NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Introduction to work-life balance.

Hammer LB; Demsky CA

Workplace well-being: building positive and psychologically healthy workplaces. Day A, Kelloway K, Hurrell JJ Jr., eds. Washington: DC: Wiley, 2014 Jun; :95-116

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Workplace+Well+being:+How+to+Build+Psychologically+Healthy+Workplaces-p-9781118469460

20048607

Scholars have demonstrated, based on several decades of research, that work-life balance is a critical component of psychologically healthy workplaces (Hammer & Zimmerman, 2011). In 1977, while Rosabeth Moss Kanter wrote about "the myth of separate worlds," employees and organizations began to face the undeniable connections between work and nonwork (Kanter, 1977). Employees were choosing organizations that provided more family-supportive policies, and eventually, employers began to implement workplace supports that were attractive to prospective employees. In the 1980s, scholars started to examine workplace and family characteristics that contributed to work-family conflict (e.g., Greenhaus & Beutell, 1985), and companies, such as IBM, developed new initiatives to support employees, leading to an increased focus on healthy organizational practices. By 1990, the health of workers and the health of organizations were addressed in several seminal articles contributing to the emphasis of work-life balance in the development of healthy workplaces (e.g., Ilgen, 1990; Zedeck, 1992). The present chapter briefly reviews work-life balance constructs, theoretical frameworks, antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict, work-family conflict and health, and work-family balance best practices. A discussion of avenues for future research is then provided.

Workers; Worker health; Families; Work-life balance

20140601

Chapter

Day A; Kelloway K; Hurrell JJ Jr.

Grant

2014

9781118469460

Grant-Number-T01-OH-008435

Workplace well-being: building positive and psychologically healthy workplaces

OR

Portland State University