A
Project Report
On
A study on the Work-Life Balance among the employees
Submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of
Bachelors of Business Administration
Govt Post Graduate College Dharamshala
SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
Mrs. Meenakshi Saroch Kashish Kapoor
(Assistant Professor) ROLL NO:202201201711015
DEPARTMENT OF BBA
DECLARATION
I, KASHISH KAPOOR, declare that this project report entitled “A STUDY OF
WORK-LIFE BALANCE AMONG THE EMPLOYEES” is a bonafide record of
my work under the guidance of Assistant Professor MRS. MEENAKSHI
SAROCH partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Business
Administration of GOVT PG COLLEGE DHARMSHALA.
I also declare that this thesis report has not been submitted by me fully or partially
for the award of any degree, diploma title, or recognition before.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I thank God for giving me the health and confidence to finish
this project on time.
I am deeply grateful to many generous individuals who offered their support and
cooperation throughout. Words cannot express the extent of my gratitude to those
who helped me along the way. I especially want to thank my mentor, Mrs.
Meenakshi Saroch, for her invaluable guidance, continuous supervision, and
unwavering support. Her insightful advice at every stage of this project was a true
source of inspiration, broadening my knowledge.
I also extend my sincere thanks to the School of Business Management Studies,
Sardar Patel University Mandi for providing me with this incredible opportunity
and experience.
Finally, I gratefully acknowledge the love, support, and belief of my parents and
friends.
PREFACE
Human Resource of an organization is often recognized as a company’s greatest
asset, and employees have a direct impact on how the marketplace perceives the
company and its products. A popular concept known as “Work-Life Balance” can
be defined as a healthy and harmonious integration of work and personal life. The
purpose of this paper is to know what this means in the current environment and
how it is practiced.
A healthy work-life balance is essential for keeping the employees happy,
building a motivated and productive. When employees struggle to balance work
and personal life, it leads to disengagement, absenteeism, high turnover, and drop
in efficiency and creativity. That’s why a company needs to find effective ways
to support work-life balance.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION OF CONCEPT
(WORK-LIFE BALANCE)
1.1 HISTORY
The concept of work-life balance is not new to our generation. The idea that one
should limit the amount of time spent at work dates back to manufacturing laws
of the late 1800s when the work hours of women and children were restricted. By
1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act established a 44-hour work week.
The Women Liberation Movement of the 1980s brought work-life balance back
to the forefront. Initially, this concept of a flexible working schedule was only for
women. Soon these benefits were expanded to encompass professional men and
women. The idea that people would want to have balance between their
professional and personal lives, more flexibility in managing their schedule, and
presumptively increase satisfaction from work and life became a key concept in
the late 20th century.
1.2 WHAT IS WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
Work-life balance is the equilibrium between the professional and personal life
of an employee. This balance plays an increasingly important role in job
satisfaction and both physical and mental health. It is the level of happiness or
dissatisfaction with one’s career. Those who enjoy their careers are said to have
a high quality of work life, while those who are unhappy are said to have a low
quality of work life. Instead of a traditional control-oriented approach to
managing employees, work-life balance emphasizes employee well-being.
This approach recognizes employees as valuable assets. It emphasizes employee
participation in decision-making and work management, leading to improved
performance. By addressing not only economic needs but also social and
psychological well-being, this approach fosters motivation. To satisfy the new
generation workforce, organizations need to concentrate on job design and
organization of work. Increasingly, today’s workers recognize the importance of
personal relationships and strive to balance their professional and personal lives.
1.3 ISSUES THAT EMPLOYEES FACE
Work-life balance is increasingly an issue for any country as the workforce
diversity is increasing and the workplace is also constantly changing. Some
instances are given below:
Increased remote work
Blurred job boundaries
Technological advancement
Upskilling
Increased female participation
Due to the above mentioned instances employees face many problems, such as:
Overtime
Lack of flexibility
Unrealistic expectations
Job insecurity
Lack of boundaries
Toxic work culture
High stress levels
1.4 DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
The concept of work-life balance has become important for a number of social
and economic reasons that are making:
Organizations think about how they work
Government think about how people balance paid and unpaid work
Individuals think about the role work has and will have at different stages
of their lives
1.5 EFFECTS OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE
First, it improves individuals’ health, well-being and job satisfaction.
Second, businesses can benefit from it, as it:
Improves productivity
Reduce absenteeism
Reduce employee turnover
Enhanced worker commitment
Improved work environment
1.6 BENEFITS OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Work-life balance brings a series of advantages for both professionals and
companies. These are:
Attracts new employees
Helps to retain staff
Builds diversity in skills and personnel
Improves morale
Decreases stress and burnout
Enhances working relationships between colleagues
Reduces absenteeism
Encourages teamwork and initiatives among employees
1.7 REASONS FOR THE EMERGENCE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN
INDIA
If the employees feel satisfied with the time they dedicate to both work and
personal matters, they may enjoy a healthy balance between the two. Individuals
with this balance are more likely to maintain their mental health and experience
less work-related stress. This can help them develop more positive personal
relationships while achieving your workplace goals.
While India’s legally mandated and generally practiced vacation and holiday time
is comparable to many developed countries, the actual implementation of work-
life balance is questionable. Several factors highlight the growing importance of
addressing work-life balance:
Gender concerns
The young generation
Identity through work
GENDER CONCERNS
Both men and women face discrimination when they prioritize family needs,
whether by taking time off or reducing work hours. Employees of all genders
struggle to manage increasing family and personal responsibilities alongside their
jobs. Organizations must acknowledge these challenges to retain valuable
employees.
THE YOUNG GENERATION
Young people today seek new definitions of caregiving that don’t force a choice
between financial security and family time. They desire personal identities that
encompass both individual growth and strong relationships. They expect partners
to share household and childcare duties equally and believe both partners should
be actively involved, both emotionally and financially.
IDENTITY THROUGH WORK
Employees identify with their organizations, incorporating organizational values
into their self-concept. However, they also hold identities outside of work, such
as family roles, religious affiliations, or personal values. These different identities
can conflict, impacting work-life balance. Employees must actively manage these
competing identities to minimize stress and maintain a sense of equilibrium
between their work and personal lives.
1.8 BALANCING DIFFERENT THINGS IN WORK-LIFE BALANCE
FAMILY: Meaningful family life requires dedication – energy, time,
patience, and acceptance of imperfection. Yet, after a stressful workday,
these qualities are often depleted. The essential "listening" aspect of
relationships is sacrificed for quick fixes, leaving loved ones feeling
neglected. Families need nurturing, and we must respond with depth and
flexibility, accommodating the unexpected rather than adhering solely to
rigid schedules.
HOME: Creating a home is a labor of love, a reflection of our identity and
a sanctuary in a chaotic world. The paradox is stark: the harder we work
to achieve this haven, the less time we have to actually build it. Homes
risk becoming mere pit stops for sleep and basic necessities, losing their
essence as timeless retreats.
FRIENDSHIP: True friendships require cultivation – affection, tolerance,
patience, and unwavering support. However, when work-life balance
crumbles, friendships, like exercise, are often the first casualties. Despite
the increasing need for strong social bonds outside the traditional family
structure, we are seeing less of our closest friends.
COMMUNITY: Like family and friendships, thriving communities depend
on our active participation. It is within these communal activities that we
find connection and shared identity. Yet, a compromised work-life balance
marginalizes these vital engagements, impoverishing our neighborhoods
and limiting our personal growth through hobbies and shared interests.
By Work-life balance we mean that all workers should have a right to work that
does not damage their freedom to pursue activities and responsibilities outside
the workplace. This means creating a more sensitive work culture, arranging work
more effectively, and organizing it more intelligently.