The Changing of American Workplace - Assignment Example

? SOC 402 Final Paper Introduction In the present day context, with increased concept of globalization and advancement in the technological field hasdramatically raised competitions amid organizations in the worldwide market segments. In this respect, business organizations in order to compete and execute operations in an effective fashion are required to acquire competent employees. Moreover, the workplace environment is required to be appropriate for employees so that they can execute their operations with utmost competencies and knowledge. There are various factors which may affect the workplace and working environment in a radical manner. One of the important factors is balancing family and work life. Balancing family and work life signifies that an individual should be engaged as well as satisfied with his or her responsibilities in relation to work life and family life. Employees are required to develop a balance amid work life and their personal life so that they are able to perform their activities in a relaxed way with zeal and dedication. Furthermore, the instability in personal and professional life has been affecting the working environment as well as personal life. It has been ascertained that there lays numerous factors such as workload pressure, demographic changes in relation to dual-income family and the sandwich generation and changes in workforce composition which dramatically influence both personal as well as professional life. This paper intends to discuss the various factors in relation to work-life balance which are accountable for affecting environment and workplace environment. Additionally, the discussion will also emphasize on asserting certain recommendations towards facilitating social as well as economic benefits. Discussion Work-life balance plays an important role in the life of every individual. Moreover, this aspect is also seemed to be adversely affecting the workplace and working environment. There are few major components on which the balances for work and life are dependent. These components are as follows: Time Balance An individual is required to devote equal time for personal and professional life. In this respect, time should be managed in an effective manner with the objective of creating a better balance amid work and life so that an individual is able to play his or her role proficiently. Time is to be managed in a flexible way so that individuals are capable to co-ordinate their activities efficiently (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2013). Involvement Balance Individuals are required to be involved psychologically in both family life as well as work life. In this regard, individuals should be mentally involved with activities in order to accomplish the required objectives successfully. Subsequently, employees with better psychological involvement are likely to deliver or execute their activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of an organization (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2013). Satisfaction Balance Individuals are required to have a balance in their satisfaction level both in their roles as well as activities which are performed in their professional and personal life. The appropriate balance in their professional as well as personal life, employees will attain increased level of satisfaction from their work and personal life accomplishments (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2013). These are the three major components which are essential for employees in order to manage and balance their work as well as personal life. On the basis of these three elements a work-life balance can be ascertained. The working environment and workplace are significantly influenced with certain social changes. The social changes are the major factors which are accountable for an increased concern in relation to balancing professional and personal life in an effective manner. The ultimate factor which is primarily accountable for the social changes in the working environment and workplace can be regarded as layoffs and downsizing the number of employees. Organizations have adopted these strategies in the present business scenario with the objective of acquiring better competiveness to perform business operations competitively as compared to its business rivals. The second most significant factor which has changed the social outlook of working atmosphere of business organizations is the development in the field of technologies. Business organizations are observed to be acquiring technologies which include computers as well as telecommunications. These technological developments have changed the working procedures and requirements for employees and employers. Eventually, management of business organizations in order to execute their business operations in a more efficient, effective and competitive manner have adopted team approaches as a strategy. In this context, business organizations with the assistance of this strategy are likely to execute operations successfully with better profitability, growth and development (Crouter & Manke, 1994). The workplace has also changed due to diversity which signifies that diverse cultural and gender employees are involved in workforce of today’s business organizations. It is observed that with diverse workforce the problem of social conflicts tends to arise. In this context, a balance in professional and personal life should be maintained in order to be more productive as well as successful in both work and family life (Giraffe, 2011; Milkie & Peltola, 1999). Subsequently, these are the various changes which are acquired by business organizations with the aim of improving competitiveness and performance. In this regard, these social changes in workplace has increased stress and work pressure and accordingly employees as well as employers are required to formulate plans for having a better balance in their professional and personal life. Moreover, improper balance in work and family will lead to conflict in their personal and organizational goals and objectives. An imbalance in personal and professional life can lead to various issues which tend to affect the working environment and workplace to a considerable extent. The various issues are discussed below: Low Productivity Employees who are unable to create a proper balance in their personal and professional life are observed to be ineffective in executing their tasks or activities suitably. A sense of fatigue develops amid these employees leading to less productive work which in return adversely affect the working environment and performance of the company. Moreover, employees face with the problem of decreased moral to execute their activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of a company. As a consequence, the productivity of employees and business organizations is observed to deprive from the determined growth and profit target (Reynolds, 2005). Absenteeism The working environment and workplace is also adversely affected due to imbalanced work and persona life in relation to increase rate of absenteeism of employees. Employees due to increased stress, fatigue and work pressure along with their inability to meet family responsibility has led to higher absenteeism rate hampering the working atmosphere. Absenteeism among employees has also increased to the tendency of health related problems which arise predominately due to increased level of stress and anxiety. Additionally, employees are also observed to be irregular to work which reduces motivation other employees as well (Reynolds, 2005). Decision Making Capabilities Another most important issue of imbalance in personal and professional life is that individuals are unable to make critical thinking and decisions which are necessary for executing operations in an effective manner. This aspect seems to be affecting the working environment and workplace with ineffective procedure of decisions making (Reynolds, 2005). Social Conflicts Imbalance in personal and professional life can raise social conflicts amid diverse workforce. Social conflicts may include violence, bullying and aggression. These social issues in workplaces will adversely affect the working conditions. Additionally, conflict situations will also unfavorably affect organizational culture and working atmosphere (Giraffe, 2011). Increase Turnover Rate Turnover rate of employees increases in organizations where the management fails to implement effective strategies which create a greater imbalance in their work and family life. In this regard, conflicts amid employees tend to arise with family or closed ones and with other employees. These are the various aspects which are further responsible for increase in turnover rates in an organization. In this context, the increase in labor turnover rate and layoffs hamper the working environment and workplace to a great extent signifying the impracticability of the policies and regulations of an organization (Reynolds, 2005). Recruiting and Retaining Skilled Staff Management of organizations with inefficient working atmosphere is seemed to be under tremendous pressure and disadvantages concerning with its ability to retain skilled employees for better performance and growth. Moreover, management of such organizations also confronted with the issue of recruiting competent and proficient employees. These issues majorly affect the working atmosphere and workplace of a business organization. Additionally, business organizations with improper working environment will not be effective in managing as well as coordinating employees effectively. These issues are perceived to be negatively influencing on the values, standards and ethics of workplace and working environment (Reynolds, 2005). In these perspectives, the aforementioned various facets and issues related to proper balancing of work life and family life, certain strategies as well as plans should be formulated and implemented with the intention of eliminating these issues affecting workplace and work environment. The recommended strategies will be as follows: Organization Policies and Practices Business organizations should adopt certain policies and practices with the intention of facilitating employees with better opportunities and regulation to execute their work with the utmost dedication. The working hours in a business organization should be flexible with the objective of assisting employees as well as employers to work in preferable hours. Additionally, employees with the assistance of flexible working hours are likely to manage and coordinate their activities effectively which will facilitate in proper balance amid professional and personal life. Moreover, employees are to be provided with various leave arrangements and job mobility services so that they are able to balance their professionals and persona life in an efficient manner (Visser & Williams, 2006). Time Management Training and Development Program The employees of a business organization should be offered with adequate training and development programs related to time management. In this context, employees with effective training and development program are likely to manage time in a proficient manner. Employees with time management skills will be capable in managing and coordinating their professional as well as personal life in an improved way. The training and development program will also assist employees to enhance their competencies in order to execute various business operations with a balance in their home and work role (Visser & Williams, 2006). Pay Structure The government should initiate policies in relation to provide a better pay structure for employees. The employees should be paid on the basis of their designation and capabilities in an organization. Moreover, business organizations should seek that salary and incentives are paid to employees without discrimination. In this respect, an efficient pay structure will facilitate employees to develop greater satisfaction which in turn will aid in removing their stress and will motivate to work productively. It will also assist in balancing their work and home life successfully as well as in developing a perfect working environment (Bianchi, 2011). These are the various plans and recommendations which can be devised in order to provide employees with better opportunity to manage their time for both personal and professional life. Therefore, on the implementation of the aforementioned strategies and plans will assist employees to execute their activities proficiently. Moreover, the employees are likely to be more productive and motivated in their operations. Correspondingly, the employees will be able to create an improved balance in their professional and personal life. All these aspects will assist in retaining employees as well as recruiting skilled employees and developing a better work culture in an organization which will further facilitate in reducing turnover and absenteeism. Accordingly, employees with balance responsibility in work and home will assist to develop a better working environment and workplace in an organization. Conclusion Balance in professional and personal life is an important aspect for every individual to execute their respective operations in an enhanced manner. There are various factors which include globalization, competition and diversity in workplace among others which are responsible for social changes in working environment. In this dynamic working condition with increased conflict and stress level, employees are required to balance their personal as well as professional life efficiently in order to perform their operations productively. Evidently imbalance in professional and personal life amid employees adversely affects the working environment and workplace with turnover, absenteeism and low productivity. In this context, effective organization policies, pay structure and training and development program should be initiated with the objective of assisting employees to develop a proper balance in their professional and personal life. Subsequently, employees executing operations in a productive and motivated manner will aid in retaining an improved workplace. Thus, it can be affirmed that proper balance between professional and personal life can indeed benefit both employees and organization as well. References Bianchi, S. M. (2011) Changing families, changing workplaces. The future of children 21(2), pp. 15-36. Crouter, A. C., & Manke, B. (1994). The changing American workplace: implications for individuals and families. Family Relations 43, pp. 117-124. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. (2013). Family issues and work-life balance. Retrieved from https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/e-facts/e-fact-57-family-issues-work-life-balance Giraffe, V. (2011). Contemporary social problems and the workplace. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Milkie, M. A., & Peltola, P. (1999). Playing all the roles: gender and the work-family balancing act. Journal of Marriage and the Family 61, pp. 476-490. Reynolds, J. (2005). In the face of conflict: work-life conflict and desired work hour adjustments. Journal of Marriage and Family 67, pp. 1313-1331. Visser, F., & Williams, L. (2006). Work-life balance: Rhetoric versus reality? Publications, pp. 1-58. Read More