Work-life balance can benefit business during financial crisis and austerity: human resources (HR) must convince management of the need for a flexible approach

Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, Uracha, Prouska, Rea and Lewis, Suzan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1823-8784 (2015) Work-life balance can benefit business during financial crisis and austerity: human resources (HR) must convince management of the need for a flexible approach. Human Resource Management International Digest, 23 (5) . pp. 25-28. ISSN 0967-0734 [Article] (doi:10.1108/HRMID-05-2015-0078)

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final accepted version (with author's formatting)
Download (102kB) | Preview

Abstract

Purpose – Advances the view that work-life balance (WLB) can benefit business during financial crisis and austerity.

Design/methodology/approach – Draws evidence from studies in Britain and southeastern Europe.

Findings – Introduces and explains the dual-agenda approach as a potential framework for human resources (HR) specialists, managers and employers.

Practical implications – Argues that part of the main challenge for HR is to convince senior and line management of the need for flexible working arrangements. In order to do this, HR should take charge in monitoring the effectiveness of policies, including implementation and take-up rates and especially in evaluating flexible working practices that are often developed from the bottom up.

Social implications – Describes how HR’s role in developing strategies for overcoming resistance to change among managers and others is important, and outlines such barriers to success as gendered assumptions about ideal workers who do not need time for family.

Originality/value – Argues that while WLB initiatives can be good for business and a good way of managing recession and austerity, it is crucial not to lose sight of employee needs.

Item Type: Article
Keywords (uncontrolled): work-life balance, financial crisis
Research Areas: A. > Business School > Leadership, Work and Organisations > Diversity and Gender group
Item ID: 19390
Notes on copyright: This is the accepted version of the manuscript "Work-life balance can benefit business during financial crisis and austerity: human resources (HR) must convince management of the need for a flexible approach", forthcoming/published in the journal "Human Resource Management International Digest" available via the journal site at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-05-2015-0078
This article is © Emerald Publishing Limited and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Useful Links:
Depositing User: Rea Prouska
Date Deposited: 19 Apr 2016 15:18
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2022 22:37
URI: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/19390

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Statistics

Activity Overview
6 month trend
165Downloads
6 month trend
568Hits

Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.