Three generations and their work life balance: are we balancing work and life or adjusting life for work?

Abstract

Work-Life balance is heavily research field especially in human resource management or organisational behaviour. Work-life balance is a broad concept including proper prioritizing between "work" (career and ambition) on one hand and "life" (pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development) on the other.The need differs from generation (gen), culture, place, and individual perception as well. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perception of generations towards work life balance, while how organisations are implementing work life balance, and identifying conflicts of perceptions and finding out possible recommendation to maintain a better work life balance. This research has employed mixed research methodology; quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Survey questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data to understand critical and common work-life-balance factors in Singapore by employing deductive methodology. Qualitative interviews were carried out using a case study of one of private higher education institutions in Singapore to examine context specific factors in the study employing inductive approach. The quantitative approach constitutes a total of 60 respondents for survey. Qualitative case study approach was focussed on interviews with 4 members from management levels and short personal interviews with 20 other levels employees. Key findings of the survey are that the baby boomers and gen X need more flexibility in their work and their family life as compared to gen Y. The Employees also are unaware that the organisation's policies are established for the benefit of the employees. The case study recommendations would be based on the concept of Maslow's Hierarchy, Wheel of Life strategy and Vroom's Expectancy theory. The study concludes that the majority of employees and managers believe that organisation policies and facilities need to become more familiarised and transparent, and communication between the management and employees is to be improved. Creating changes in the process will pave way for better motivated and balanced employees in the organisation.