Influence of family related issues on work life balance

Abstract

Human capital theory provides an avenue for understanding the direct influence of family based inputs in combination with the work-based inputs on work life balance. From this perspective, it is clear that inter role conflict occurs when one domain interferes with the other and in all probabilities; a struggle to maintain a balance between the two ensues. Family issues varies from region to region. This trend is more specific and important in the Indian context due to its patriarchal nature and traditionally male dominated etiquettes, which add more teeth to family related issues. Similarly, the recent trend of increased female enrolment in paid employment outside home has created particularly peculiar situations in the work places with its wide ranging ramifications on WLB issues. Service sector is one such area witnessing large scale employment opportunities for women. However, studies pertaining to the specific contributions of FRI on the WLB of service sector employees in the Indian context are very limited and there is a dearth of knowledge in this area of research, which has individual, organizational as well as social relevance. Therefore, the present study attempts to fill this gap to the extent to which it is possible so that the major objective of the present study is to test the nature of relationship between FRI and WLB among service sector employees in Chidambaram taluk, Tamil Nadu. The various service sector organizations covered in this study were education, healthcare, finance and banking, information and communication enabled services (ITES), transport, law and order, civil administration and hospitality sectors. The study revealed the presence of three clusters of employees with high, medium and low level of family related issues. High level Family related issues were found to be negatively associated with work-life balance.