40 percent of the sample surveyed spends for 4-6 hours in house hold chores every day, followed by 2-4 hours by 30 percent of the sample. 35 percent reported travelling time to and from work place as between 1-2 hours followed by 2-4 hours by 30 percent. 20 percent of the sample surveyed spends more than 4 hours in travelling to and from work place. This together reveals that they are overburdened with long working hours, travel time and time spent on household chores when taken together.
85 percent of the surveyed women reported work-sharing with in family, with majority of them sharing work with spouse and maid. Cooking, cleaning and child care were mainly taken care of by them whereas billing and outdoor responsibilities were shared by spouse for about 80 percent of the sample. 60 percent of the sample reported 1-2 hours as time available for self which they mainly spend in relaxation (20 percent) and watching T.V. (20 percent).
40 percent of the surveyed sample agrees and 60 percent strongly agrees with the fact that better work-life balance can guarantee better quality of life, but only 20 percent of the sample has higher level of satisfaction with their present quality of life, where as 40 percent has low and remaining 40 percent as very low level of quality of life. 60 percent of the surveyed sample stated that they need to work for longer work hours as it is presently demanded by their work. 10 percent do not find any time to socialize or relax with partner/family in week, 30 percent find limited time, whereas 40 percent are able to find out some time to socialize in spite of their busy work schedule. About 70 percent of the surveyed sample agrees to taking work home most evenings and 20 percent to even taking it home in weekends.
For about 53 percent of the sample relaxing and forgetting about work issues is harder and about 50 percent are also worried about the effect of work stress on their health. About 30 percent feel that their relation with their partner is suffering because of their work pressure and long working hours and about 40 percent feel that their family is missing out on their input because of either of their non-availability or because they are tired. About 55 percent are also finding it difficult to find time for their hobbies/ leisure or to socialize. In-spite of the existing imbalance in their work life and the extent of stress that they are going through, about 50 percent feel that they have no control over their current situation. They would like to reduce working hours and stress but presently they feel, they have no control over it. Some also feel it difficult to find time for family and to socialize and relax.
The study reveals women’s awareness about the importance of work life balance in their life. Majority of the surveyed sample feel that presently they are overburdened and attainment of work life balance is difficult for them as they feel they have no control over the situation. They need to work for longer hours as it is presently demanded by their work. Majority of them are also finding it difficult to get time for relaxation. Forgetting about work issues is difficult for them and they are also worried about the effect of work stress on their health. Attainment of work life balance is found difficult by them presently although they are aware about its significance. The findings of the study emphasized the need to formulate guidelines for the management of Work Family Conflicts at organizational level as it is related to job satisfaction and performance of the employees.
A Study of the Perception of Working Women About Their Work Life Balance. (2024, Jan 24). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/a-study-of-the-perception-of-working-women-about-their-work-life-balance-essay
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