Work Psychology - Understanding Human Behaviour in the Workplace - Essay Example

The working culture is witnessing changes as more and more stress is being given to balance work-life so that better results can be achieved and both the parties can gain through it. This has thereby become a topic of hot discussion in the boardrooms and government agencies which are focusing towards having flexible work arrangements. This paper will thereby look to explore the concept of flexible working and policies associated with work life balance and family friendly initiatives. In addition to it the paper will also explore the different interest which flexible working arrangements provide to both the employer and the employee and who will be better off by using the policy of flexible working arrangements. Thus, in the coming decade it will be one of the major issues which human resource professionals will have to deal with and the ability to use it for the mutual gain of both the parties will determine the long term success of the organization. Poor work-life balance is an issue which employee continuously has to deal with. Despite the different development in technology, people have to work harder and longer so that the different task can be accomplished and the business can keep pace with the developments that the globalized world requires (Bateman & Snell, 2004). This presents a challenge for the business to ensure that a proper work-life balance is developed. Organizations world over are driven by profit motive and controlling cost which has thereby resulted in a poor work-life balance. Poor work-life balance has certain implications especially for the employees. An employee personal cost is very high if proper work-life balance is not ensured. Continuous work leads to stress, physical illness, depression and even sometimes mental illness. This has a negative impact on personal and family relationship (Storey, 1992). This thereby impacts the overall productivity for employees and creates a situation which no employee wants. In a similar manner lack of proper work-life balance has cost associated with the business. The impact of poor work-life balance can be seen through rise in absenteeism, increased faults and errors, increased wastage, poor productivity which ultimately has an impact on the financial performance and impacts the long term future of the business (Torrington, Hall, Taylor, & Atkinson, 2011). This has thereby induced the concept of work-life balance which looks to manage both personal and professional time so that people are more satisfied. This tends to improve the productivity and helps to improve the manner in which different business decisions are taken. Looking at the most basic level it makes sense if the employees are less stressed as it helps to improve productivity and increases the morale of the employees (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998). As a result the perception which is present within the organization is positive and fosters better relationship with the employee which leads towards improves staff loyalty, commitment and motivation which have a positive impact on the performance of the organization. Until now the focus of business has been mostly one sided where they look to take a one sided approach to solve the problems associated with work-life balance. Organizations adopted policies, procedures and strategies which would help to solve the issue associated with work-life balance. In fact looking at the core it will be identified that work-life balance is more an individual issue which has an impact on organizational performance rather than an organization issue which impacts individual performance (Storey, 2007). This thereby has a larger impact on employees as compared to organizations which has thereby made organizations adopt work-life balance so that both the parties are better off. The best work-life balance is different for all individuals and even changes for a particular individual over time. For example some people prefer to work long hours and carry out their normal routine work as they feel that it increased value whereas other feel that it impacts their contribution and impacts work-life balance (Redman and Wilkinson 2008). This thereby differs from one person to another which needs to be addressed on an individual level so that the needs are better met. To overcome the different difficulties it is essential that a proper balance is ensured between work and leisure which includes friends and family so that the person is more committed and is able to contribute positively. Some of the different methods which have been used to bring work-life balance are Reducing Working Time: Organizations can look to improve the work-life balance by reducing the working time for employees or limiting the number of hours that employees will work or minimize the overtime so that better contribution can be ensured. This initiative which the business takes will help to provide more time to the employees that they can spend with their friends and families. Just reducing the number of hours which an employee will work will not ensure proper work-life balance as the work still has to be completed which would mean increase in the work load (Legge, 2004). This will require finding out the root cause which leads towards increase in the work load and finding ways to reduce the work load so that better work-life balance can be achieved. Technology can help at this juncture as using technology some of the work which was otherwise done manually will be reduced and will help the employee to complete the same work with less effort and time thereby providing time for friends and family Flexible Working Arrangements: This is one of the most common initiative which is undertaken where both the employer and the employee looks to make changes in the manner work will be done, where it will be done and how it will be done. This helps to ensure that both the individual and business needs will be easily fulfilled (Jay & Alec 2012). Organizations need to stress on the importance of action rather than visibility and provide the required scope which allows the employee to carry out the different work from different places. Having flexibility and a sense of trust will lead towards better contribution thereby ensuring teamwork and improved performance. This would lead towards effective work-life balance and help to ensure that both the parties are able to gain from it. Leave Options: This option looks towards going beyond what has been provided by law. It would mean that employees will be provided more leaves than they are legally allowed. Different organizations and companies have further looked at having special leave for maternity, paternity, adoption leave and other compassionate leave options (Bach and Sisson, 2000). This will help to reduce tensions as employees will be more contend and happy and will thereby be able to see a positive impact on work-life balance. The employee as a result will be able to contribute positively and will be able to improve their performance. Employee & Family Support: Organizations need to realize that employees have other obligations like family, parents, child, friends and so on which they want to fulfil. This will require understanding their obligations and providing the required time and resources through which employees are able to fulfil those (Boxall & Purcell, 2011). This will require working on personal development and other socially important areas so that employees are satisfied. This will help to ensure better work-life balance and will bring about a change in the perception of employees. As a result the overall manner in which employee work for the organization will improve and the overall goals will be achieved in a better way. Flexible-Firm Model: This model looks at having flexible working arrangements so that employees are able to work in a better way. This model allows employees to work at flexible time and provides an opportunity through which better needs of the employees are met. This will thereby look at having better working arrangements so that the different needs are better met and the business is placed where all the parties gain (Mohinudeen, R. 2010). For example, employees are allowed to work from home as an arrangement to ensure better balance thereby ensuring better future opportunities. Further it has been analyzed that work-life balance has a more positive impact for organizations as compared to individuals as the work still needs to be accomplished within the stated time. This ensures that the organization is able to achieve its goals and ensure that the different work is carried out as per the requirements. Further, work-life balance also helps to bring about a change the manner in which the work has to be carried out but focuses towards ensuring that the work is achieved as per the requirements and within the allotted time, cost and through use of different resources. Using a process of proper work-life balance helps to ensure that while achieving the goals the employees are better off as they get time which can be spend on areas through which their relationship with friends and family improves. Research have identified that having a proper work-life balance brings about the required changes in the manner organization works and helps to reduce wastage and multiplies the overall effectiveness of carrying out different activities (Beardwell and Claydon, 2007). It has further been examined that the skills which are needed for better interaction with family and friends and those needed to develop proper team oriented work are very similar to each other and thereby ensures that employees through the process of work-life balance is able to garner those. This helps the organization is fostering better team efforts and brings about the required change in relationship through which the overall relevance for the organization maximizes. Organizations have also looked work-life balance as a process through which developing off the job skills helps the organization to use those on the job and thereby multiplies the overall effectiveness through which different work is carried out. The dual agenda helps to ensure that a process is developed which helps both the parties to develop the required skills through which both the employer and the employee gains and the process thereby leads towards multiplying the effectiveness for both the parties (Khatri, 2010). The process thereby helps to ensure that the parties are better off and provides different benefits to both the parties which thereby improve their daily lives. The human resource managers who successfully implement proper work-life balance program are able to achieve different gains and ensure that the bottom line goals of the business are better achieved. This thereby helps to identify the different dimensions through which the overall mechanism of providing services is improved and helps the business to ensure that the contribution of the employees improves (Ahmad & Schroeder, 2009). This leads towards strengthening the manner in which organization works and develops the required dimensions through which organization is better off. The overall result also shows that work-life balance if properly used has a positive impact on employees as compared to individuals as individuals are able to achieve different things in the same process. This leads towards better relations and fosters an environment through which the overall relevance of decision making and working together is garnered (Fombrun, Tichy & Devanna, 1984). This helps to ensure that the business is able to achieve its goal but in a better way as employees become better committed and looks towards using the different resources in the most productive manner. The manner in which globalization is taking place and the different aspect and facets which needs to be considered so that the working of the entire organization is improved will look at ensuring that the organization contributes towards the well being of the employees. This tends to improve the productivity and helps to improve the manner in which different business decisions are taken. Looking at the most basic level it makes sense if the employees are less stressed as it helps to improve productivity and increases the morale of the employees (Boyer & Lewis. 2012). As a result the perception which is present within the organization is positive and fosters better relationship with the employee which leads towards improves staff loyalty, commitment and motivation which have a positive impact on the performance of the organization This thereby helps to identify the different dimensions through which both employer and employee will be able to determine the path through which goals can be achieved for both. The use of work-life balance also imparts one useful thing as it looks to fill the different gap and void which is present. It helps both the management and the employees to come together and work towards a common goal. This ensures that the individual goals of the business is inclined towards a common goal which thereby helps to improve productivity and ensures that the overall goals of the business is achieved in the best possible manner (Arnold, 2005). The process also tends to ensure that organizations are able to dwell on different aspect and facets associated with building the manner in which work is carried out and will thereby help to ensure that the overall impetus of working improves. Work-life balance also helps to bring about a change the manner in which the work has to be carried out but focuses towards ensuring that the work is achieved as per the requirements and within the allotted time, cost and through use of different resources. Using a process of proper work-life balance helps to ensure that while achieving the goals the employees are better off as they get time which can be spend on areas through which their relationship with friends and family improves. This thereby provides the required opportunities which employees are looking for and helps to develop the required areas through which better working can be ensured. Thus, work-life balance has become an essential part of the working culture and continuous competition has made it mandatory that organizations look to deal with the issue and find out a way which will have a positive bearing on the overall performance. This will lead towards ensuring that the goals of both the employer and the employee is achieved and the process looks towards ensuring that both the parties are better off. The scenario also corresponds to one where the working culture is revolutionized and the manner in which different work is carried out is done in the most effective manner. References Arnold, J. (2005). Work Psychology: Understanding human behaviour in the workplace 4th ed. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall. Ahmad, S., & Schroeder, R. G. (2009). The impact of human resource management practices on operational performance. Journal of Operational Management, 21, 19−43 Bateman, T. & Snell, S. (2004). 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