Work-life conflict is impacting business. People are quitting their jobs, grudgingly working overtime, and losing the necessary inspiration to contribute ideas. It’s not simply a working-parent issue. Many folks struggle with work-life conflict at least weekly and many are looking for other work opportunities because of it. The hierarchy of work-life needs that if unmet result in workplace tension, work dissatisfaction, and marital conflict. The most basic work life need is individual respect followed by balancing time on and off the job, and work flexibility.
Successful work-family strategies have become a contentious issue in some organizations that try to balance the desires of single people and parents. When a person with children leaves early or can’t attend a meeting often the burden to get the work done falls upon those without similar obligations such as single people. This causes turmoil. What can make a company family friendly? It may involve flex scheduling, job sharing, and stress management counseling.
Companies are simultaneously transforming and want to be ‘family friendly.’ These two trends sometimes seem incompatible. Each year, more companies are competing to be a poster company for Working Mother Magazine’s ‘Best Companies for Working Mothers.’ We want more flexibility to balance work and family. However, companies want the banner that lists them in the top 100 family friendly companies while the reality is that competitive pressures are increasing.
Life Lesson Earned: Work-life balance is a high stress situation.