Work-Life Balance A Psychological Perspective

What are the effects of conflict between home and work?Does work stress affect those who live with you? In the rapidly changing modern work environment, time pressures seem ever increasing and new technology allows work to be conducted any time and anywhere. These are just two of the factors that make it more and more difficult for working men and women to integrate work and home life. Consequently, there is a need for flexible and innovative solutions to manage the work-home interface.Work-Life Balance: A Psychological Perspective presents up-to-date information on work-home issues, including the latest research findings. The book’s emphasis is strongly psychological, with a focus on practical solutions, and includes chapters which deal with psychological issues such as the conflict between work and family, how work stresses may affect partners, and recovery from work. It also includes sections on legal issues, as well as examples of initiatives being implemented by leading employers. Contributors are drawn from the leading researchers in their fields and reflect the international character of the current challenges facing employers and employees.Its practical focus and innovative approach make this an essential book for managers, HR professionals and organizational psychologists, as well as students in these disciplines. The theoretical basis and research focus mean the book will also be invaluable for researchers investigating workplace issues.

F. Jones, R.J. Burke and M. Westman, Introduction: Work and family: A Status Report. Part 1: Background and Context. D.A. Major and L.M. Germano, The Changing Nature of Work and Its Impact on the Work-Home Interface. R.N. Block, M.H. Malin, E. Ernst Kossek and A. Holt, The Legal and Administrative Context of Work and Family Leaves and Related Policies in the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Part 2. Researching the work—home interface. N.P. Rothbard, T.L. Dumas,Research Perspectives: Managing the Work--Home Interface. L.E. Tetrick, L.C. Buffardi, Measurement Issues in Research on the Work--Home Interface. Part 3: Relationships Between Work and Home Life. M. O’Driscoll, P. Brough and T. Kalliath,Work--Family Conflict and Facilitation. C. Sullivan and S. Lewis, Work at Home and the Work--Family Interface. M. Westman,Crossover of Stress and Strain in the Work--Family Context. F. Jones, G. Kinman and N. Payne, Work Stress and Health Behaviours: a Work--Life Balance Issue. Part 4. Managing the Work--Home Interface. F. Zijlstra & M.Cropley,Recovery After Work. R.J. Burke,Organizational Culture: A Key to the Success of Work-- Life Integration. L.B. Hammer, J.C. Cullen, M.V. Shafiro,Work--Family Best Practices. P.R. Gerkovich, Work--Life Policy and Practice in the United States: Gendered Premise, Radical Potential? Conclusion. F. Jones, R.J. Burke and M. Westman,Work and Life: the Road Ahead.

FIONA JONES is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK. She conducts research on the topic of stress, including the effects of work stress on marital partners and on health behaviours. She is a Chartered Health Psychologist. RONALD BURKE is Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Ontario, Canada. His work has focused on the relationship between the work environment and the individual’s overall well being. He has published over 500 articles and edited or co-edited 17 books, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. MINA WESTMAN is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Her primary research interests include job and life stress, negative and positive crossover, work-family interchange and the effects of vacations and short business trips.