Work-life balance

Creating Work-Life Balance - Where the Main Responsibility Lies

by _____________ (School Subject /Course (Instructor 's Name

10 May 2009

Today 's companies are called upon to help employees strike a work-life balance , first and foremost by ensuring workers ' health safety , and inspiring confidence and loyalty mainly by ensuring a conducive work environment and encouraging collaboration . To a large extent , the responsibility of ensuring work-life balance lies in employers , which is not to say that employees are left out of the picture . It is inherent in workers to do what is in

their power to self-preserve or account for their own needs and requirements

On the other hand , there are countless cases of employees who wittingly or unwittingly allow themselves to let the numerous demands of work and in certain instances , work-related violence , take a huge toll on their physical and emotional well-being . In most instances , certain job characteristics and circumstances that encroach on work-life balance are beyond workers ' control and require management /organizational intervention for change to be effected

Among the major precipitators of work-life imbalance is job-related stress . Workplace stress is actually a socio-economic reality of the contemporary age . Occurring in a wide range of work circumstances , it is often made worse when employees feel they have little support from supervisors and colleagues and where they have little control over work or how they can cope with its demands and pressures (Leka 2003 : 3 Because the psychological health of individuals is critical for the effective functioning of organizations (Fallon...