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Ethical Imperatives of Work/Life Balance

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Work and Quality of Life

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

Changes in values, demographics, and technology have focused attention on work/life balance as an important indicator of employees’ quality of life. This chapter reviews research on work/life balance and organizational work/life benefits and policies designed to ameliorate the negative effects of work/life conflict and support individuals in trying to achieve a balance among the multiple roles in their lives. Individuals and organizations share the responsibility for helping employees achieve a work/life balance. Although a wide variety of work/life benefits and policies are offered, they are only used by a minority of employees for a variety of reasons. In addition, empirical support for the effectiveness of work/life programs is mixed for a variety of reasons. This chapter articulates multilevel ethical dilemmas that individuals and organizations may face, and how job design, organizational communication, and organizational development initiatives may provide some solutions to foster a better work/life balance for employees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, CL-AC1, Hamden, CT, 06518, USA

    Carrie A. Bulger

  2. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Gwenith G. Fisher

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  1. Carrie A. Bulger
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Correspondence to Carrie A. Bulger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Psychology, Radford University, Radford, 24142, Virgin Islands, USA

    Nora P. Reilly

  2. Pamlin College of Business, Dept. Marketing, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Pamplin Hall 2025, Blacksburg, 24061-0236, Virginia, USA

    M. Joseph Sirgy

  3. , Psychology, Radford University, Russell Hall 444, Radford, 24142, Virginia, USA

    C. Allen Gorman

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Bulger, C.A., Fisher, G.G. (2012). Ethical Imperatives of Work/Life Balance. In: Reilly, N., Sirgy, M., Gorman, C. (eds) Work and Quality of Life. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4059-4_10

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