Work-Family Balance as a Potential Strategic Advantage: a Hotel General Manager Perspective

Abstract

This qualitative study is an exploratory attempt to investigate hotel general managers’ (GMs) perceived work—family balance/interface issues from a strategic perspective. Based on 49 in-person, in-depth, in-office, interviews with full-service hotel GMs, the authors identify current strategic issue perceptions (SIPs) of hotel GMs and explore potential relationships between these SIPs and work—family issues in the hotel industry. Findings suggest that work—family issues, including workplace flexibility, turnover, knowledge management, and career advancement are influenced by hotel culture and the GM’s management style; and when human resources are perceived as a competitive advantage by the hotel GMs, the work—family issues are indeed related to the hotel GM’s perceived strategic issues.