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Work-Life Balance and Well-Being at Work

Employees’ Perspective to Promote a Psychologically Healthy Workplace

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The Palgrave Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract

Work-life balance is growing to be an issue of focus for organizational leaders, employees, HR professionals, and wellness coordinators as individuals and the organization benefit from having health and well-being when work-life balance is embraced strategically, which in turn impacts on productivity and performance. The purpose of this chapter and empirical research study is to explore managerial and nonmanagerial employees’ perspectives that relate to work-life balance from the perspective of work-family conflicts, health and well-being initiatives to promote work-life balance satisfaction, and the organization’s implementation of work-life balance (aka family supportive or family-friendly policies) to promote a more psychologically healthy workplace. A qualitative methodological approach was adopted, and data was collected through 36 semi-structured interviews and 2 focus groups with managerial and nonmanagerial employees from diverse occupational groups. The research found that work-life conflicts that affect employees work-life balance includes limited resources, workplace stress, poor relationships, substance abuse, and other external factors. Organizational family-friendly work-life balance initiatives that were found to help employee health and well-being include fun and family-friendly activities, counselling, periodic breaks, trust, and confidentiality. Organizational health and well-being policy initiatives that promote work-life balance satisfaction consist of company group health plan, employee assistance program (EAP), gym membership, flexible working arrangements, wellness strategies, and fairness at work. The originality and value of this research reveal an important interface with employees’ work-life balance strategies and organizational work-life balance policies and programs in addressing overall employee health and well-being. The results have implications for organizational delivery of work-life balance policies and practices, corporate social responsibility, and other human resource management practices to support employees’ work-life balance, health, and well-being.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. My Work & Well-Being Consulting Inc, Prince George, BC, Canada

    Nicole Cvenkel

Authors
  1. Nicole Cvenkel
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Correspondence to Nicole Cvenkel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    David Crowther

  2. Social Responsibility Research Network http://www.srrnet.org

    Shahla Seifi

Section Editor information

  1. De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    David Crowther

  2. University of Derby, Derby, UK

    Shahla Seifi

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Cvenkel, N. (2021). Work-Life Balance and Well-Being at Work. In: Crowther, D., Seifi, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42465-7_19

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